ENERGY MATTERS

[Stanley]

It gives an insight into how complicated just one case can be. Expand that nation-wide.......
(Makes my meat delivery look cheap....)

[Big Kev]

Further to the looped supply saga, a potentially bit of good news. The NW Electricity supply map shows the main cable is at the front of the properties, this gives a more direct route to the cellars. It's still speculation, on my part, regarding how it will be resolved though.

[Stanley]

It strikes me that I could easily be on such a complicated supply but wouldn't know anything about it until it went wrong. So many of our utilities are using the same infrastructure that was put in originally when we first got them.
Water, sewage and gas are just as complicated when it comes to how houses are supplied. I know I have individual gas, drains and water but know nothing about the leccy which, like yours Kev, is at the front of the house. (The other three come in the back yard.)

[Big Kev]

My water supply was shared with four other houses too, it took UU a couple of visits to identify the stopcock out in the street. I put a new supply in a couple of years ago when they were offering to pay to replace the old lead supply.

[Stanley]

This is the state of some of the shared water supplies in East Hill Street. It was dug up to find and cure a leak but all that was done was the replacement of a short length of this with a piece of plastic. There must be a lot of supplies like this dating back to the 19th century.
In case you're wondering my water, sewage and gas supplies have all been replaced with modern pipes to refurbished mains in the back street so I am lucky.....
I often wonder if investigation into the type and condition of utilities is part of the search done by a conveyancing solicitor.

[Big Kev]

Further to the looped supply saga, a potentially bit of good news. The NW Electricity supply map shows the main cable is at the front of the properties, this gives a more direct route to the cellars. It's still speculation, on my part, regarding how it will be resolved though.

ENWL are coming to carry out a 'site inspection' on February 23rd. The extent of the works will be discussed, the letter only mentions me and my immediate neighbour so it may just be two properties' supply being upgraded.

[Stanley]

As long as yours is one of them Kev! It is disgusting that any property can be supplied with services through Victorian infrastructure. Water supply in lead pipes was modern in Roman times, there is no place for it today in a modern system.

[Big Kev]

As long as yours is one of them Kev!

It will have to be as I'm on the end of the run of five.

[Stanley]

[Stanley]

As it's getting close to the end of the month I thought I'd better check my meter readings. Good job I did. God knows how they manage my personal website but the estimated current readings they show on there don't even have a relationship for the ones I sent in at the change of the tariffs.
So, using the web site that Kev gave me I have sent in current readings. Smart meters? Biggest joke since Post War Credits......

[Big Kev]

Smart meters? Biggest joke since Post War Credits......

Your gas meter isn't sending reads to BG. When they're working as they should Smart Meters do a good job

[PanBiker]

My so called smart gas meter also gave up the ghost some time ago. Electric meter is fine and fully working smart.

[Stanley]

Kev, neither of the meters is reporting even after upgrading to the latest technology. (Or so they said..... )

[Big Kev]

Kev, neither of the meters is reporting even after upgrading to the latest technology. (Or so they said..... )

I can almost guarantee it'll be a software issue at BG

[Big Kev]

Further to the looped supply saga, a potentially bit of good news. The NW Electricity supply map shows the main cable is at the front of the properties, this gives a more direct route to the cellars. It's still speculation, on my part, regarding how it will be resolved though.

ENWL are coming to carry out a 'site inspection' on February 23rd. The extent of the works will be discussed, the letter only mentions me and my immediate neighbour so it may just be two properties' supply being upgraded.

Octopus have been out to my neighbour, his charger has been connected through a 'reducer'. At least he can charge his car at home now. Octopus will return, once ENWL have upgraded the supply, to connect it again at 100A.

[Stanley]

That sounds like progress Kev, I hope it extends to your supply.
Re. 'Smart Meters'. Isn't it strange that after accessing my web page, finding that the estimated figures are a joke and sending in readings for both meters using the link you gave me, I get a mail this morning from the complaints team telling me they have been trying to call me but can't get through. I'll bet a pound they are using the landline number when BG already have my mobile number, they have used it to text me in the past. I have told them and await developments.
I get the impression that internal communications inside British Gas are non-existent.
(But my gas and leccy are still flowing. )

[Stanley]

For some reason there is now a veritable explosion of action from BG on the Smart Meter front. I have just had three telephone calls in quick succession, two from the complaints and one from Smart Meter HQ making me a priority and setting up an appointment for an engineer to come and make the meters work on February 27th. I an now expecting another call from Complaints to see what has been arranged.
Could this be a solution? I shall keep you all abreast!

[Big Kev]

Sounds promising but I wouldn't hold your breath

[Stanley]

Just what I told myself Kev.....

[Stanley]

The account is off-line for maintenance but I managed to gather that after my self readings they have constructed a bill and it will be £247 which seems a lot to me......

[Big Kev]

Sounds about right for December, I used £148 of gas and £94 of electric.

[Stanley]

Thank you Kev for giving me that comparison, I was wondering if I had made a mistake reading the meters but yes, Gas was £150 (plus SC and VAT = £166. Leccy was £41 (plus SC and VAT =£58).
That was Jan 2 to Jan 29. Very similar and saved me some worry. Thanks again!

[Big Kev]

I'll let you know my January usage, usually get the update around the 6th

[Stanley]

Thanks....

[Stanley]

Would you believe the smart meter people are texting me asking me to take part in a satisfaction survey.....?
Guess what I did with the request..... Just another example of their flawed management.