Energy suppliers

About 3 months ago this very dodgy looking woman turned up on the doorstep, she was wearing a yellow high vis jacket.

Anyway turned out she was going to do me a favour and save me some money, and at the same time get my cavity wall insulation sorted out, (another story).
She was from, British Gas and her electric and gas was cheaper than N power apparently, so stupidly I let her in:o

To cut a long story short I'm in the process of changing suppliers, and they, between them, have made a complete cock up of the meter readings.

But I received this piece of very useful junk in the post the other day, its supposed to tell me how much electric I'm using, but I thought that was why I had a meter?


Cant be bothered to fix it up, so threw it in the garage, apparently its worth £35, so if anybody wants it, I'm considering offers above £30 + postage, second hand.:D

Is it just me or is the world going crazy.:wallbang:

 

It clearly states in the FAQ section of the instructions that it is not accurate enough to be used to bill people.
Consequentially it may well give a different consumption reading to that displayed on the meter.

 

That happened on several occasions at my last employers (before I retired), so I/they was/weren't at all concerned when a meter completely 'double clocked' before it was read, considering they tried to continue charging for a meter removed from a demolished building.

 

I've got one of those too Pete, from Scottish Hydro.
In some ways they are pretty useless but in other ways it was quite informative to see what some appliances burn when they are switched on.
The oven, electric kettle and coffee maker send it into the stratosphere. Doesn't stop me from using them but does make me think about how much for how long.
I was surprised by how much an elecric blanket uses, so now I put it on for a shorter time.
I see in the press Scottish Hydro plan to put up their electricity charges by 10% and their gas charges by 19%. I'm sure everyone else will follow.
What to do ?

 

Beware of a Greek bearing gifts!

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The previous government told the energy suppliers that they had to spend so many billions of pounds making us and our homes energy efficient, INSTEAD of making them REDUCE our energy costs, head bangers!

I have two of those and some thing else to put the TV on standby and loads of totally useless energy saving light bulbs all given to me by "The old dears" who want rid of them as they have had them foisted onto them.

I just take them when offered, it saves an argument as my wife says!

Wimmin! what would we do with them!

Cheers!

 

You're right about those energy saving light bulbs Makka Bakka.
They save energy by not giving you any light.
I gave a bagful to the Charity shop. Hope they don't have to pay too much to get rid of them

 

Pete, I think I'd be inclined to do the same thing with it. We have to pay the bills anyway, so whats the point of scaring ourselves by looking at one of those things.

 

I've switched a few times. Each time NPower seemed to buy the company I was with and I ended up back with them.
My loast change was via USwitch and, following a chat with one of their advisors I ended up £30+ per month better off AND locked in to a rate for 16 months - before the last 2 increases.
I feel I am significantly better off by the change - although I am dreading when the 16 month period ends and I am offered the new rate.
Lets hope the Government persuade the Utility Companies to bring down their rates before then!!:fingerdrum:

 

The new energy efficient light bulbs, have put us back to living in Dickension times, Oliver twist and oil lamps
Next big investment will be for Opticians due to people reading in bad light

Jack McHammocklashing

 

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Totally agree!

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Interesting thread!

I have one of those meters - it was foisted on me by British Gas because I never read the meter any more. This was because they'd replaced the trusty old mechanical meter with a digital one which i never learn how to read (All that button-pressing. Can't do it.)

Two men were sent to fit the beastie. In the process, the two jobsworths condemned my lovely old retro enamel Cannon gas fires, which had never given a moment's trouble, giving me the effort and expense of replacing them.

The thing sat on my worktop like a plastic monolith for about a week before i shoved it in a drawer. The novelty soon wore off and it seemed to be burning up the annual output of a small nuclear power station by means of its massive red and green lights.

Glad to hear that it might be worth £35 though. Free listings on ebay next weekend!