how do i get my gas&elec meters checked

embem_2

I have had an ongoing prolem with my energy suppliers, me complaining that my bills are too high them saying "it's about normal?"

(i did change from Npower to scottish power)

for my 90 day usage with scottish power (for a 3 bed semi detached 2 working adults and a 5 year old and a 3 year old)....£630.00?!, my current direct debit is £130.00 a month, I can't afford to pay it as it is and have done all the energy reducing, cavity wall, new combi boiler, energy lights, loft insulation as possible, how do i get my meters checked to see if they are faulty?

thanks

KimYeovil

£630 for dual fuel is normal. It's less than double the year-long national average of more than £100 per month. Paying only double over winter is, in fact, better than average (especially this past quarter.)

You can, of course, request the meters are checked by your supplier. It will, however, cost in the order of £70 per meter.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi

You can have your meters checked but this would come at a cost. Your supplier can arrange for a ‘check meter’ to be fitted, this runs alongside your current meter and after being there for a duration of time they are compared to see if the same amount of usage has been recorded.

The cost of a check meter is around £90 maybe a little more or less, the cost will be covered by your supplier only if a fault is identified otherwise you incur the cost.

I would firstly look at taking regular meter readings and work out your daily usage, you can then compare this against you appliances to see where the energy is going.

Try asking your supplier for a call from their consumption department, they will guide you through your appliances and tell you how much each uses on an average daily basis, allowing you to compare your daily usage against the appliances you are using.

If this quarter is an unusually high bill, check to see if the readings are accurate, it may be that last quarter you were underestimated and this contains some catch up charges.

filmnoir

The chances of both your electric and gas meter incorrectly registering gas an electric is remote to say the least. Under regulation meters are deemed to be accurate within a percentage (Uusally 2% eiether side). This is checked by an OFMAT test for Gas, but invloves removing the meter sending it for testing and installing a new gas meter, or in electric to start a check meter before a possible full removal for testing. Both is paid for upfront by customers. A meter is certified by the manufacturer to be accurate unless proven inaccurate.

It must be noted though majority of cases come back registering correctly within the prescribed limits or if incorrectly registering by up to four five percent either side or untestable. This can be interpreted incorrectly by suppliers sometimes if it comes in under registering as they have a tendancy to charge you more for the duration you said the meter was inacurate.

This said in monertary terms this is not alot, although your supplier must ensure you have an accurate meter which is where negotiation comes in regardless of it over or under registering.

Mind you seeing that you have a three and five year old in a 3 bed semi, that does not seem an extornatley high bill and certainly not worth the added expenses to make sure your meters are working.

As suggested take daily reads AM before you go out and PM when you get back. Note down everything that is on during these periods. Look to see what your using against the appliances.

Also check you reads against there reads. Check they are invoicing you for the correct meter serial number and also the correct type of gas meter. (Imperial or Metric)

DocBrown

Brian_-_E.ON wrote: »

Hi

You can have your meters checked but this would come at a cost. Your supplier can arrange for a ‘check meter’ to be fitted, this runs alongside your current meter and after being there for a duration of time they are compared to see if the same amount of usage has been recorded.

The cost of a check meter is around £90 maybe a little more or less, the cost will be covered by your supplier only if a fault is identified otherwise you incur the cost.

I would firstly look at taking regular meter readings and work out your daily usage, you can then compare this against you appliances to see where the energy is going.

Try asking your supplier for a call from their consumption department, they will guide you through your appliances and tell you how much each uses on an average daily basis, allowing you to compare your daily usage against the appliances you are using.

If this quarter is an unusually high bill, check to see if the readings are accurate, it may be that last quarter you were underestimated and this contains some catch up charges.

Hi,
just to let you know, our electric meter has failed and hasn't recorded units used for a year or more. This unit is a Siemans made device and was changed in late 2006 under some nationwide updating of meters even though our house was only 8 years old at the time it was swapped. The annoying thing is instead of power company actually reading the meter quarterly and thus spotting a fault, they only estimate. I'm hoping they realise we are low users at 6 to 8 units per day. I've certainly learned a lesson. Always read the meter and don't assume anything.