Massive jump in electricity consumption....how?

slummymummyof3

I have been monitoring our gas and electricity consumption, in particular since August as I was concerned over our useage. We changed supplier to Scottish Power online and I can put my meter readings in as often as I like.

We live in a 4 bed house - 3 kids and 2 adults. Just put in latest readings and over the last 8 days our daily average for electricity consumption has apparently been 63 units per day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was for 6/11/08-14/11/08

When I track back on our electricty over the last few months it has been as follows:
28/10/08 - 5/11/08 Daily average 16 units (9 days)
14/10/08 - 27/10/08 Daily average 13 units (14 days)
05/09/08 - 13/10/08 Daily average 14 units (39 days)

Our central heating is gas, cooker is gas, vitually all lightbulbs are energy saving. We are at work all day. Nothing is left on standby during the day or overnight.

I was flabergasted when I just put in the latest electric readings.....is something wrong with my meter or what?

anniecave

you haven't misread the meter by any chance (sounds silly but go check what it is again just to make sure) ?

slummymummyof3

No haven't misread it. On todays consumption so far we have used 9 units and it is Saturday and therefore we are all at home. 2 computers on, washing machine. How can we possibly have used 63 units per day for 8 days?

Farway

Someone accidently left an immersion heater / fire on? Or freezer door open a bit & not noticed?

Mazio_2

A 2kw appliance left on will give you 48 units in 24hours and if you add your normal units this would be about right.

I would switch my fuse box off and see if the meter stops this should eliminate a fault with your house (wiring appliance) if the meter does not move thern switch it back on and start unpluging appliances and check back you could have a faulty one or your wiring.

I would check for the big users in power first but if its a fault it could be most anything plugged in eg
electric shower
electric room heaters
immersion or hot water leak
tumble dryer
dishwasher
faulty kettle hair dryer.

slummymummyof3

Immersion heater never used. Hairdrier etc all unplugged when not in use. No dishwasher, electric room heaters. Only thing I do have from above list is tumble drier which I have used but not a ridiculous amount as I am very conscious of the cost.

I even unplug my microwave and gas cooker! Mobile phone only charged for 30 mins every 3 days and it is then unplugged. I don't understand what can be drawing this amount of electricity when I am normally around 14-16 units per day. It must be the tumble drier????

Magentasue

slummymummyof3 wrote: »

I don't understand what can be drawing this amount of electricity when I am normally around 14-16 units per day. It must be the tumble drier????

My tumble drier uses 1.75kwh an hour.

Mazio_2

If there is a fault in any electrical appliance it can draw electricity even when switched off at its on off switch you need to make sure its removed from the wall socket.

Remember even if its operating it could still be drawing more power if its faulty cable or internal wiring just not enough to trip the fuse have you checked your fridge freezer they are on 24/7?

It could even be a fault in the internal wiring or plug socket , fuse box, lighting circuit in your house not any appliance at all.

If you turn your fuse box off check if the meter is still moving this will indicate a problem before your fuse box supply.

If you cant find it I would get an electrician to check it out as it could be a danger.

I would just like to state I am not an electrician so this is my advice only and be careful if you have any doubts get it checked out by a professional even if it cost you a few quid.

anniecave

don't use the tumble dryer at all for a day... see how many units you use that day without the dryer.

electric room heaters?? How many? What kw? How many hours per day on for? You say you have gas CH though so are these just extras only used occasionally?

We have electric heating only and it is WELL expensive.

do you have any large freezers or fridges? I believe old freezers can use up quite a bit of electricitity.

slummymummyof3

No I don't have electric room heaters - we have has gas ch which is on a timer.
We have a 6' upright freezer but not that old, but that was on when we were using 13 or 14 units per day so I know its not that.

Waiting for the energy owl to arrive from the Daily Mail from weeks and weeks ago - then I wil be able to establish if it is my tumble drier. However, it hasn't been on copious amounts to take me to 63 units per day!!!!

Tomorrow I will get OH to turn fuse box off and see if the meter is still moving at least we can establish if that is a problem.

What I find most strange is the fact that we are at work during the week, so the 63 units per day was an average over an 8 day period - even if my tumble drier was used 2-3 times on Sat/Sun that was an extortinate amount of electricity that was consumed......the plot thickens.

diddydiner

slummymummyof3 wrote: »

No I don't have electric room heaters - we have has gas ch which is on a timer.
We have a 6' upright freezer but not that old, but that was on when we were using 13 or 14 units per day so I know its not that.

Waiting for the energy owl to arrive from the Daily Mail from weeks and weeks ago - then I wil be able to establish if it is my tumble drier. However, it hasn't been on copious amounts to take me to 63 units per day!!!!

Tomorrow I will get OH to turn fuse box off and see if the meter is still moving at least we can establish if that is a problem.

What I find most strange is the fact that we are at work during the week, so the 63 units per day was an average over an 8 day period - even if my tumble drier was used 2-3 times on Sat/Sun that was an extortinate amount of electricity that was consumed......the plot thickens.

know how you feel. ive been cutting back and monoriting my consumption using a monitor i bought. just put my story on today. this is what makes me wonder about mne. you have 5 in your house, i have me and two boys whos a work all day and i only uses sparingly the average amount of appliances and my units are anything between 25-35 a day..i cant work it out driving me mad the last 3 months logging everything. i recon theres lots of people being ripped off somehow. when i get to the bottom of mine ill let you know.
was it a proper reading from the last reading previous. otherwise it coud be that the bill is making up for estimated in the past????