MASSIVE consumption - meter issues!?

Baneen03

Hey all,

Myself and my flatmate have recently had some extremely high electricity bills. We live in a 2 bedroom, top floor flat with electric heaters and a Grasslin QE7+ water heater. We haven't had our heaters on (at all!) for a few months and only ever use the water heater to heat enough water to do the washing up (we use the electric shower to wash instead).

Our bills state that so far we have consumed over 9,000KwH over the last 12 months!

Earlier, we turned our electric off at the mains and went down to look at ours (and the others flats in the complex) meter. When we had turned everything off, our meter was STILL flashing, implying we were using electricity. Furthermore, it was flashing approximately 7 times for every 1 flash of others people's flats!!!

So we're left with some questions:

1) How is our meter showing we are using electricity when we had switched it off at the mains?

2) Why is it showing we are consuming FAR more energy than anyone else?

3) Are meters suppose to be maintained (by law) by anyone such as letting agents/landlords/electric boards?

4) What on earth do we do!?!?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

savemoney

Have you checked that the bill which should state the meter number is the same as your meter you have.

Baneen03

Thanks for the replies both.

Yes they have the meter details correct.

Yes all the flats' meters are together - as I mentioned, when we turned off our electricity supply at the mains (so there was no way anything in our flat could be using it) it STILL flashed as though we were using electric AND it flashed 7x faster than anyone elses!

We did have some estimates previously but our last two were actual readings that we took. As far as our bills go, they all add up correctly (i.e. they've charged us for what we SUPPOSEDLY used). BUT....we aint using that amount!!

Panicking a bit because we just can't afford this amount :-s

savemoney

I wonder if the wiring in the flats arent right and the other flat is using some of yours. If consumption is that high when things are turned off it could be that or you have an immersion heater on. Take regularly readings and monitor usage

Cardew

Are your flats in a converted building?

Sometimes if the electricians don't get the wiring correct, your meter could be supplying some sockets in another flat.

Is there a meter for the 'common parts' - lights on stairs etc?

That said 9,000kWh for an all electric 2 bed flat is not 'extremely high' in fact it is probably below average.

savemoney

Yea thats was I thought but when he said its he truned everything off and "it STILL flashed as though we were using electric AND it flashed 7x faster than anyone elses!" looks odd

Cardew wrote: »

That said 9,000kWh for an all electric 2 bed flat is not 'extremely high' in fact it is probably below average.

taxsaver

Another possibility is that all the communal areas might be running through your meter?

Baneen03

***UPDATE***

Something is DEFINITELY up!

We've just figured out that the meter labelled as our flat (i.e. the one we're paying for) isn't reading our electric. Our electric is actually being recorded by a different meter (one labelled as a different flat)!!!

So.... we're now in a quandry as to how this gets sorted.

It's a very suspicious amount being used so we feel inclined to contact the police first off.
We're also going to contact Scottish Power and see what they say/suggest.

Will be starting a new thread given the changing circumstances. I'll post the link to the new thread below!

taxsaver

Cannabis farming?

HappyMJ

taxsaver wrote: »

Cannabis farming?

You would need a lot more than 9,000 kWh per year to get a decent crop.....I'll get me coat.. I aint explaining no more.






LOL..:)




OK maybe I will that's only a 1kw heater/lighting system running 24/7 I'm sure it needs much more than that.

DVardysShadow

HappyMJ wrote: »

You would need a lot more than 9,000 kWh per year to get a decent crop.....I'll get me coat.. I aint explaining no more.






LOL..:)




OK maybe I will that's only a 1kw heater/lighting system running 24/7 I'm sure it needs much more than that.

I would not rule it out. A cannabis farm started mid way though the year could give this sort of reading.

Baneen, you need to record your evidence ASAP and raise a complaint in writing [keep copies] at the earliest