EON Useage doubled after new meter installed - Help!

krdrummer

Hi All,

We've had countless problems with Eon since they changed our meter 2 years ago. Firstly they discovered an extra meter (economy 7 and not used for years) which they charged us a backdated amount for (since refunded after a struggle) and then they lost details of them removing it (but all resolved now - I think!).

Since they installed the new meter we have had increasing costs of bills to the extent that our £120 DD was due to be increased to £190 per month. I have cancelled our DD and set up a standing order for £100 per month just to make sure the problem doesn't get any worse.

They have only read the meter once in two years and that was read on installation and then again by me last week (even though meter readers have called dozens of times). When I look at usage prior to the meter being installed it was around 6120 per year but on the new meter this has shot up to 13290 per year for a 3 bed bungalow with 3 people living in it.

I've lodged a complaint with the Directors Office but getting anywhere is like wading through treacle. Can any of you think why our consumption has increased by over 100% since the changing of the meter?

Thanks
Kevin

Jon_Tiffany

Do you have electric heating?

Cardew

krdrummer wrote: »

Can any of you think why our consumption has increased by over 100% since the changing of the meter?

Thanks
Kevin

1. The new meter is faulty and over-reads.

2. The old meter was faulty and under-read.

krdrummer

Jon_Tiffany wrote: »

Do you have electric heating?

No we use gas

krdrummer

Cardew wrote: »

1. The new meter is faulty and over-reads.

2. The old meter was faulty and under-read.

Is a meter test the only way to find out and if EON do the test how do I know they are testing it accurately and not just trying to confirm their own numbers?

Sorry if you don't know. Wasn't trying to interrogate you

closed

3. You are actually consuming more
4. The initial or current reading was wrong.



turn everything off, and check it still isn't spinning/flashing.

then measure it over several 24 hour periods

Cancelling the DD isn't the best idea, makes the problem worse.

make sure the immersion heater isn't on, if you have one

It should be fairly straightforward to test it's accuracy by switching everything off, then running something of a known (highish) wattage for an hour through a plugin wattage meter.

The meter reader not being able to get in doesn't stop you submitting an accurate reading.

Cardew

krdrummer wrote: »

Is a meter test the only way to find out and if EON do the test how do I know they are testing it accurately and not just trying to confirm their own numbers?

Sorry if you don't know. Wasn't trying to interrogate you

If you get one of the Owl type meters(EON supply one for free or buy one for £30 or so) they are accurate enough to roughly check your meter. Just check the cumulative consumption over 24 hours or a week against your meter.

I would have thought it almost impossible to use over 13,000 kWh pa with gas CH.

Are you sure the meter hasn't been read incorrectly?

macman

Though even the original consumption (6,000 kWh) is extremely high for a 3/br bungalow with gas CH.

davidgmmafan

Assuming they don't have a swimming pool or something like that

Definately sounds like something if not right somewhere, its unlikely to be the new meter but its possible, just as its possible the old meter was running slow. I'd make some enquiries with E.On's energy efficiency team or similar initally see if you can get a free HEM if they can't account for the usage. They should be able to give you a fair idea of your usage just by running through the appliances you have.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hello krdrummer,

I’m sorry for the problems you’ve encountered over the past couple of years and also for the fact that you have not had a resolution yet. I hope someone is looking in to this for you already, you have mentioned that you’ve been through to the Directors Office which is good. What I can do is make sure we’re doing everything we can do if you like. If you want to contact me through the email address on my contact page, I can take a look for you.

cardew and closed have made some good points which could be responsible. It’s very rare that a meter runs too fast or too slow but it has happened before. A more plausible explanation would be the billing of the account. Maybe we have an incorrect reading somewhere. It’s hard to tell without the full details.

If you’ve still not got an answer, feel free to email in to me.

Thanks

Brian

krdrummer

Cardew wrote: »

If you get one of the Owl type meters(EON supply one for free or buy one for £30 or so) they are accurate enough to roughly check your meter. Just check the cumulative consumption over 24 hours or a week against your meter.

I would have thought it almost impossible to use over 13,000 kWh pa with gas CH.

Are you sure the meter hasn't been read incorrectly?

I've given them several readings over the past 4 months just to be accurate. I'll have a look at getting an Owl meter. Thanks

macman wrote: »

Though even the original consumption (6,000 kWh) is extremely high for a 3/br bungalow with gas CH.

Yes, my thoughts but it does fall within the 'high usage' estimates published. Not that EON will accept any kind of average, they just deny that they exist.

davidgmmafan wrote: »

Assuming they don't have a swimming pool or something like that

Definately sounds like something if not right somewhere, its unlikely to be the new meter but its possible, just as its possible the old meter was running slow. I'd make some enquiries with E.On's energy efficiency team or similar initally see if you can get a free HEM if they can't account for the usage. They should be able to give you a fair idea of your usage just by running through the appliances you have.

No, unfortunately no swimming pool )
The consumption team have agreed to a free meter check after a bit of persuading. What's a HEM?

Thanks for all your help.