Electricity Supply

BR2000

Hi, Someone might point me in the right direction on this situation. Not looking for legal advise, just thoughts. Thanks:)

I contacted my current electricity supply company to enquire about dual tariff metering (where you pay a higher standing charge, but avail of half rate electricity at night). I was told that it would require a new meter which would be free of charge to install and was advised of the new standing charge and daytime/night time rates. I was happy to proceed and issued the order over the phone.

In the meantime, I had a home energy management system fitted at a cost of €900 to help make best use of the lower rate night time electricity. I saw it as an investment which would pay off over time.

To cut a long story short, my supplier now advises that the information given over the phone when I placed the order was not correct and is now looking for a charge to install the meter and the unit rates and standing charge are higher!

The original call was recorded and there is no dispute on what was initially agreed, just that they now cannot honour it, we're sorry etc.

Can I force them to provide at the originally agreed rates? Would I have a reasonable case for consequential damages i.e.my energy management system, which is no longer viable because of the increased electricity cost?

Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks

coylemj

For starters, it's ESB networks who own the meters, regardless of who your 'supplier' is. I'm guessing you spoke to another company and someone in a call centre gave you that wrong information.

Did it not occur to you that everyone would have a dual meter if it was free to install? I looked at this a long time ago as I would be prepared to heat my water and run my washing machine during off-peak periods to avail of cheaper electricity but installing a dual-meter costs money and in my case the savings wouldn't justify the cost.

When you were dealing with the company who installed that 'energy management system', did you tell them that you were switching to dual metering for no cost? I bet they didn't argue with that, given that it allowed them to make inflated claims as to the money you'd save even though they must have known that there is a cost to do it.

BR2000

ESB networks indeed own and install the meters, but a consumer orders and pays for one through their 'electricity supplier'(Airtricity,Electric Ireland,etc.)

There are different packages offered by different electricity suppliers - for example Electric Ireland will install (arrange ESB networks to install) a dual tariff meter at no cost to the customer, but the standing charge increases by about 15c per day and the daily unit rate also increases by about 1c. It is then a case of deciding whether your night time usage (approx. half rate) would offset this and net you a saving.

The energy management system was selected by me, and the installing contractor did a good job. I have no issue in this regard. What inflated claims?

In essence, my supplier gives me dual tariff rates and switching costs over the phone, I do my homework and find I can make a modest saving on my electricity costs by switching to the product described. I then place the order which is accepted by the supplier and subsequently install the energy management system. Subsequent to this my supplier finds they have made a mistake and want to pull out of the arrangement. (Actually they have offered some compensation, but it doesn't equate to the original agreement)

Can I force them to provide at the originally agreed rates? Would I have a reasonable case for consequential damages i.e.my energy management system, which is no longer viable because of the increased electricity cost or would pursuing this to court be dicey?

Thanks.

ted1

What's the energy managment system?