Faulty electric meter?

brenda50

Since moving into my new home, my electricity costs have rocketed. Before then they were very low indeed. I have a gas boiler and do not even have a cooker, I use a *Remoska* and one induction plate both of which use low electricity. This last bill shows that my electricity for the Feb to June period is actually twice the gas amount which is ridiculous. It was usually about £2 a week for electric but now it looks like £10. I have tested one of two appliances and will go through them all, but should the metre stop when there is nothing switched on?

Garnet_Gem

If you have doubts about the amount of electricity you use, call the company and arrange for it to be checked out. £10 per week seems a bit much if you used to pay £2.

brenda50

Thanks Garnet Gem but I recall hearing that you have to pay for the meter check if it is ok. I am thinking along the lines of a faulty appliance too.

stewie_griffin

Getting a meter tested costs about £75-90 although if it turns out to be faulty you won't have to pay this. If you turn absolutely everything off then yes the meter should stop, are you sure you haven't left something plugged in/switched on somewhere. Also have you checked to make sure your bills are based on actual readings not estimated ones?

womble649

Maybe an Electrisave would help you track down what electricity you are using throughout the day / night

2nd item down on http://www.homeenergysaving.co.uk/electricity-monitors.html

W

brenda50

Thanks guys, problem solved. I've been reading the bloody metre wrongly (blush) It is a dial one. Why the hell did they make them so complicated!! After an hour on the phone with my supplier who could only keep saying that I must have used the units when I knew that I had not, I read the dials out to her. Ooops! In all the disruption of the move, I had forgotten how to read a dial metre properly. Now they owe me yeh!

vixx

it's actually pretty rare for a meter to move faster if it is faulty, 9 times out of 10 it will slow down or stop, like most things when they get old or break. its not impossible, but a meter is much more likely to slow down (ie be faulty to your advantage)