Electricity meter check

cupcake87

Can someone point me in the right direction please.
We want to have our meter checked to see if it's running correctly,we used to have pre payment meters and ever since they were changed back we are convinced something is wrong. We have been through numerous suppliers and its always the same, we don't really want to ask our supplier as they are bound to say its fine.
Thank you
Kim

System

As far as I know, there is no third-party option for meter checks. The obvious question is 'why do you think that your meter is faulty'? There are some simple checks that you can do:

1. Turn off your electricity at the mains and check that your meter is not moving.

2. Turn on an appliance, say a 1kWh fire for an hour, and check how much energy is being used

If you think that your meter is faulty then you can ask for it to be checked. Usually, they will connect a test meter in parallel with your existing meter. If faulty, then you will not have to pay. If the meter is OK then a charge may be raised.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/find-out-if-your-energy-meter-is-faulty/

Alternatively, why not contact your supplier and ask them to fit a smart meter. You will get a new meter and an in house display so that you can monitor your energy usage.

Joyful

Your supplier can arrange a check meter to run alongside your meter for a period of time. This may be chargeable if there is nothing wrong with your meter. I find when people go in the other direction from credit to PP their energy use drops as they are more aware. Often when credit meters are then installed they become less observant.

Any easy way to check your electric yourself is to switch everything off and run something like a 1 KW heater for an hour. If you find the meter moves by 1 digit it is not faulty.

I see Hengus posted at the same time. Only gas meters are sent to be checked. The electric ones are done in situ.

naedanger

cupcake87 wrote: »

Can someone point me in the right direction please.
We want to have our meter checked to see if it's running correctly,we used to have pre payment meters and ever since they were changed back we are convinced something is wrong. We have been through numerous suppliers and its always the same, we don't really want to ask our supplier as they are bound to say its fine.
Thank you
Kim

I understand the only way of getting it properly tested is to ask your supplier to arrange an (independent) test. However they will charge for this unless it is found to be faulty. Your supplier should be able to tell you the price if you ask.

Therefore you probably want to do some rough checks yourself before potentially paying for a test. For example can you switch all appliances off to check the meter is not moving at all, and then put one high drain appliance, e.g. a kettle, on for a timed period, record how much electricity it has used over that period, and compare with what it should have used (based on the appliance's wattage). Maybe try a few tests with separate appliances (since I don't know how accurate their wattage will be).

macman

Why do you think it is 'wrong'?

cupcake87

My husband keeps a close eye on everything so we switch often as you should, but the cost is never the same as predicted. He checks meter and keeps tabs but Sainsbury's has doubled. He's just rang them again after going on a comparison site and according to them the comparison site is wrong.
Thanks
Kim

Nada666

cupcake87 wrote: »

My husband keeps a close eye on everything so we switch often as you should, but the cost is never the same as predicted. He checks meter and keeps tabs but Sainsbury's has doubled. He's just rang them again after going on a comparison site and according to them the comparison site is wrong.
Thanks
Kim

What has any of that to do with the meter?

System

cupcake87 wrote: »

He's just rang them again after going on a comparison site and according to them the comparison site is wrong.
Thanks
Kim

Comparison sites are rarely if ever wrong. The amount you pay is based on the amount of energy that you use and the tariff that you are on. What projected annual consumption in kWhs did your husband use when he last used a comparison site? How does this compare with your actual energy usage? For example, I gave an estimated annual projected usage of 2400kWhs for electricity. I am on a fixed price contract. My actual usage over the past 12 months was 2500kWhs. It follows that I underestimated by 100kWhs and will have to pay more than my DD amount.

[Deleted User]

Rule out the usual "dial meter " mess ups. Easy to get it wrong with the six little dials spinning in different directions , especially when the first two dials are on borders.Also digital meters get read wrong with 9 and 4 or even 7 and 1 getting wrongly read if you dont get right down below the meter.
I ve seen cases where prepays are set incorrectly giving very cheap electricity, and we ve had a few cases on here where digital meters have gone haywire. As advised on here do the 1 kwh test for an hour or even half an hour if you have an analogue meter before taking up the gamble of a meter check. I think its about £70 if the meter turns out to be ok

JJ_Egan

Take daily readings and note what electric items you use .
Then post the results here .


Predicted costs are just estimates .

macman

If you mean that your DD has increased (by 'doubled'), that is invariably because you have not been submitting regular reads at least every three months and your bills are estimated. You then receive a big catch up bill and your DD is hiked to recover the debt.
Your DD set at £X does not mean you are actually using £X every month.
What is your annual usage in kWh's.
Nothing you have said indicates a meter fault.