Major issue with electricity meter

Rubidium

Observer2015 wrote: »

These are brand new flats, however, there are more and more pieces coming into the jigsaw at the moment as I've just been told by our neighbour upstairs when he first moved in the meter in his cupboard was for his neighbour across the ways flat. So that does make me think that it is likely they have wired it up wrong but I don't want to bank on that just yet. If that is what has happened though I'm slightly concerned at the neighbour across the ways electricity usage!!

But your meter is in your flat and presumably you can see the wires connecting your meter to your consumer unit?

Post some pictures.

Observer2015

molerat wrote: »

It should be printed on the front, mine has it several times.

I will have a look when home. Something tells me it was 2012 but I could be making that up. From what I've read on various threads it seems to be the 2007/08 models that had the big problems?

cameltoe wrote: »

But your meter is in your flat and presumably you can see the wires connecting your meter to your consumer unit?

Post some pictures.

I'm not sure what the consumer unit is but yeah leave this with me and I'll get some pictures taken later today also.

Thanks

naedanger

Observer2015 wrote: »

Sadly I can only see my own meter as they are inside each of the flats.

Yes, that's a shame. I was hoping you would be able to see if your meter's reading was out of line with others - i.e. by about 30000 units.

These are brand new flats, however, there are more and more pieces coming into the jigsaw at the moment as I've just been told by our neighbour upstairs when he first moved in the meter in his cupboard was for his neighbour across the ways flat. So that does make me think that it is likely they have wired it up wrong but I don't want to bank on that just yet.

Do you have any electric heaters? If so you could check its wattage e.g. 2kW, then run it alone (i.e. switch of any other high drain appliances) for an hour and see if your meter moves 2 units in that hour. (If no heater you could boil kettles continuously, which sounds bit of a bother, for an hour and see if the meter moves 3 units.)

If that is what has happened though I'm slightly concerned at the neighbour across the ways electricity usage!!

This thought crossed my mind i.e. would any neighbour have used £4k of electricity in a year? Which makes it seem more likely that the meter is faulty, or the initial reading was much higher than you were told, or you are misreading it (which seems unlikely as you have looked for a decimal point on it).

Observer2015

Naedanger - I can't quite get the quote part to work but:

- I misunderstood your question. Whilst I can't see the other metre's I have spoken to a couple of neighbours who have been in around the same time. There readings are around 4000 give or take... Which works out at ball part 50 units per week (normal...)

No electric heaters sadly...

I understand your last point...

Observer2015

Just a quick thought/question as I head home from work...

If the meter is in fact reading someone else's usage if I was to turn the power off at the mains in the flat completely using the sort of typical red master switch would my electricity stay on but potentially my neighbours not?

I was thinking this would be a sure way to test this?

naedanger

Observer2015 wrote: »

Just a quick thought/question as I head home from work...

If the meter is in fact reading someone else's usage if I was to turn the power off at the mains in the flat completely using the sort of typical red master switch would my electricity stay on but potentially my neighbours not?

I was thinking this would be a sure way to test this?

No. That switch will switch off your supply. (There would be a big safety problem with your supply if it didn't.)

However if you were prepared to do that for a reasonable length of time you could take an initial reading of your meter, switch off your supply at the mains, then check from time to time to see if the meter moves. If it moves it is not your meter. (If it doesn't move it could still be a neighbours if they just so happen not to be using any material amount of energy.)

Alternatively put on as many appliances as you can and see how quickly the meter moves over a set period e.g. an hour. Then switch as many off as possible and see if the rate of movement is much slower over the same time period. (You need to be careful not to include appliances with a thermostat, or check to ensure they remain on for both tests.) If there is a big difference it is probably your meter.

lstar337

If it is a digital meter and you turn off your supply at the main, then the light on the meter should go solid on. When the light is solid on then no power is being drawn. If the meter continues to flash then it belongs to somebody else.

[Deleted User]

Observer2015 wrote: »

Managed to trace this thread but nothing further in it that I think will help me.

How do I know the year of manufacture of my metre?

On the Ampy/Landys and Gyr ( small white one ) the year of manufacture is on it but a bit hard to see. That thread mentioned a 2007 meter but I find this meter to be breaking down on all meters regardless of year

Observer2015

Hi all,

Quick update but I won't bore you with too much detail. The expectation is that we have a cross meter situation. They are off to do some investigations and will get back to me over the coming weeks.

naedanger

Observer2015 wrote: »

Hi all,

Quick update but I won't bore you with too much detail. The expectation is that we have a cross meter situation. They are off to do some investigations and will get back to me over the coming weeks.

I wonder if you will ever find out what one of your neighbours is doing to rack up the huge bill. They are probably in for a shock.