Electriciry Meters - how to read them?

GuySpec

Hi all,

I'm a bit confused with reading and understanding my electricity meter.

I have just moved into a new flat, and haven't used much electricity (i.e: no tv on apart from the evening as we were moving boxes all day).

It appears we've used 27 kwh in just one day, I was sure we were using approximately 11 in my old flat.

We do have a dishwasher (A Rating) and there is a wine chiller (which we didn't have before). But the dishwasher hasn't been used, so I can't see where the extra is coming from.

Any I reading the meter wrong? The meter was on 683 and is now on 710. How do I work out how much (approx) nPower would be charing me?

Just a bit confused and maybe I'm working it out wrong?

Thanks!

penrhyn

12 pence a unit would be typical, so 27 units would cost around £ 3.24.

Are you sure you don't have an immersion heater permanently on?

GuySpec

We do have a heater, but there is no way of turning it off. Its one of these new ones that keeps a constant temperature and knows when to come on. There is no setting on it.

I'm just concerned that once we get Virgin Media installed or even use the cooker its going to go through the roof!

moonrakerz

http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-your-home/my-account/how-to-read-your-electricity-meter.shtml

Naf

2 Bed flat, I average £2-£3 per day summertime, £4-£6 wintertime.
Other appliances, fridge, freezer etc.?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

you say it's a new flat, new meter? so are you the first tenants?

Could be you are reading the meter wrong, you don't read the red boxes/numbers,
so maybe reading should be 68 and 71, 3 units seems more like it.

Naf

I'm averaging 18 units a day; fridge, freezer, PCs, running constantly and usage of other appliances daily.
3 units seems much more likely.

GuySpec

Thanks for all the replies.

there is no red numbers on the meter, in the past hour and a half it has moved by 1 (now 711) and that is with the xbox, tv, phone on charge, fridge/freezer etc.

The meter says 'single watt hour meter' and there is a red flashing LED that says '1000 imp/kwh'.

The flat is new, and there is only one other meter is on 11k+ (the other one meter is on 0006 and there is one marked as 'landlords' which is for communal facilities).

I've worked out it will cost us 3x more than our old flat which was already approx £40 per month.

Naf

Count yourself lucky; Mine's over £100 ('leccy & gas combined though...)

GuySpec

Right, I've checked again and we've been out for an hour, the unit has gone up by 1. So its gone up 2 units in over 3 hours. That looks about normally, but since Friday afternoon (we moved in) it's gone up 47 units (from 665 to 712).
The prices from nPower say we're charged 17p per kwh... It's going to be over £120 per month.... Maybe it will even out? I'll keep an eye on the consumption for a while and hopefully I'm getting it all wrong.

Otherwise this is the most expensive 2 bedroom flat I've ever lived in! Haha.

Any further advice would be welcome...

Welshdebtor

I live in a 2 bedroom flat (on my own) I have just recently switched to a pay as you go/prepay meter and average £5 a week on electric.And even prior to having a payg one I was still averaging £5 a week.

This is with my heater always being on for hot water (like yours can not switch off etc), fridge,wifi hub, telephone answer machine, which are on 24/7. All other things are switched off unless in use at the time.