Is my meter faulty?

Haitchy0

I have been living on my own in a 2 bed flat for the last 6 weeks and on reading my electricity meter after 6 weeks it appears I have only used 6kwh. I know I live quite frugally but this seems very low to me especially as I was at home for 10 days over Christmas with the TV on most of the day every day with the kids. Should I contact my provider and have the meter checked?
I do have a rated appliances and LED/ very low energy bulbs but can't believe I am only using 1 kWh a week

CashStrapped

How have you calculated the 6kw usage?

Did you compare two confirmed meter readings and the dates you took them.

Or was one of those meter readings an estimate?

It one was an estimate, your usage figures may not reflect what you have actually used during that period.

You need to compare two actual/confirmed meter reads to be sure.

Nada666

Both issues. You have to check you are talking actual usage but you are correct - it is tough to use only 1kWh per day never mind a week so if an actual reading then there is a fault.

[Deleted User]

Are you all electric , no gas CH ?.. If you are only registering 1 kwhr a week that`s virtually free energy. Even with a few LED s you should be using much more just making a cup of tea. There is a small white digital meter made by both Ampy and Landys and Gyr which go s faulty a lot, also if you are new to the flat there is a way to slow right down the meter illegally. The former tenant may have done this. What meter is it in the flat ? prepay, eco 7 ?

Haitchy0

I have compare my actual meter reading with the on i took when i moved in, and another one today.

Haitchy0

The previous tenant was an electrician so that could be the case. Its a Schlumberger, Sangamao SPA01 meter. I have checked the three security tags and they do not appear to have been tampered with.

[Deleted User]

Is there a serial number on that meter ?. Its the type of meter popular for use as a sub meter. Its the lower seal where the four cables enter which is usually tampered, but if it looks ok and the screw looks untouched it will fine.

Haitchy0

Thanks. A sub meter would make sense. It is a basement flat below a building containing offices. I wonder if some of my wiring is connected to the offices above as originally the flat was also an office. I am running a Tumble dryer today, and the meter is happily turning....have used almost a kwh since i turned it on half hour ago so maybe my worries are for nothing.

I boil a partially filled kettle twice a day.
I run a fridge freezer...brand new and A+ rated
One load of washing once a week in a A++ rated machine
Watch TV for an hour or two a day. Again brand new and i presume energy efficient
All lighting is 5 Watt LED/ and only on for an hour or two a day as i am out from 5.30 am till 7pm every day apart from the Weekend.
All cooking and Heating on Gas

I think to be on the safe side I will contact my provider and ask them if they want to check the meter has not been tampered with although i presume a meter reader would spot this?

Many thanks for your help and answers

GingerBob_3

Haitchy0 wrote: »

Thanks. A sub meter would make sense. It is a basement flat below a building containing offices. I wonder if some of my wiring is connected to the offices above as originally the flat was also an office. I am running a Tumble dryer today, and the meter is happily turning....have used almost a kwh since i turned it on half hour ago so maybe my worries are for nothing.

I boil a partially filled kettle twice a day.
I run a fridge freezer...brand new and A+ rated
One load of washing once a week in a A++ rated machine
Watch TV for an hour or two a day. Again brand new and i presume energy efficient
All lighting is 5 Watt LED/ and only on for an hour or two a day as i am out from 5.30 am till 7pm every day apart from the Weekend.
All cooking and Heating on Gas

I think to be on the safe side I will contact my provider and ask them if they want to check the meter has not been tampered with although i presume a meter reader would spot this?

Many thanks for your help and answers

I wouldn't recommend it. Firstly, if all is ok they may charge you for the visit. Secondly, if the meter has been tampered with they may just suspect you, even though it doesn't make sense that you would do such a thing and then report it. Also, you may end up having to give evidence, fill out forms, make statements and so on. If you're happy with how the meter is now performing, just leave it and move on.

[Deleted User]

Yes, keep an eye on the meters usage. I have found landlords bypassing the main meter for all inclusive rentals, so if your meter stops registering all of a sudden then that is a possibility. Suppliers never look at sub meters just the main meter.Don t worry about things like "evidence " as its very rare for fiddlers to go to court nowadays mores the pity.You say you have a supplier for your flat so that would mean its not a sub meter, so can you confirm you are in a contract of supply for your flat as that meter does nt look to capable of being an official primary meter.It is used in a wide variety of uses as a sub meter to register usage in farms, flats etc.
If that is the case and your meter stops registering even though you are consuming, I would love to take a peek at the landlords main primary meter just to see if he has nt done a bit of "rewiring " himself. I m super suspicious myself when it comes to landlords offering all inclusive rents, I get so many of them either fiddling or making sure no one can get at the meters without his consent.

Robin9

Is there a consumer unit adjacent to your meter ?

If so switch it off and see if you loose all the supplies to your flat - lighting, sockets, cooker