faulty meter? One unit per 100 flashes instead of 1000

Demor1 · 27 October 2013 at 8:31PM

Hi

Just moved into Victorian property and have been monitoring elec usage over last few weeks.

Meter has been clocking c.30 units per 24hrs even though unoccupied most of the day and gas ch and hw. Very little elec actually being used.

Thought maybe old electrics to blame or usual suspects (immersion heater) but just stood next to meter and counted flashes per unit- yes it has come to this! Despite my meter displaying 1000 imp/ kwhr, my meter just clocked one unit for 100 flashes, not per 1000.

My understanding is that meter should clock a unit for each 1000 flashes?! Please help before I contact BG as don't want to get charged for claiming faulty meter if I am mistaken!

Thanks!

Nada666 · 27 October 2013 at 9:11PM

30kWh of electricity is almost impossible to not notice. Are you sure it is 30 kWh and not 3 kWh? If the meter is definitely clocking 30 kWh background every day then that will cost you £126 per month. As such the cost of a callout is trivial by comparison.

Demor1 · 27 October 2013 at 9:40PM

That's what I thought.

Writing on digital meter is,
'Single phase watt hour meter 1000 imp/ kWh'

Reading at 20.00 yesterday: 037204
Reading at 20.00 today: 037231

Does this mean that we have used 27 kWh in 24hrs?!

Barely been in all day, just couple hrs tv, 3/4 kettle boils, few lights and fridge freezer. !!

Shouldn't meter be clocking a unit every 1000 flashes and not every 100?
Thanks

CrazyRed · 27 October 2013 at 9:50PM

Demor1 wrote: »

Reading at 20.00 yesterday: 037204
Reading at 20.00 today: 037231

Does this mean that we have used 27 kWh in 24hrs?!

Thanks

It certainly looks as though you've used 27kW in 24 hours, if those readings are accurate.

Check your immersion isn't on - don't rely on the thermostat - physically switch it off - ideally at the fuseboard - and then take another reading in 24 hours time.

I've got a 3-bed semi, with 4 of us in it, and we're home all day (wife's disabled and I'm her carer) and our monthly usage is between 480 and 600 kWh a month - about 20kWh a day at most.

For you to be using 27kWh a day, and you're at work all day (thus, presumably not using much apart from the FF) there must be something remaining on that shouldn't be.

ManAtHome · 27 October 2013 at 10:25PM

I have a similar meter - currently flashing once every 4 or 5 seconds (lights, tv, computers, fridge. freezer), only 'goes bonkers' (few flashes a second) when kettle or immersion is on - average usage around 8 units/KW a day.

Demor1 · 27 October 2013 at 10:38PM

Thank you.

House is basically empty- no oven, tumble drier, washing machine, dishwasher etc and out all day

Imersion definitely off.

I think/ hope that I am using 3 kWh/ day and not 30.

Does anyone know about the flashes on my meter- at the moment 100 flashes = 1 unit. Shouldn't this be 1000 flashes = 1 unit??