single person daily electric usage is this too high?

Chrysalis

Cardew I assume ofgem assume more people live in those properties, so I simply compared myself to the 1 room figure. 3 rooms would mean more people yes. So the fact my usage is near to 3 peoples usage is concerning.

I left my pc turned off since yesterday afternoon and read the meter again in the afternoon today, I was a bit late so was for around a 26 hour period.

With the pc off and only the fridge turned on (even turned of sky+ box and cordless phone base), 12 units was used. I cannot test the fridge off until I have eaten all the food which is probably end of this week or maybe start of next week.

To aelitaman yes I suspected the pc , but only 3 units of usage dissapeared with it off. You say yours went down to 9 a day which I think is still high, any idea what your other 9 was used on?

washing machine is used once a week at the most, tv always turned off on switch never on standby.

as a comparison my sister uses hairdryer, electric showers daily, washing maching +tumble dryer every other day, leaves her tv on all day for her cat, her boyfriend uses xbox360 and her average usage is 4 a day.

I have spoken to ofgem today as well, apperently I can have a meter check and bill is put on hold whilst awaiting result, if the meter is found not to be faulty then they are allowed to charge me for the check. So bit of a putoff. I asked how do I check if someone is stealing my electric since this is a multi flat property and they didnt know.

perhaps I am going crazy and its normal for 1 person to spend £15 a week on electric.

Cardew

A fridge will never use 12 units in 26 hours.

If you turn off the fridge for a couple of hours no harm will come to any of the food if you don't open the door.

With everything off, you will be able to see the meter moving if it is using 1kW every 2 hours.

It is highly unlikely that the meter is wrong. If you are correct about it using 12 kWh(units) in 26 hours with only the fridge on, then it is far more likely that the property is wrongly wired and you are supplying another flat, or the lights on stairs etc. This doesn't always mean foul play, just a lousy electrician!!

With everthing off, look at your meter and turn on every light in the hall stairs etc and see if that makes the meter run faster. If there is a wall socket anywhere, plug in a kettle and see what happens to your meter.

Chrysalis

I bit the bullet and had everything off overnight.

Took a 20 hour reading, and 12 units used. (note stuff was used in day like fridge turned back on, kettle boiled approx 3-4 times half full not full and laptop on for 2 hours).

desktop PC has not been on for 2 days, sky+ box off for 2 days now, fridge was off overnight.

Sorry if I do not hold your confidence on the meter, a little story to tell reference my gas meter. My gas meter got changed (without me asking) following me querying a high gas bill last winter, after the change my usage conveniatly seem to drop by 90%. Seems the old meter for my gas was faulty (are these supposedbly rare to?).

However I do actually agree with you I think bad wiring or me been tapped is more likely, there is also 2 security lights outside the building, with me been the only credit meter I suspect I am paying for them.

The question is how do I get the wiring checked? I am worried the answer is to kick up a fuss with landlord and make him pay for an electrician to gut the building?

Chrysalis

the plot thickens.

last 20 hours.

all my kitchen dipswitchess of but main switch on at meter cupbpoard for 4 hours = 3 units used.
with just fridge on for 2nd 4 hours = 5 units used

Incidently my bill has now arrived.

£884 for the period between dec 2008 and march 2009 (the meter change)
further £244.71 between march 2009 and now.

1970 units used between march and now, ofgem report 2500 as average per year.
My annual usage is working out as about 7850.

I rang up ofgem again and they have advised me to not pay the bill until a meter check is done so conflicting advice but again they warn me if the meter isnt faulty I have to pay for check.

KimYeovil

Chrysalis wrote: »

£884 for the period between dec 2008 and march 2008

You are right. The plot has thickened. Your meter's clock is running backwards!

techno12

Put your PC into standby overnight. I started doing this a couple of years ago, and my electricity usage went down 15-20%. It uses 175w normally and 5w in standby so well worth it.

Maybe it's not the cause of your high bills, but it's a good habit to get into and everyone can make this saving if like me you used to leave it on 24/7.

Chrysalis

ok further update.

I rng atantic again, as soon as I mentioned ofgem and that ofgem quoted 2500 units a year average they started cooperating.

they checking my meter in august, I wont be charged even if not faulty and my bill is also going to be corrected in regards to the meter change.

Chrysalis

KimYeovil wrote: »

You are right. The plot has thickened. Your meter's clock is running backwards!

yeah sorry march 2009

Chrysalis

techno12 wrote: »

Put your PC into standby overnight. I started doing this a couple of years ago, and my electricity usage went down 15-20%. It uses 175w normally and 5w in standby so well worth it.

Maybe it's not the cause of your high bills, but it's a good habit to get into and everyone can make this saving if like me you used to leave it on 24/7.

yeah, the problem for me is I actually have had the pc turned off, and my usage with it completely turned off has not moved what would be expected. My usage when I had just about everything turned off didnt even go down 50%. But yes as you said this has woken me up and when this is all resolved I will not be keeping my pc on 24/7 again.

I spoke to a friend of mine 5 minutes ago, he is running 2 pcs 24/7 has 4 kids who are constantly watching tv or playing on xbox and his usage is lower than mine O_o .

aelitaman

Chrysalis,

My usage went from 15 to 9 so a total drop of 6 units. My pc was resonsible for about 4 of that I think (it is not a small PC, plus I used to have the laptop on as well). The other 2 reduction was achieved by turning all tvs, microwaves, chargers off when not in use not using standby.

As to your friends that are using such low energy I just do not believe it. I am very careful of turning all things off when not is use and low power bulbs and I just can not get below 9 units a day and I am at work for 10 hours. To be less than 9 they must not watch TV, cook or have fridge.