Meter spinning bears no relation to gas usage?

JFK1

We've just switched to British Gas' tariff where you report your meter reading each month, so I've been looking at the meter pretty regularly. I noticed that sometimes the number is going up when neither the boiler or cooker are on, and then other times when we're cooking or have the heating on, the meter stays on the same number.
It strikes me as odd that there never seems to be a correlation between the two. The meter serial number matches what's on our bill (we live in a flat, so there are several possible meters).
The British Gas guy said only 1 in 10k meters is faulty, so they charge to look at it. He said that there is often a time lag as the gas comes through or whatever, so I shouldn't expect them to necessarily match up.
Anybody else noticed this, or any informed opinions? I'm tempted to turn off the gas at the meter and then try and use the gas for a bit, that seems the best way to make sure that meter is ours.

duggie1982

If you are really sure that you are not using any gas at all then call them out as they only charge if no fault is found.

P.S. When you use your cooker etc then the numbers should go up lol

KimYeovil

(Yes, test using the hob whilst the heating is off - that should be the easiest way to check if it's the right meter.)

Cardew

JFK1 wrote: »

The meter serial number matches what's on our bill (we live in a flat, so there are several possible meters).

Quite a common scenario. Several threads on this theme.

The developer/builder informs the Utility company which meter belongs to which flat and if they make a mistake this error might not be spotted for years.

It ain't the Utility companies fault!! They have no way of knowing!

JFK1

Yeah, think I'll try the switch off and hob route and see what happens. As somebody said, when the hob is on for 20 mins cooking, I'd expect to see the meter move, lag or not.

So we have had the boiler on for 1 hour a day max, plus using gas for cooking evening meals, probably every other day, and yet our bill for a month is looking like £60 at least. Does this seem a lot to anyone? I'd be less fussed about the whole meter thing really if that figure didn't seem a little high to me. We're only bothering to heat two rooms of the flat etc.

burnsguitarman

The easiest way to check you are being billed for the right meter surely, must be to do as you suggested, and turn off the gas at the meter (turn your boiler off first!) then try your hob.

If you have gas you will know for sure! You can then check with other flats, to see who has no gas.

If you don't have gas, then you can investigate if you have a faulty meter.

SwanJon

burnsguitarman wrote: »

The easiest way to check you are being billed for the right meter surely, must be to do as you suggested, and turn off the gas at the meter (turn your boiler off first!) then try your hob.

Please don't try it this way as if the meter isn't yours you'll be turning off gas to another property.
If you then put the handle back on, you'll cause a gas leak in their house!

I work for British Gas, and the test we suggest is to put everything on max and look for the meter that is turning the most.

If you know your neighbours, then you could get everyone to turn off their appliances, turn off your meter then check each property in turn, making sure all appliances are off before putting the gas back on.

Premier_2

SwanJon wrote: »

...I work for British Gas, and the test we suggest is to put everything on max and look for the meter that is turning the most...

Spoken like a true salesman!

Whilst I fully accept the the advice not to turn the gas off at the main isolator, especially if you are not 100% sure it is yours, surely a moneysaving suggestion to check the meter is to simply turn off every item a customer has in their property that consumes gas.

Remember that some items may have a pilot light, so unless those are turned off completely, a very small continuous usage will register.

By then, turning an something like a gas hob (which will make a correctly operating meter spin like crazy), you can see which meter has increased speed. Turn the hob off, and the speed should reduce to what it was before the hob was turned on (possibly zero). If you can control the speed of the meter in that way, you are certain that is your meter.

SwanJon

Premier wrote: »

Spoken like a true salesman!

Not a salesman, but take your point. Should have seen it coming.

The cost of having your gas appliances on full whack for 5 mins won't be much, and surely more convinient than finding somewhere else to live as the block has been blown up (OK, really extreme example).

The issue is that if you don't know what other flats are doing, you can't just pick the slowest moving meter.

Ideal example would be to turn yours down really low and get all the neighbours to turn theirs up really high.... (ok, I'm off)