Meter problems? How do I tell?

Countrysideheaven

I think I have a problem with my electric meter and wonder if anyone can advise.

Briefly, our details are as follows:
1) we are 4 bed house with 2 adults. Only 1 bedroom in daily use.
2) appliances - 2 fridge freezers, dishwasher, elec oven, elec shower, washing machine and tumble drier. Latter used occasionally.
3) Aside from that, lights & pc

Gas central heating (not on yet). One shower served by boiler so the elec shower is not used every day.

I would say we're quite good in terms of turning things off when not in the room, not leaving TV's etc on standby when not in use.

We're with the Utility Warehouse and pay £56/month gas and £142/month elec + VAT/charges

I swapped to Utilty W around 18 months ago. I was paying £139/month with the previous supplier and dropped to £119/month with Utility W initially but after last winter, due to the debt incurred, increased to what we're paying now. I am currently around £200 in credit on gas but the same still in debt on electricty.

I can only think that the electricity meter is inaccurate. I've been taking readings for the last 3 days and whilst the gas barely moves, the electricity use for the last 2 days is 21 and 26 units.

Is this high for our circumstances?

I spoke to Utility W yesterday and all theyt seem to want to offer is a cheaper tariff. I declined stating that I believe it's the units of elec which is the problem in the first instance. They have asked me to retain readings for 1 week then return and I can ask for a meter test (at £50 + VAT), chargeable if the meter is ok.

I also spoke to my neighbour yesterday. Our houses were built at the same time, are similar size and same boiler etc etc. There are 2 adults in their house and their bill is half as much as mine. He also mentioned that over a year ago, their meter was changed to digital - he hadn't requested this. Utility W state my meter doesn't need changing until 2029 (installed 1994). Why has my neighbours meter been changed?

I also have spoken to an electrician to see if there is a power 'bleed' on the system - there is not.

Can anyone assist or advise?

Thank you.

penrhyn

You are using 26 Kwh of electricity per day?
First thing would be to turn everything off and check the meter stops moving.
Then find an item with a known load say a 2Kw heater( no thermostat), read meter, run for an hour and check that 2 units have been used.

Then turn your circuits onone by one and check if any seem to make the meter spin fast. I'd suspect something like an immersion heater.

Might be worth begging or borrowing an Owl or similar monitor.

Countrysideheaven

Thanks for that Penhryn. I'll try that today.

chanz4

even better turn af all off and boil a full kettle. With things fridges etc if they are not working correctly they can use a lot. Saying that if over a week you are averaging between 24-28 units a day it would not be untowards

chris1973

Although meter inaccuracy can occur in reality its very rare. More often its a case of not realising what appliances can combine to eat energy or leaving something running.

Energy saving lightbulbs in place all over the house?

Any outside halogen floodlights?

Any of those current guzzling little recessed Halogen spotlights in kitchens / bedrooms / hallways?

Is the washing machine cold fill only or hot and cold fill?

How often is the dishwasher used?

Are the TV's in use - Conventional? LCD? or PLASMA?

How big are the 2x Fridge Freezers? - do you really need to run 2 full size fridge freezers for two people?

Non of these solely would be enough to use 26 KW/H per day, but more than one would go a long way to explaining away a large part of it.

Sometimes its not just obvious current hungry appliances which use Electricity. A friend of mine has two X boxes and large sized TV's - each TV and Xbox combination uses around 400W - meaning 800W of consumption. Add to that the other general household TV's (Living Room / Dining room / Kids' bedrooms) which always seem to be on in the background as well as the constantly running family PC and 22" widescreen monitor probably all combine to account for around 1.5KW of continuous consumption. Which for a 14 hour day when home at the weekends would mean 21 units of Electricity through just being careless in relation to leaving things running.

Okay my Friends example is that of a family, but its probably also very typical of many households, right at this moment in time :eek:.

So dont just look at the obvious things, even mundane 'entertainment' devices can combine to increase your bills. An X-box for example will guzzle anything upto 180W in power. A 40" LCD TV will use upto 200W and the same sized Plasma around 400W

Light usage is also just as important too, especially with the darker nights coming. For example a bank of 6 or 7 50W Halogen lamps in the ceiling in a kitchen will use 300W - 350W of energy. Some houses have these in bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens', if two rooms are occupied there is around 700W worth of consumption straight away.

And thats even before you work out the more obvious washer, dryer, oven, microwave, shower etc.

greyteam1959

All sound advice.....but I would be inclined to have a rummage around & make sure that your immersion heater is OFF.
Its very often the cause of un explained high electricity usage..........& also dead cheap to rectify !!!