Southern Electricity iplan accuracy

bjscouse

I have been using the Southern electrcity iplan monitor since the start of November. I had previously used another form of monitor and was very dissapointed at the accuracy of the earlier monitor - up to 40% difference to meter reading. Southern Electricity advised me their monitors were at least 98% accurate so I gave it ago. after a couple of months I compared monitor to meter and there was a 10% difference. I spoke to SE who advised moving the positioning if the monitor on the cable. After another 3 weeks I repeated the check - still a 8 - 9% difference. Southern Electricity have now advised me that the monitors can be at least 10% different - what a waste of time - also guess which was always the higher reading

thats right - the meter was always higher than the monitor

Premier_2

I'm not sure what type of monitor you had that was 40% different to what you actually used (unless you used diddly squat)

The accuracy of these monitors is no where near the accuarcy of your expensive meter that the supplier installs.
e.g. the Owl monitor claims the following accuracy:

Current (RMS) Accuracy:
Tolerance
Less than 1A Not Specified
1A to <3A <10 %

3A to 71A <5 %

bjscouse

I was using an Owl monitor but went onto Iplan when I was assured that the iplan monitor was far more accurate than other monitors ( 98% accurate)

penrhyn

You were misinformed.

They are very inaccurate below about 500 watts.
As above the Owl is not specified below 1 amp which is 240 watts

Premier_2

bjscouse wrote: »

... Southern Electricity advised me their monitors were at least 98% accurate so I gave it ago. ...

I know this thread is from last week, and you haven't bothered coming back since joining to create this threa, but I thought that sounded too good to be true.

I've now found the official figures for the Ofgem approved meters (i.e. the supplier meter) rather than some cheap monitor. Even they are not as accurate as the SSE phone jocky (great term, btw, to whoever it was that recently used it here) led you to believe your cheap monitor would be.

For electricity, an official meter is considered accurate if it's accuracy falls within +2.5% and -3.5% of the actual consumption.

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/Techn/Metrolgy/AssetMgmt/Guidance/Documents1/5875-Factsheet_MeterAccuracy%20and%20BillingDisputes.pdf