Electricity help

BeckyC2be

Hi all, I've posted before about this but i need extra help

My husband and I moved into a small two bedroom flat in October and the electric is working out about £200 a month which is ridiculous!

In my first post the general agreement was that I had used that much because it was our first month in the flat and I's stupidly left the immersion on the whole time.

However having realised this, the immersion has been on for about half an hour every other day, and the 2000w heater is on for about 4/5 hours a day, and the electric is working out the same.

We have rang the provider and they are reluctant to check the meter but are sending out an energy efficiency man - the man on the phone went through every appliance in the flat and estimated we were using 15 units a day, at 16p a unit this works out roughly at £72 a month. (which is still high but affordable)

So basically I need advice on who to get in contact with to try and sort this out and what could some of the solutions be? We are going to do a 7 day test and a load test soon - so i dont have any of that info for you right now..

thanks for reading and for any advice given - this really is driving me up the wall as i know we arent using £200 a month!!

DVardysShadow

Are you sure that the meter you are reading is the meter which measures the supply to your flat?

Sometimes too, meters are locked away and if you are renting [or sometimes even if you own] everyone will obstruct you having any access to the meters. Don't accept that situation.

BeckyC2be

Thanks for the reply, it is the correct meter. There are three meters in the downstairs flat entrance. They are all labelled with the door numbers.

new2012

They are all labelled with the door numbers.

They could be labelled incorrectly.

What type of meter is it?

Turn off the main switch on the fuse box and then check if your meter is turning.

DVardysShadow

BeckyC2be wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, it is the correct meter. There are three meters in the downstairs flat entrance. They are all labelled with the door numbers.

If that is your only evidence for it being the correct meter, then you need to double check that it really is yours.

BeckyC2be

Well - I know its definitely one of two because next doors were evicted a couple months back and there's has only gone up a few units but I will have it double checked.

DVardysShadow

If the fuseboard is by the meter and you can see it is wired to the meter, switch it off and see whether you still have power. Otherwise get a really heavy electrical load going and see the meter spin or the LED flash. One of you turn the load off while the other observes the meter slow down, using mobile phones to coordinate is necessary.

macman

Double check the meter serial no. with that on your bill. Thousands of meter are marked with the wrong flat nos.
Subject to it being the correct meter, you need to give some kWh figures. Are you on an E7 tariff?
Storage heaters?

chanz4

Its likely to be your heaters, they are very expensive. I personally would agree to the energy efficeny rep coming out and he will go through all the appliances.

BeckyC2be

Just turned the mains switch off at the fuse box and went out for an hour and half, came back and it had gone up 3 units. Went to the estate agents and they are going to get it sorted or move us, so thats good thanks for all of the replies.

dude89

BeckyC2be wrote: »

Just turned the mains switch off at the fuse box and went out for an hour and half, came back and it had gone up 3 units. Went to the estate agents and they are going to get it sorted or move us, so thats good thanks for all of the replies.

Your agent would not be able to sort anything out with regards what you have paid though to the energy companies.

You need to contact your energy company and inform that you have a problem with your meter.

It is most likely to me a crossed meter (meter registered to the wrong address). Though it could be a faulty meter (highly unlikely).

Take down both meter serial numbers (found on the front of the meter - ususally a combination of letters and numbers - and take current meter readings)

Advise them that you have done a burns test by turning off the suppy to your property and the meter has still risen by 3 Kwh. This will then be processed by the company to get the meters re-registered to the correct address. They will also be in touch with the supplier of the other meter who will contact your neighbour.
They will probably arrange a visit to the property to confirm that the meters are registered incorrectly

They will also recalculate how much you use on average over a period of time and re adjust your bill accordingly. (Be very frugal with what you use during that time as it will save you some £££sss)

Do not leave this in the hands of the estate agents to do as it is your electricity account and your money.