Depressing results from Comparison sites today!

jalexa

MillicentBystander wrote: »

It's a nonsense to suggest that the leccy meter is the way forward when ...

Wow. That's a bit strong but that's just my opinion.

Over 7 weeks ago, 17 minutes before you suggested a monitor, Spiro (IMO) made a much better structured suggestion. Item 1, the immersion heater question. Now 7 weeks on the OP reveals they don't own electric heaters (Spiro item 2). TBH that was the revelation that triggered my response and OT advice. Still no mention (that I recall) of a tumble drier (Spiro item 3). If the OP had taken the good advice already given, the "culprit" would have been identified long ago without recourse to a monitor (whether "free" or not).

So, I guess no progress over 7 weeks indicates cost is not such an issue. As I say in these circumstances, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

Something I hinted at, may not be an issue here, but where meter accuracy is implicated, the monitor proves nothing. That was something I alluded to and gave advice about.

TraditionRules

Hi guys, thanks again for the above. Not had much time on here to update as often as I'd like. Back on the case now I've got some free time over Xmas to try to address this.

So to answer a few of the above points from Spiro:

Immersion heater - None. We have a Baxi Duo-Tec Combi Boiler fitted & on timer
2) Electric heaters - as you are in an old house do you use any? No
3) Tumble drier - how often do you use one? Twice a week for 30-45 minutes IF necessary
4) Lots of stuff left on standby instead of being switched off. Probably a bit guilty of this, but nothing more than a couple of TV's / Netgear box and one or two similar items.
I'm working on this point but nothing there for me to be double the national average I don't think?

Jalexa, a couple of points you mentioned....
Although I don't use them on a daily basis, I have access to electric heaters should I need them in an emergency. Boiler failure etc.

Regarding the electricity meter in the property. NPower fitted a new single rate meter in November so if the old one was faulty I guess I'll never know.
I'm interested in the 'timed consumption test using a non-thermostatic electrical heater of known rating' if you think that's something I should be doing. Is there a guide to this anywhere online or?

Electricity monitor (double checked & it is installed correctly) model is Efergy Elite 2.0 if that's relevant at all.

Open to suggestions as always as I try to get to the bottom of this.

macman

Take your panel heater, note the rating. For each kW, it will use 1kW per hour of running (if not on a 'stat). So a typical 2kW heater will use 1kWh in 30 minutes, 2kWh in an hour, and so on.
Note your meter reading, run for 30 mins/1 hour, or however long it takes to run the test, and note the new reading. If it's advanced by what the heater should be drawing in that period, e.g 1 unit, 2 units etc, the meter is not faulty.
Obviously during the test duration you need to switch everything else off. Your fridge/freezer will be fine as long as left closed.
Do you maybe have a lot of 50W downlighters or similar in a big kitchen? An aquarium?