Community / Reminder to submit readings as energy websites experience high demand
SHETLAND residents are being reminded to submit electricity meter readings ahead of the price cap rising tomorrow (Friday), with Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael encouraging people to get their numbers in.
There have also been reports of some energy supplier websites crashing due to high demand as people on default tariffs submit readings.
EDF said it was “experiencing technical issues with our website and app when customers are trying to submit meter readings”, with an online form available instead.
Meanwhile SSE said people cannot log in online accounts and instead ask customers to submit readings through an online form. Bulb also has a virtual queue for people accessing its website.
It comes as the national energy price cap gets set to rise amid higher wholesale costs. The price cap for default tariff customers will increase from £1,277 to £1,971 per year – a rise of £693.
The rise does not affect people who are on a fixed-term energy tariff.
Prepayment customers will see an even sharper increase. The price cap is updated twice a year and tracks wholesale energy and other costs.
Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael is calling on households to make sure they are charged at the lower rate on gas and electricity used up until 31 March, by submitting a new meter reading by the end the day.
“The enormous price cap hike hitting households in April is not something we can now avoid,” he said.
“What we can do is take individual measures to save before it comes in, including by getting an up-to-date meter reading for electricity – and gas if you are on the grid – ahead of Friday.
“I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues at Westminster and Holyrood are doing all that we can to push for more government support for people suffering from fuel poverty.
“In the meantime, every little helps to cut costs and save money. If you are struggling with fuel cost issues, my office will do what we can to provide advice and advocacy.”
More information about the price cap be found here.
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