Digital Electricity Meter, Adding an additional 26~ units per day, Npower.

welshguy84

Hello, ive lived in a 1 bedoom flat for 5 years, and on average my meter has gone up around 6 units per day, this I can say with certainty as ive read it every two months.

Since mid august its started going up around 34 units per day, evan if I switch everything off, and all the mains fuse switches, the red led on it still flashes.

Its a standered basic digital meter, paid monthly DD, no sign of tampering on the meter.
Can anyone advise if this is a fault that can occur with these types of meters or if my electricity has potentially been tapped between the meter and my fuse box?

To put in perspective my Bill per month has jumped from £30 to ~£110
Npower are sending someone round to look at it next week but im expecting a nightmare with them, as all previous problems has taken 6 months (20 phone calls/ emails) for simple things.

[Deleted User]

Is the metal seal (at the bottom cover where the wires enter ) intact

welshguy84

Yes multiple seals all intact, two wires in, 2 out. Same as every other meter.

[Deleted User]

We have certainly had the same sort of fault discussed on here not too long ago and the result was deemed to be a faulty digital meter. You can request with confidence a meter check from your supplier by the sound of it. Meter checks which turn out to be ok are charged approx £65/£70. Your money appears to be safe if the display is still advancing with everything switched off.

welshguy84

Thanks for the reply, kind of hope it is just a faulty meter as 2 flats tenants in my block have been jailed/evicted in the past few years for growing cannabis, and they amount its gone up by would seem somewhat consistant with that, if it is somehow being stolen am I liable to pay for it?

[Deleted User]

That puts a slightly different perspective to the matter.Typically cannabis growers will blast out so much light and heat growing the crop they can use approx £800 worth of electricity in the 12 weeks growing period.Seeing as how the British Police force have washed their hands in upholding the law for this offence and are not interested in stopping it , its now a "growth " industry so maybe the farmer has tapped in to your system somehow.. This needs expert attention from an electrician if theres a possibility of this happening. Its dangerous. I ve known properties go up in smoke and the occupiers doing a runner from this activity.
Dont worry, you wont be liable. You can do your sums and see if the extra usage you are getting is anywhere near the industry standard cannabis farm for 12 weeks..£800

Shrimply

sacsquacco wrote: »

Dont worry, you wont be liable. You can do your sums and see if the extra usage you are getting is anywhere near the industry standard cannabis farm for 12 weeks..£800

Slightly off topic, but if it was me, and I wanted to reduce my chance of getting found out, I guess I'd tap into several of the surrounding flats. Not just the one.

nPower

welshguy84 wrote: »

Hello, ive lived in a 1 bedoom flat for 5 years, and on average my meter has gone up around 6 units per day, this I can say with certainty as ive read it every two months.

Since mid august its started going up around 34 units per day, evan if I switch everything off, and all the mains fuse switches, the red led on it still flashes every 4 seconds

Its a standered basic digital meter, paid monthly DD, no sign of tampering on the meter.
Can anyone advise if this is a fault that can occur with these types of meters or if my electricity has potentially been tapped between the meter and my fuse box?

To put in perspective my Bill per month has jumped from £30 to ~£110
Npower are sending someone round to look at it next week but im expecting a nightmare with them, as all previous problems has taken 6 months (20 phone calls/ emails) for simple things.




Hi welshguy84

Thank you for posting, I'm sorry to hear your electricity usage has increased. Please send me your details by email (using the address from my profile) and I will be happy to look into this for you.

Thanks Vicky

welshguy84

Thank you Vicky, email sent.

welshguy84

So arranged to have time off work today to wait for the engineer to come, he came, took a meter reading, said ill be contacted again for a different engineer to come, then left, so back to waiting again.

lstar337

welshguy84 wrote: »

So arranged to have time off work today to wait for the engineer to come, he came, took a meter reading, said ill be contacted again for a different engineer to come, then left, so back to waiting again.

That's all he said?

I would be asking npower for compensation for taking time off work. That takes time wasting to a new level!