My property has 5 meters and this makes billing confusing. How can I get help?

Hey ​@3Phasesupplies,

That sounds like quite an unusual setup! If you could share some photos of your current arrangement, I'd love to offer you more tailored advice. Our billing summaries were updated recently, and while I don’t anticipate any major changes since the team put a lot of effort into getting it right, I understand it might not be the best fit for your needs. Since your setup is quite unique, we may need to explore a different strategy. Once I have the photos and a bit more information, I’ll be happy to take them to our team and see what we can do to make things easier for you.

Let me know! 

Chris. With respect i can’t see what benefit it would be to see photographs of meters but if that will help i will. The issue is not with the system installed. It is with the application of estimates and the receipt of accurate  readings issued by me. In brief, if i supply either early or late  “estimated  readings” are utilised. If these estimated values are over estimated, say for consecutive period of 3 months, there is a cumulative value. An over estimation may occur. Let’s say that i then issue on the day before the billing at 4.00pm accurate reading which might be 50% of the value of the cumulative readings, what happens in the billing and charges levied. If a “credit” is allocated to the account, all well and good. Are the actual accurate readings then used at the start of the following month. I can’t seem to get an explanation as to how this is manifest in the monthly bills issued. That’s my predicament.

Interesting photos - thank you!

These meters are antique and some of them at least belong in a museum. No. 5 has a serial number (MSN) including 76 at the beginning, which is pretty convincing evidence that it was manufactured in 1976. According to the OPSS register, Ferranti meters of type 2Q-100 were certified for 30 years, so this one’s certification expired 20 years ago. That said, I can’t decipher the sticky labels added later, so its possible the meters were re-certified at some stage. A meter with expired certification can’t be relied on to meter accurately and it can’t legally be used for billing.   

An electricity bill usually shows the MSN of the meter it refers to, as well as the supply (‘S’) panel giving the MPAN. Can you not see either on the bills you have? This is what I see on an old bill of mine:
  

  
For a monthly bill to be raised on the basis of an actual meter reading, the reading should be submitted in the morning of the first day of the billing period. If your billing period is the calendar month, then that would be on the first of each month. If it’s some other, like 15th - 14th, submit in the morning of the 15th. 

Thanks for your help here ​@Firedog.

​@3Phasesupplies if you download your statement, you should find that there are separate pages for each electricity supply. They will be titled ‘Electricity in detail, and the Meter Serial Number should be labelled below your address on the top-right of the page. I’ve attached a screenshot of my own bill with the meter serial number highlighted (I’ve removed the digits for security):

The guide below will help you to download your bills online if you haven’t done this already. Please do let us know whether they’re still not looking correct. Cheers!