989 Electric Units used in 1 day - Help!

csiman

Hi,

I recently received a bill from atlantic which detailed that my usage had gone from around £25 electric per month to £70+. I then decided to start monitoring the meter over the last few days and was amazed that it used 989 units in 1 day. The following are my own readings over the last few years:-

Date Reading / Difference / Days Between Readings / Avg .Units per day
12/06/2002 32128
20/05/2003 37137 5009 342.00 14
01/12/2003 39500 2363 195.00 12
05/07/2005 44966 5466 582.00 9
28/02/2006 52500 7534 238.00 31
26/05/2006 52730 230 87.00 2
27/05/2006 52736 6 1.00 6
30/05/2006 53725 989 3.00 329

So it appears that the meter has started going wrong after 05/07/2005 as the average units per day trebled. Now it seems to have gone completely mad and has registered 989 in just 1 day!

Has anyone else had a problem like this and if so, were you liable for the bill as Atlantic say that I must have consumed that much power? I do not have 1000 PC's in my house (I live alone and work all day and have gas heating / cooking).

Anyone know who I should approach as Atlantic seem very indifferent to my situation?

Thanks.

irnbru_2

csiman wrote:

Anyone know who I should approach as Atlantic seem very indifferent to my situation?

Are you all electric?

And what type of meter do you have? LCD display?

csiman

csiman wrote:

I live alone and work all day and have gas heating / cooking).

And it is the 5 dial type and I have definitely been reading it correctly.

Thanks.

moonrakerz

Take some more readings and get a witness (or two) to them !

irnbru_2

Tell your supplier you've got a meter fault and to send someone out.

You'll then have to prepare your case with them regarding overcharging based on a faulty meter.

abbecer

Take photographs of your meter reading. The photo will probably have the date on it as well. Good luck

Rebecca x :rotfl:

Cardew

csiman wrote:

And it is the 5 dial type and I have definitely been reading it correctly.

Thanks.

Are you absolutely sure?

Remember the dials read clockwise and ant-clockwise on alternate dials.

espresso

See how it should be read here just to be sure.

Cagey

If it is a dial type ,what date stamp is on the glass. It may be out of certification.

Secondly,switch off your main switch for a couple of minutes & see if the meter is still turning.If it is then you have a faulty meter .
If its not there may be a wiring fault in your house. Switch off everything at the sockets etc & then check if meter is turning.

Cardew

Are you still using 989 units a day?

dekeweild

I have been using an average of 11 units a day since the 989 jump which equates to about 4000 units per year. My previous three years before the current one have averaged out at about 4000 too. The current year has now jumped 10,000 units so I believe my meter very rarely is jumping a great deal of units.

Atlantic cannot come to inspect the meter until 26th June! I'm keeping a close eye on it but I suspect they will not find a fault and just say that I must be using more electricity. I know this is wrong as I live on my own and have gas for heating & cooking and just take 1 shower a day and am at work during daytimes. I struggle to see how 1 person could use £750 of electric per year.

Fingers crossed they find a fault huh?

ANd yes, I do know how to read a meter properly

There are no date markings on the meter whatsover but it looks very old.