faulty electricity meter...

littletiki

Hi,
I had my old electricity meter changed about 3 months ago to one of these so-called "state of the art" electronic ones. Yesterday I recieved a bill that was about 4 times the normal amount, and stating that I'm suddenly £400 odd in arrears - even though I use a budget scheme payment card and have never fallen behind.

Consequently, I had a row over the phone with my local supplier NPower about the bill, who not only weren't particularly helpful when I stated there must be something wrong, but it didn't resolve things either. Today I checked my last bill and noticed that since I had this meter fitted, I've been using about four times the number of weekly units during the day that I have always used ( I'm on ecomony 7, BTW), despite using the same amount of electricity as always. So clearly the meter must be the reason. Has anyone had the same problem, and did you get your supplier to resolve it favourably?
thanks

Magentasue

How many units are you using a day or week?

littletiki

it's gone from normally around 48-50 to around 190-200 a week.

Magentasue

To me, 50 per week looks low and 200 looks high, even for an all electric house. A large family, not being very careful, could easily use 200kwh a week. So, I wonder if your old meter was running slow and this new one is accurate? Or you have a faulty appliance (we had a similar experience down to a faulty immersion heater)? Otherwise, it looks as if the meter could be responsible - best to check out all possibilities before paying out for a meter check though.

littletiki

No, just to clear that up. I live on my own in a one-bedroomed house, and I've always used the previous amount. The only real heater I use, apart from the economy-7 in the lounge, is a small 1 bar heater attached to my bedroom wall, which I only ever put on about 3 hours before bedtime. So it just has to be the meter...

Magentasue

littletiki wrote: »

No, just to clear that up. I live on my own in a one-bedroomed house, and I've always used the previous amount. The only real heater I use, apart from the economy-7 in the lounge, is a small 1 bar heater attached to my bedroom wall, which I only ever put on about 3 hours before bedtime. So it just has to be the meter...

That heater could be 3-6kwh a day - what other heaters do you have? I realise the meter could be responsible but 50kwh a week sounds very low if it includes electric heating.

littletiki

Just 1 small 1-bar heater in each room, so just 2 heaters (kitchen/lounge), neither of which I put on for more than very short spell daily, hour-two. The only main heater is in the lounge,which is economy-7. So it has to be a meter fault, as there's suddenly been a quadruple increase in daytime unit usuage without any additional electric being used than I've always used

With all respect, the point's being missed here. The Q was has anyone else had this meter problem, and did there supplier resolve it
thanks

Magentasue

littletiki wrote: »

Just 1 small 1-bar heater in each room, so just 2 heaters (kitchen/lounge), neither of which I put on for more than very short spell daily, hour-two. The only main heater is in the lounge,which is economy-7. So it has to be a meter fault, as there's suddenly been a quadruple increase in daytime unit usuage without any additional electric being used than I've always used

With all respect, the point's being missed here. The Q was has anyone else had this meter problem, and did there supplier resolve it
thanks

I understand what you're saying and the short answer is that yes, people have had problems with their meters and had the bills recalculated. But many more people have had their meters tested and they've been found to be fine. The fault is more likely to be that the previous meter was recording less than was being used or that an appliance has developed a fault. Your new meter could be faulty and you can have it tested but you have to pay up front. The fee is refunded if the meter is found to be faulty.

kippen_noedel

Turn everything off, check the meter isn't still adding up usage.

then try taking meter readings for a couple of hours before you use your heater, just before you turn it on & again a couple of hours into using it.

the rest is in Magentasues' post above.

that will show how much your heater is using

littletiki

well, clearly there's something wrong, and it's a coincidence that a new meter's installed and suddenly I'm getting my bills qadrupled... BTW, d'you know what that fee is?

Magentasue

littletiki wrote: »

well, clearly there's something wrong, and it's a coincidence that a new meter's installed and suddenly I'm getting my bills qadrupled... BTW, d'you know what that fee is?

People have mentioned the costs on this board - varies, I think, but somewhere around £70. You get it back if the meter is faulty.