NPower Crazy Gas Bill!

Cardew

I had just written the same as dogshome has posted.


The 42,000kWh will be approx. 3,750 metric gas units or 1,300 Imperial gas units.(an Imperial gas unit is 100 cubic feet)


With the 5 dial meter errors occur because some people do not realize that the pointers move clockwise and anti-clockwise on alternate dials.

wherediditallgothen

Robwiz wrote: »

Have you sense checked the latest reading shown on your most recent bill with its actual current reading? It could be a data entry error?

What more do you need to convince you of the value of taking regular (i.e. at least weekly) meter readings and keeping a record of them? Picking up changes early avoids all uncertainty and stress.

The reading right now bears some resemblance to the reading that we have been billed for. I had already thought that this might be the case, and that I might have had a moment of stupidity and accidentally provided a wildly inaccurate figure. But it definitely isn't that.

Regular meter readings will be kept now too, thanks.

wherediditallgothen

jobdone1 wrote: »

That is not normal household usage. I have five in my house and my windows are not great no cavity wall insulation and we used just under 12000kwh for the year.
That sort of use is more like a business in my view.

If there is a business being run from here my wife or son are being very discreet about it as I haven't noticed! Though the dog has been secretive of late.

wherediditallgothen

dogshome wrote: »

Ouch ! - 42,000 Kwh in 8 months ?

1) Do you have a 'Dial' meter - the one with 5 little clock faces
These are easily mis-read, even by meter readers, if so report back for more details on reading them
2) Check back thro' the previous 3 bills to see that End and Start reading run concurrently
3) A long shot On previous bills and the present bill, divide the number of Kwh charged by the No. of meter units used - The answer should be consistently either appx 11, or 32
11 is for a Metric meter which is marked m3, whilst 32 is for an Imperial meter marked ft3 - Check your meters marking.

Errors in meter type billng are not uncommon when a meter has been changed,
but this is n'power who seem capable of makeing errors that no one has thought of before

Thanks. It turns out its an m3 meter. Going to check things through now.

Now done. The figure I get is 11.1355.

Cardew

wherediditallgothen wrote: »

Thanks. It turns out its an m3 meter. Going to check things through now.

Now done. The figure I get is 11.1355.

11.1355kWh for a cubic metre is what you would expect - it varies from time to time as the calorific value of the supplied gas changes. the range is normally 11.0 to 11.4kWh.


Well it is almost impossible to have used 42,000kWh in 8 months i.e. 3,771 gas units.


Everything points to estimated or incorrect meter readings; however as you are adamant that isn't the case, it might mean the meter is faulty; although as I understand the situation it is extremely rare for a gas meter to develop a fault.


They will test the meter, but you pay if it is not faulty.


You can dismiss the idea of a gas leak. I had a tiny leak on my outside gas meter(in a cabinet) and the smell was unmistakeable.


Just a thought, you are ignoring the red(decimal places) numbers when reading meter??

Richie-from-the-Boro

chris.martin wrote: »

I am sorry to say that NPOWER is very expansive for GAS users,,, you main message me with a copy of your bill, i will try to help you,,

Never message anyone - particularly complete strangers off board and away from the protection of forum users and the forum team with very private information such as that contained in your energy bills. If in doubt report the issue to a member of the forum team on the TRHS of the page.

Cardew

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Never message anyone - particularly complete strangers off board and away from the protection of forum users and the forum team with very private information such as that contained in your energy bills. If in doubt report the issue to a member of the forum team on the TRHS of the page.

Well said!


All 6 posts from chris.martin suggest that people contact him:


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/search.php?searchid=155073235


terminology/spelling is questionable too.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Cardew wrote: »

Well said!


All 6 posts from chris.martin suggest that people contact him:


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/search.php?searchid=155073235


terminology/spelling is questionable too.

Boiler room Nigerian spell checker always was inaccurate my friend

Robwiz

42,000 kWh of gas in 8 months (including the winter) is possible. If it's a large house with older windows (say pre-2006 double glazing) maybe with solid walls and no loft insulation and gas being used for heating (with no TRVS or all rad valves wide open), hot water and cooking. Especially if the heating and hot water are set to be on 24/7.

Cardew

Robwiz wrote: »

42,000 kWh of gas in 8 months (including the winter) is possible. If it's a large house with older windows (say pre-2006 double glazing) maybe with solid walls and no loft insulation and gas being used for heating (with no TRVS or all rad valves wide open), hot water and cooking. Especially if the heating and hot water are set to be on 24/7.

However the OP stated in his first post:

I have compared our previous bills and essentially they seem to think we have used 5 times our normal gas use?