Electricity charges - I think we're being ripped off...

prolific8

We recently moved in to a two-bedroom flat on the second floor. It is all electric, we have two storage heaters (one in the master bedroom, one in the living room), tumble dryer, washing machine, electric shower, dishwasher and electric oven. We're on Southern Electric's Economy 7 plan.

We got our first electricity bill a couple of weeks back for £140 to cover the period of one month since we moved in. It was estimated at 600 units of peak electricity, and 600 units of off-peak. I checked the meters I was a bit shocked to see that the day reading was actually higher than their estimate (about 200 more), and the off-peak a bit lower (by about 200 again).

For the last week or so I've been taking daily meter readings in the early evening. Both myself and my wife work during the day, and we've stopped using the washing machine, tumble dryer etc during peak hours. We've only just started using the storage heaters during this period (one, in fact, the other doesn't work). Interestingly enough, our Economy 7 period doesnt seem to click over until around 2.15am, which I think is wrong (I have a guy from Southern Electric coming to check this next week).

So, in this one week I've been taking readings, we've used:

163 units of peak electricity
139 units of off-peak electricity (around 90 of these has been running ONE storage heater for two nights).

for a total of around £35 of electricity for one week (leading to our magical £140 figure!).

As I mentioned, in this time we've stopped using most of the appliances such as dishwasher, tumble dryer and washing machine during the day (shower and oven can't wait).

I, and everyone else I've spoken to, thinks this is a highly excessive amount for a two bedroom flat hardly using any appliances, and only occupied in the evenings and at weekends. Does it sound high to you guys, perhaps a faulty meter or something? Or is it normal?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Magentasue

We had storage heaters one winter and they were horrifically expensive. That can't explain your 163 day units, though.

We (family of six, three bed house, someone here a lot of the day, w/m and dishwasher used every day, tumble drier a couple of times this week) have used about 80 units this week. That's a 24/7 week.

You haven't mentioned water heating - when we moved into out present house, we had a faulty immersion heater. Combined with electric heating, we used £200 of electricity in one month.

Apart from faulty meter, can only think of immersion heater or frequent, long electric showers being responsible.

prolific8

I have the immersion heater switched off - we do dishes in the dishwasher at night, and washing machine and shower are electrically heated. We each take a five/ten minute shower in the morning - I will have a look at how many units that takes, but I don't think it's the answer.

Appreciate the quicky reply

whatatwit

Prolific8, is the meter actually in your flat.
If it is in a communal area, then the meters could easily have been mixed up with a neighbour.
Maybe turn everything off except fridge and check the meter to see how much is being used. You could maybe ring your partner and get them to turn oven and kettle on and see if 'your' meter then starts to move.

prolific8

Hi whatatwit,

The meter is in the flat itself. I will try turning everything off tomorrow and measuring. At night we're using about 6 units when the heater isnt on, all thats on then is the Sky+ box, cable modem, fridge and freezer.

Magentasue

It doesn't really look as if you're doing anything that would use the amount of electricity metered.

I know Econ 7 periods can vary so that's not so strange. But your meter readings are very high. There have been other threads on here about people being charged for other flats in a block. Might be worth a search.

whatatwit

prolific8 wrote: »

Hi whatatwit,

The meter is in the flat itself. I will try turning everything off tomorrow and measuring. At night we're using about 6 units when the heater isnt on, all thats on then is the Sky+ box, cable modem, fridge and freezer.

That does seem high, we used 72 units of electric last week.
We have modem, small fridge, small freezer & chest freezer. Family of 3 with no energy saving bulbs.

I think Lidl have got the energy monitors on offer this week, might be worth you checking how much the fridge and freezer are using.

Magentasue

Ah, whatatwit (which I always read as what a wit) we meet again!

I think there's more to this than a dodgy fridge. 300 units in a week. Even my carbon fiend kids would struggle to match that.

prolific8

Thanks for all the replies so far. I'm going to phone Southern Electric tomorrow and register my...ahem...reservations. Hopefully the guy coming out next week to check the E7 meter can check that the meter is working right in general. I'll report back...

prolific8

They basically told me to wait until the guy comes next Tuesday. He's coming to check the switchover from peak to low rates, but presumably he'll be able to check the meter for faults at that time as well? Anyone know?

BallandChain

Hi Prolific. I just came across your thread and you have a similar problem to me. We moved into our home back in August and after 5 weeks just had an electric bill for £101! We are all electric too (we have electric radiators,) I used to have economy 7 storage heaters and they weren't cheap. Well, I was shocked that this heating system was costing so much.

We have 2 radiators on now and again (one is the master so that has to be on) and we have one on in the room we are in. The meter just whizzes round and we've even turned the thermostat down and only had 2 radiators on when it's absolutely freezing for a couple of hours at a time.

I had got so cautious that I did meter readings before and after using the washing machine, heating, water etc (individually of course.) I rang my electric company for the night time cheap rates and they told me it was 11.30pm-8.30am in the summer. I did my washing one night at 11.40 pm and went to check the meter.

The night time reading hadn't moved but the day time one had! So I phoned EDF again and got a different person but they still said my cheap rates were 11.30pm-8.30am. I explained what had happened and the guy arranged for their meter engineer to come out. He did call and he changed the meter. He also told me that my cheap rates run 1.30am to 8.30 am and that I was told the wrong times!

Now that was twice I had called EDF and they told me the wrong off peak times. The engineer told me customers are getting told their off peak times and often it is wrong! One customer was told her off peak started at 7.30pm so she did her washing then, only to be confronted with a huge electric bill. It turns out they gave her the wrong off peak times!

Now I have the proper off peak times I hope to take advantage of it. We don't have storage heaters but we are on economy 7, but with all electric heating it's never cheap.

Just to add the meter engineer told me that the meter works off a radio signal and to always leave about 10 minutes after the start of the cheap night time start time to use your heating, etc as there can be a delay in the switch over to cheap rate.