Possibly over charged on Night saver Electricity meter due to incorrect time set on it.

radio gaga

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I have a Geothermal Heat Pump with underground coil heating system installed in a new build since 2008. I have found this a to be expensive during the harsh winter frosts and snow but very cheap in summer. Very recently a fault occurred and I got my regular servicer to replace part and fix issue. He informed me when he was finished that the Electricity Meter Clock was 10 hours out. Since then I have contacted ESB networks to reset clock to correct time and they are due out next week.

I am now thinking I may have been overcharged for a long time as my Heating system is set up to run on a night saver rate which I would not have availed of due to the meter timer error. Do I have any come back in getting a refund for possibly been overcharged for a long period and who would be responsible for refunds, ESB networks or the electricity provider ? Who is responsible for setting the times on these meters as this could be happening to a lot of people.

Thanks in advance for any replies.
 
I have a Geothermal Heat Pump with underground coil heating system installed in a new build since 2008. I have found this a to be expensive during the harsh winter frosts and snow but very cheap in summer. Very recently a fault occurred and I got my regular servicer to replace part and fix issue. He informed me when he was finished that the Electricity Meter Clock was 10 hours out. Since then I have contacted ESB networks to reset clock to correct time and they are due out next week.

I am now thinking I may have been overcharged for a long time as my Heating system is set up to run on a night saver rate which I would not have availed of due to the meter timer error. Do I have any come back in getting a refund for possibly been overcharged for a long period and who would be responsible for refunds, ESB networks or the electricity provider ? Who is responsible for setting the times on these meters as this could be happening to a lot of people.

Thanks in advance for any replies.
I thought the switch to night meter (and back) is done via a signal on the network, not by some local time on the meter?
E.g. old school dual revolving disc meters do not have a clock in it.
happy to stand corrected though.
 
My dual meter in a new build around the same time as the OPs has a clock on the meter which shows the changeover between day and night rate. It's about 10 minutes out but I've known this since Day 1, it's pretty obvious. I think 10 hours out should also be obvious.

Besides, if the heating is set up to run at night rate and has been running on day rate for the past 14 years this should have been noticed in the bills?

I can't answer the question about whether you have any come back for a refund. Your electricity provider certainly would not be responsible.
 
Its a dual meter with both a day and night reading. Would a powercut possibly have thrown the timer off ?
 
I thought the switch to night meter (and back) is done via a signal on the network, not by some local time on the meter?
E.g. old school dual revolving disc meters do not have a clock in it.
happy to stand corrected though.
Definitely done locally on old meters. Maybe new smart meters do it differently. My night meter timing is also out after 20+ years, but only by about ten minutes and I've never been motivated to hassle anybody about it. But I might do so now. :D
 
ESB Networks came out and replaced Meter a few days after I reported it. They said they will have to look at new bills over the next few months and compare against old ones to decide if and what refund is due. They will not tell me how far they will go back if refunds are due.
 
ESB Networks came out and replaced Meter a few days after I reported it. They said they will have to look at new bills over the next few months and compare against old ones to decide if and what refund is due. They will not tell me how far they will go back if refunds are due.
. . . . and they are going to compare your current usage against previous usage and then they will estimate what they owe you or you owe them. Be mindful of this when they contact you. Don't score any home goals and have your answers ready and retaliate first. (This is the soundest advice you'll get, believe me!).
 
Definitely done locally on old meters. Maybe new smart meters do it differently. My night meter timing is also out after 20+ years, but only by about ten minutes and I've never been motivated to hassle anybody about it. But I might do so now. :D

Mine has been out (by 8 minutes) for the past decade. I flagged it to the ESB and they (politely) laughed at me. Now I use it to my advantage in the mornings (I can boil a kettle, microwave my porridge and make toast until 08.08!) I suspect that the savings that I have realised over the past decade may well be astronomical!
 
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