I have been with Southern Electric for over 2 years and for the past year the meter has become faulty and stated that I have not used any units for 12 months. I pay by direct debit and they send someone to read our meter every 6 months but they did not notice that the meter was faulty until I pointed it out to them. They are going to replace the meter and say that a team will assess how to calculate the amount they think I would've used in the previous year. Should I ask them to use the initial year as the basis for doing the assessment or ask them to monitor my usage now? Also, can they request the full amount to be paid immediately or can it be spread over 12 months? Whose responsibility is it to ensure the meter is functioning and am I likely to be charged for the replacement? Thanks.

You shouldn't be charged for the meter but you should be charged for your usage. The number of units that they bill you for should be calculated in a reasonable way that both you and the supplier are happy with. If you are happy to use the number of units used over the previous 12 months (at today's price, of course) I am sure that they will see that as reasonable. They can request that any amount due is paid in a lump sum but then you can ask for it to be spread over 12 months. Again, I would expect them to be reasonable.

Essentially the issues are for you and the supplier to sort out between yourselves by polite communications.

If they become unreasonable, you can involve consumerfocus or consumerdirect.

You will not be charged for the meter.

Your usage will be worked out in your favour but if you disagree say something to them.

You will not have to pay it back at once although you will have 12 dd payments on your account(assuming you are on a monthly dd) and they should cover it.

I think it would be difficult to say that SE are response for checking your meter is running properly your meter gets read ever 6months and it may be a diff reader.

You should have had 4 bills in that time and SE and you should have noticed that there had been no usage. Nobody uses no gas in december for example! lol!

Bills will be produced automatically and they would more than likely rely on you noticing that you had used no gas for the past however many months.