Sub-meter electric bill is £450 more than I expected

espresso

JC1440 wrote: »

Just checked my consumption for today, sixteen units (including the red number?) since ten in the morning until seven at night.

Please explain exactly what you mean by the above - how many units would the following example be?

Start....@....10AM....768926

End......@.....7PM.....768942

Units used =.............. ...???

JC1440

leeruddecology

I just assumed the standing charge was part of the 12.9 per unit the landlord quoted me. I'm just frugal and environmentally conscious by nature. I know unplugging my TV won't save me anything, but still.

espresso

That would be the sixteen. I'm just adding up the whole thing.

ChumpusRex

JC1440 wrote: »

leeruddecology
That would be the sixteen. I'm just adding up the whole thing.

That might be the problem.

You don't read the red number. It doesn't exist for the purposes of readings.

So, for espresso's example, the readings are 76892 and 76894. Consumption of 2 kWh.

espresso

JC1440 wrote: »

espresso

That would be the sixteen. I'm just adding up the whole thing.

jbuchanangb

Hello JC1440

Seems like we have cracked the problem. You need to go back to your original 6-digit reading when you moved in, and cross off the last (red) digit.

Then get your reading today 6-digit, and cross off the last (red) digit.

Deduct the original 5-digit reading from today's 5 digit reading to get the number of units used over the whole period.

Multiply that by the unit rate 12.9p and that is what you should have paid for the energy used.

Then there will be the standing charge which is charge on a daily rate just to have the electricity supply connected, whether you use it or not.

Find out from your landlord what that is, work out how many days since you moved in, and do the maths.

Add the total standing charge since you moved in to the recalculated energy costs, and that is what you should have paid. If you have overpaid, ask for some money back.

I hope get it sorted out.

leeruddecology

:-) and the system works

Andy_WSM

The landlord is being a bit dishonest here for 2 reasons I think...

Firstly, HE should know full well how the meters work. Most of us know to ignore the decimal (or red) numbers. Why doesn't he?

Secondly, you are billed by a sub meter. He is billed by the utility supplier for the main meter. I'll bet money that HIS bill from the utility company is less than he was happy to bill you for alone - which is illegal as well as immoral.

lstar337

Yeah, I find it hard to believe the landlord wouldn't know that.

Chances are he hasn't paid for his own electric in quite some time. Probably just lets his tenants pay it for him.

You need to speak to him and if he tries to BS you, you need to go to citizens advice to get their support.

JC1440

ChumpusRex and jbuchanangb

Thanks a lot. That would make more sense and I'll email my landlord. I haven't paid anything yet, my landlord just gave me his bank details. I won't pay a penny until I am certain everything is correct.

Andy_WSM and Istar

I don't get the impression he is a bad guy. He's retired from a very respectable profession and has just moved abroad. I met him and he seemed nice. I think he is just a bit bumbling with this whole landlord thing. When I emailed him to say I think the bill was wrong he explained how it is a new set up and it is the first time any of his tenants have been billed in this way. It isn't a massive assumption, for me, that he doesn't really know what he is doing here. But I will tread with caution and you do make a good point about his bill being lower. The other tenant is a an office of his former profession, which I doubt would allow the wool to be pulled over their eyes.

I'll email my landlord and update

JC_Derby

Andy_WSM wrote: »

The landlord is being a bit dishonest here for 2 reasons I think...

Firstly, HE should know full well how the meters work. Most of us know to ignore the decimal (or red) numbers. Why doesn't he?

Secondly, you are billed by a sub meter. He is billed by the utility supplier for the main meter. I'll bet money that HIS bill from the utility company is less than he was happy to bill you for alone - which is illegal as well as immoral.

Also the gate shouldn't be fed from the op but fro the landlords own supply