Strange jump in usage

sarahs999

We've just switched to Scottish power from EDF, and I got our final gas bill on friday. IT all looked fine until I looked at the little chart they include that shows your average daily usage in units compared to the previous quarter and also the same quarter in the previous year. Since this time last year they are saying that our usage has more than doubled per day, but our lifestyles are exactly the same. Nothing has changed. All we would have used gas for in the last quarter is the hob and hot water, we haven't had the heating on. So what could have made it more than double? Should I query this? Might our meter be wrong? How could I find out?

Thanks

Premier_2

Were any of the previous bills based on estimated readings? If so it could have been underestimated at the time, or perhaps the final one is making up the difference not accounted for becuase of a previous estimation.

Where a gas meter goes wrong, it normally reads low rather than high as it relies on a turbine powered by the moving gas. The meter fails because the turbine becomes stiff to turn or perhaps a blade breaks
(Note: this theory doesn't apply to modern all electronic gas meters which I think work on ionisation - however that type of meter is still relatively rare and most are of the traditional big box design)

The only way to have the meter tested is to have it replaced and then sent away for inspection. The supplier will do this for you if requested but will charge you! Only if the meter is proven faulty will the charge be refunded.

sarahs999

THanks, that's a really good point about estimated usage. I'll have to check back over my bills but you could well be right.

Given that my end of service bill was only £49 I guess, on reflection, that I can't possibly be using twice as much as last year or there would be a bigger shortfall.