ᐅ Utility company has incorrect meter numbers in their system – what should I do?
Created on: 4 Sep 2023 15:53
K
kati1337
Hello everyone,
We have received the welcome letters from our local supplier (Pfalzwerke) confirming that we have been placed on the basic supply tariff. We have two meters, and Pfalzwerke is demanding a total prepayment of 390€.
Of course, we don’t want to pay that much, so we intended to switch to another electricity provider based on our actual, calculated electricity consumption.
However, we noticed that the meter numbers on the welcome letters are incorrect. After speaking with Pfalzwerke Netz by phone, it turned out that these wrong meter numbers from the letters are registered in their system. They do not recognize the actual meter numbers we have on our meters.
When I asked what I should do next, the customer service agent didn’t have an answer. He advised against signing a contract using the incorrect meter numbers registered in their system since these might belong to someone else (??). Also, entering a contract with the correct meter numbers likely won’t work because these are unknown to the grid operator’s system.
Do you have any suggestions on how I should proceed? I definitely don’t want to be stuck on their basic supply tariff. Their reputation in the region, judging by Google reviews, matches my experience: they seem overwhelmed and understaffed. I don’t expect any quick resolution from the grid operator.
What would you do in my place? Would you pay these absurdly high prepayments? Honestly, I don’t see why I should. Those aren’t my meter numbers, the calculation is baseless and not transparent. They don’t even have my SEPA mandate yet.
I am considering simply not paying when the first prepayment is due or disputing the payment because the meter number is not mine. Is the contract even valid? First, the meter number is wrong. Secondly, the cancellation policy states a "14-day period starting from the day the contract was concluded." The contract is dated August 14, but I only received the letter explaining these terms on August 28. Moreover, it was sent to the construction site address and just left there without a mailbox. The meters were also installed later than the supposed contract date.
On the other hand, I do not want them to cut off our power. The first prepayment is due at the end of September. If nothing is resolved by then, I am thinking of involving a lawyer.
Additionally, I am considering going ahead and signing my desired electricity contract using the CORRECT meter numbers as seen in the meter cabinet, and just waiting to see what happens.
We have received the welcome letters from our local supplier (Pfalzwerke) confirming that we have been placed on the basic supply tariff. We have two meters, and Pfalzwerke is demanding a total prepayment of 390€.
Of course, we don’t want to pay that much, so we intended to switch to another electricity provider based on our actual, calculated electricity consumption.
However, we noticed that the meter numbers on the welcome letters are incorrect. After speaking with Pfalzwerke Netz by phone, it turned out that these wrong meter numbers from the letters are registered in their system. They do not recognize the actual meter numbers we have on our meters.
When I asked what I should do next, the customer service agent didn’t have an answer. He advised against signing a contract using the incorrect meter numbers registered in their system since these might belong to someone else (??). Also, entering a contract with the correct meter numbers likely won’t work because these are unknown to the grid operator’s system.
Do you have any suggestions on how I should proceed? I definitely don’t want to be stuck on their basic supply tariff. Their reputation in the region, judging by Google reviews, matches my experience: they seem overwhelmed and understaffed. I don’t expect any quick resolution from the grid operator.
What would you do in my place? Would you pay these absurdly high prepayments? Honestly, I don’t see why I should. Those aren’t my meter numbers, the calculation is baseless and not transparent. They don’t even have my SEPA mandate yet.
I am considering simply not paying when the first prepayment is due or disputing the payment because the meter number is not mine. Is the contract even valid? First, the meter number is wrong. Secondly, the cancellation policy states a "14-day period starting from the day the contract was concluded." The contract is dated August 14, but I only received the letter explaining these terms on August 28. Moreover, it was sent to the construction site address and just left there without a mailbox. The meters were also installed later than the supposed contract date.
On the other hand, I do not want them to cut off our power. The first prepayment is due at the end of September. If nothing is resolved by then, I am thinking of involving a lawyer.
Additionally, I am considering going ahead and signing my desired electricity contract using the CORRECT meter numbers as seen in the meter cabinet, and just waiting to see what happens.
R
RotorMotor4 Sep 2023 17:37Of course, you can also ask the trade fair operator or the installer. That will definitely be more effective than relying on guesses from the internet.
RotorMotor schrieb:
Of course, you could also ask the metering point operator or the installer. That will probably be more effective than relying on guesses from the internet. The internet has actually helped me a lot, since I now know that such a thing even exists.
If the metering point operator is again Pfalzwerke Netz, unfortunately I can’t ask them directly. They have this hotline setup where the people answering the phone have absolutely no knowledge, just enter data and then say “I’ll forward this, someone will get back to you.”
I have asked the installer directly, but I’m still waiting for a response. They are always very busy.
You can also try contacting your network operator. Google "network operator search" and for me, the first result is ovag.
In my case, the local municipal utilities don’t supply the network but a separate company does. A few kilometers (miles) away, it is then Westnetz. They should be more knowledgeable and able to help better than the municipal utilities (in theory).
In my case, the local municipal utilities don’t supply the network but a separate company does. A few kilometers (miles) away, it is then Westnetz. They should be more knowledgeable and able to help better than the municipal utilities (in theory).
W
WilderSueden4 Sep 2023 21:59kati1337 schrieb:
We have 2 meters, and Pfalzwerke wants a hefty 390€ (about 420 USD) advance payment in total. Is it possible to get that reduced? EnBW also set quite high advance payments for me, but I was able to reduce them to about half through their online portal.
Otherwise, I would consider escalating the issue to the mediation service of the network regulator at the same time.
H
HeimatBauer4 Sep 2023 22:05First, it would be helpful to know what type of meters are installed in your system.
Classic setup: One meter for the heat pump and one for the household. Both are connected to the grid and each has a meter protection fuse. After the meter, the electricity flows to the respective consumers. The advantage is that you can read everything directly, meaning "consumption 1 kWh" on the heat pump meter also means 1 kWh of heat pump electricity consumption. This makes the entire reading process straightforward.
Cascade setup: The electricity first goes through the main meter and then feeds both the heat pump and the household meter. The main meter is fed from the grid and has a meter protection fuse; the household meter is fed from the main meter and does not have a meter protection fuse. The benefit of this setup is that if you have photovoltaic (solar) generation, it can supply both the household (since it is directly connected) and the heat pump (which then runs through the household meter as input but not through the grid). This is sometimes referred to as "power-to-heat," which strictly speaking is not entirely accurate, but it allows you to use photovoltaic power directly for heating without the expensive detour through the grid. However, only the household electricity consumption is directly readable (household meter consumption), and the heat pump electricity must be calculated as (main meter minus household meter). This calculation is performed by the utility company, which then reports the consumption to the electricity provider.
Who can confirm this? The electrician must have wired it this way, and the utility company must be present to seal the meters. So "classic or cascade" is not a setting you can just switch overnight via a web portal—it requires rewiring and resealing.
What to do? I would recommend simply sending an email or a letter (!) pointing out that the meter serial numbers mentioned in the letter do not match the installed meters and requesting a correction with a deadline. Only if they fail to provide a clear explanation or correction should you escalate the matter.
Classic setup: One meter for the heat pump and one for the household. Both are connected to the grid and each has a meter protection fuse. After the meter, the electricity flows to the respective consumers. The advantage is that you can read everything directly, meaning "consumption 1 kWh" on the heat pump meter also means 1 kWh of heat pump electricity consumption. This makes the entire reading process straightforward.
Cascade setup: The electricity first goes through the main meter and then feeds both the heat pump and the household meter. The main meter is fed from the grid and has a meter protection fuse; the household meter is fed from the main meter and does not have a meter protection fuse. The benefit of this setup is that if you have photovoltaic (solar) generation, it can supply both the household (since it is directly connected) and the heat pump (which then runs through the household meter as input but not through the grid). This is sometimes referred to as "power-to-heat," which strictly speaking is not entirely accurate, but it allows you to use photovoltaic power directly for heating without the expensive detour through the grid. However, only the household electricity consumption is directly readable (household meter consumption), and the heat pump electricity must be calculated as (main meter minus household meter). This calculation is performed by the utility company, which then reports the consumption to the electricity provider.
Who can confirm this? The electrician must have wired it this way, and the utility company must be present to seal the meters. So "classic or cascade" is not a setting you can just switch overnight via a web portal—it requires rewiring and resealing.
What to do? I would recommend simply sending an email or a letter (!) pointing out that the meter serial numbers mentioned in the letter do not match the installed meters and requesting a correction with a deadline. Only if they fail to provide a clear explanation or correction should you escalate the matter.
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