For weeks now I have been trying to get EDF to tell me how to read my gas meter. I even got one EDF chat person to promise to send someone round to read the meter every month. Another told me they never send people round.
A couple of times I have sent photos of the gas meter but once received that was the end of the conversation. I never heard back.
A few days ago I got a person who seemed to know what he or she was talking about. This is what s/he said:
"The meter will be in standby mode. Press any one of the three red function buttons to activate the display and back light. The screen only stays lit for five seconds , just press any red button to light up the screen again. The screen you need will start with V. It displays your total volume register which is measured in cubic meters (m3 ). This is the number is your meter reading, including zeros."
There are a number of problems with this. As you can see from the top photo there is only red button. Pressing it is difficult because the meter has thoughfully been placed in asmall cupboard on the ground in a cramped corner.
Adopting a prone position and using a torch I could just about press the single red button and the message if you hold it is "CREDIT/ COST NOW/ USING NOW 000549.06/ COST NOW 00024.67".
But I failed that falling at the first hurdle. EDF wouldn't accept the account details it had provided.
I tried to get back to K on the chatline but surprisingly they'd all gone to lunch or were taking a sabbatical or some such thing.
Anyone who wants to hack into my gas account and use those details to pay my gas bill should be warned: it isn't easy!
Jonathan Brind