E.ON and legal rights to inspect your meter

[abc123def]

I am registered disabled due to mental health and

currently receive help from my mental health team

and NHS psychological services 3-4 times a week.

 

One of the things I have problems with is people coming to my home and tend to retreat into it as my 'safe' place.

 

Even my social worker has only been here once and no friends visit and only my children come here.

 

I have my electricity and gas from the same company since I switched to them years ago

and I read my own meters on the last day of most months and type the readings in online and pay at the same time.

I decline to have my meters read by strangers unexpectedly turning up on my doorstep.

 

I am very frugal as I live on benefits,

gas wise I don't have the hot water on (boil a kettle to wash up and have an electric shower)

and didn't use the heating at all this last winter, managing without,

only using the gas hob once or twice a week (eating disorder helps).

I don't use much electricity either so my utility costs are very low.

 

I realise that by law I have to let someone come and inspect the meters once every two years

so when I was written to in May 2013 I made the appointment

and the man came within the two hour time slot agreed in May last year

and I showed him the meters which are inches apart.

 

Now I have had a letter stating that the company need to come and inspect my electricity meter

and that if I don't comply they will apply to the magistrates court and charge me £208 to cover costs.

 

I managed to telephone them and apparently when the man came out he only looked at the gas meter

and now they need to look at the electricity meter.

They are beside each other and I get both electricity and gas from the same company!

 

Please can you tell me, do I have a right to decline this new inspection as I let them in last year

or do they have a right to look at gas one year and electricity the next?

 

I wish I didn't get into such a state about people coming into the house,

 

I feel I am ridiculous but know that I will find another visit soon distressing as I am struggling at the moment

and these threatening letters and legal action is just as bad.

 

TIA

 

eta the company is e.on if it's ok to name them. They seem to be unable to check gas and electricity meters at the same time

[dx100uk]

is this E.ON asking to view the meter now

and was it E.ON before too>

 

dx

[abc123def]

Yes e.on last time and e.on again this time.

[scousepie]

I think you are quite right, I hate meter readers knocking on my door, I tell them to do one when they just turn up.

[dx100uk]

we also have an EON rep here that i'm sure will help too

 

dx

[*RainbowTears*]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but upon reading on various Energy sites. This is what I've found out for you;

 

Your energy supplier is required to inspect your meter every two years for safety reasons, but they would be expected to contact you by phone or letter if they are struggling to get access to your meter.

 

The Energy companies can apply for a warrant to inspect the meters, but obtaining a warrant of entry should be a last resort!

 

So going by the above, you cannot refuse entry, as if you do so, you could find yourself in a more stressful situation, esp if a Warrant of Entry is applied for.

[abc123def]

Yes but the law states you need to let them in once every two years and I let them in 14 months ago by prior arrangement thought that was it and could relax until 2015. It just seems the chap only looked at the gas meter while he was here but that's not my fault. I'm fairly sure I have done my legal duty by letting them in last year. I am thinking a magistrate wouldn't be happy with an application from e.on when they were allowed in last year? Or am I assuming too much.

[E.ON Company Rep: Helena]

Good morning abc123def,

 

I do understand this is a very difficult situation for you to be in and I'm really sorry we appear to making things harder for you.

 

All the information posted is correct, we do legally have to check the meters once every two years and we can apply for the warrant as a last resort.

 

But to the actual issue, meter readers don't necessarily read both the gas and electric meters. It will depend on the area that you live. It may be that you're allocated a separate company to read each meter.

 

This means the gas meter reader won't be able to provide any info for the electricity meter as it won't be on their system and the same for the electricity meter reader.

 

It depends on the area if we can arrange to have both meters read and inspected by the same person, this is something you can ask us.

 

This is the most likely reason I think.

 

I'd suggest if it's ok with you to give us a ring, arrange to have the other meter looked at and then ask if it would be possible to have them done together next time. I also suggest you need to ask to go on to the priority register with us, details of this here https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/help-and-support/help-with-payments

 

I completely understand this is hard for you, but I don't want this to go to a warrant ans want things to be sorted out for.

 

I hope this helps. But do let me know if you need me.

 

Helena

[rebel11]

Hi abc123def

 

Write a letter to EON explain that your disabilities are covered by the Equality Act 2010, tell them when you want them to read your meters. Once you've told them about your disabilities they will need to make reasonable allowances for you.

 

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/documents/EqualityAct/service_providers_business.pdf

 

Also you really need to put the heating on during the winter months. Make sure your on the lowest tariffs also extra help can be provided by Eon, for vulnerable customers.

 

https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/saving-energy/need-little-extra-help

[abc123def]

Thanks. It seems I am going to have to let them in even though they came last year. Once I gather up the muster to make the phone call I plan on asking if they can check both gas and electric meters at the same time to give me a 2 year break after this. I think I just struggled with this because I thought having managed last year's visit that was it for 2 years so was surprised by this.

 

rebel, I have been wondering whether I can cope with another winter without heating because some nights it was difficult to sleep because my nose ran and I couldn't type because my fingers were numb but I worry constantly about money and never have any left, or if I do it is never there long because something breaks etc. I did get the warm home discount thankfully. Do I have to reapply for the warm home discount this year or because I had it in January will I automatically get it this winter too? If I need to reapply, when do I do that? September?

 

There is only me in the house so it seems cheaper to keep one person warm with layers than a whole house. I managed ok this winter though it wasn't pleasant at times, often not washing because I couldn't bear to not be in clothes/layers, it was way too cold not to have any on.

 

I will phone e.on in the next few days.

[rebel11]

Hi abc123def

 

I think you will need to apply again. Info here:-

 

https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/saving-energy/need-little-extra-help/warm-home-discount

 

You could turn the heating off in every room except the one you spend most of the time in. By not having the heating on your seriously put your health at risk.

 

https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/help-and-support/help-with-payments

[caro]

I know this isn't about your problem abc123def, but I wonder if you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to, and is your home fully insulated?

[abc123def]

Thankfully the house is well insulated. I am getting all the benefits I am entitled to. I could perhaps apply for DHP to cover the 25% under occupancy reduction in HB but I can't mentally cope with the hassle. I can't move because I can't physically or mentally cope with the move, there are no smaller properties in my area to move to, and I have had a disabled facilities grant to adapt my bathroom and I legally have to pay that back if I move within 5 years of the work completion which happened just before the government brought in the under occupancy charge. I can't afford to pay back that four figure sum back for the DFG so am scuppered really. I am pinning my hopes on a government winning next years election with the promise of doing away with the under occupancy charge and then perhaps I can put the heating back on. It's ok, I manage and have much to be grateful for.

[caro]

In the meantime please get your council to send dhp forms. It's got to be worth applying, and if you have no-one to help you in person, you can always get help on the cag benefit forum.

 

Get this eon issue sorted and then let's see what we can do to get you some help with your rent.

[E.ON Company Rep: Helena]

Hi again abc123def

 

Thank you for the extra advice rebel11

 

It depends on which group you were placed in for the warm home discount, if you need to apply again or not. However, as it appears you applied to us last year, it looks like you'll need to do the same again this year, you can apply now here https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/saving-energy/need-little-extra-help/warm-home-discount

 

I'm also a bit worried about you not having any heating on at all through the winter, this is what the warm home discount should be going towards and helping you a bit.

 

I know you say you're already getting all of the benefits your entitled to, but have you ever had a look if their is any grants for you? http://www.turn2us.org.uk/grants_search.aspx

 

Agree also with caro.

 

Please do let me know if I can help you from E.ON at all.

 

Helena:-)

[abc123def]

I think I'm getting somewhere with this. I've managed to arrange by email an inspection for a couple of months time when I ought to be able to have some support at home and e.on have said they will inspect both the gas and electric meters that day so that should then give me a 2 year break.

 

I also had a letter from e.on today telling me applications are now open for the warm home discount for the coming winter so I have applied for that online. If I have any criticism of that process, it's that I don't get an email telling me my application has been received (though the webpage when I did it said application submitted, but I have no printer) and I don't have proof now that I have done so. I remember worrying last year about the same thing and it was quite a long while till I heard my application was successful. Last winter was known to be a mild one and it would be a struggle this winter without the allowance if it isn't as 'mild'.

 

Helena, did you edit your original post? Was I imagining you posted details of a section of e.on where you register the fact that you have a disability and that makes you a priority etc.? I read that one of the things they could do was put meters on the outside of the property rather than inside and I liked that idea but didn't immediately react because it seems you have to phone to get registered with that and I struggle with phones. It might be me entirely as my concentration is poor but I can't find where I read about this now and I'd thought it was your post.

 

Thanks everyone.