extreme usage

popskins

Hi,

Put a meter reading online yesterday, last meter reading was 17th November, entered the details only to find I have used 3000kwh of electric in the last 6-7 weeks, my normal yearly consumption is 6500kwh any advice as to how i could have used so much, I have emailed E-on for their help just waiting for a reply, not used anything different except used a dehumidifier - I have used 6 months of electric in just 6-7 weeks, what would be the best way to go about finding out why I have used so much energy please?

Thank you

Cardew

What power is the dehumidifier (in watts) and how long was it running each day?

popskins

340 watts aprrox. 120 hours use, it is and old model! could this be the problem, had it many years though without extreme electric consumption before,

thanks

Cardew

popskins wrote: »

340 watts aprrox. 120 hours use, it is and old model! could this be the problem, had it many years though without extreme electric consumption before,

thanks

That's only 40kWh.

Was your last bill based on an estimated meter reading? i.e. could this be a 'catch up' bill?

Either Meter reading incorrect?

Immersion heater left on by mistake?

popskins

No, I have an on-line account, regularly put meter readings in, also have a monthly energy tracker online managed to save money until this reading,

Im just doing a 2 hour energy test on the dehumidifier at the moment to see what units i use, then I will turn all electrical appliance off in the morning to see if the meter gives of any readings maybe faulty - just worried over what this is going to cost,

thanks

victor2

Haven't transposed a couple of digits on your meter reading by any chance?
If something really is using that much electricity, it'll be relatively easy to pin it down. If your dehumidifier turns out to be OK, just run things as normal and check your meter a few times a day. Of course, if it was one rogue item during the 6-7 weeks that caused it, you won't necessarily find it, but you'll have a good idea what your usage is.
E.On used to give out free electricity monitors. Might be worth asking if they still do. They're not very accurate, but will easily highlight usage of the magnitude you are talking about. Plus you can download the data to a computer and view hourly usage recorded.

popskins

Have now done "tests" on all my major appliances, cooker washer tumble dryer de-hudifier so far readings coming back normal, even dug the xmas lights back out from storage they came back ok, shower fine too,
not sure were to go from here, still waiting for e-on to reply, confused as to what has caused this increase, readings are correct , the last three days readings staying in my normal usual range, somewhere over the last 7 week something has happened (confused)

victor2

It's going to be difficult to identify what used so much if it isn't happening now. I'd just keep taking daily readings for a while to make sure your current usage is what you'd expect. Something might crop up that is a heavy user and you'll be able to identify it quickly.

popskins

How would I know or be able to tell if there was some sort of temporary fault with the meter, could that be a possibility? seems fine now though,
Really cant think what appliance it could be have not got any new electrical additions over Xmas

victor2

popskins wrote: »

How would I know or be able to tell if there was some sort of temporary fault with the meter, could that be a possibility? seems fine now though,
Really cant think what appliance it could be have not got any new electrical additions over Xmas

Very difficult unless it had shown usage that was impossible and/or is currently recording high usage.
Meters are generally very reliable and if you had it checked, for sure it would be reported as OK.
It might not have been caused by a new appliance, did anything go wrong and is no longer being used?

popskins

Hi,

Only a set of xmas lights, should be slightly higher usage for the time as we were at home all day for a week for the holiday, have no electric heaters have a gas combi boiler, gas fire,

thanks