Is someone stealing my electric?

Jmoo

Some of you may have remembered my wangle with the landlord to get an Economy 7 meter fitted in my flat as my bills were rather high. Finally the landlord caved in, and today the meter was fitted.

However it's left me with another conundrum, someone else within the block has complained their electricity was cut at the same time mine was off.

The electrician was confused, he said the switch was flicked off for this particular flat, and when he looked those wires attached to that meter didn't go anywhere.

It could have been coincidental, but now I'm at a loss about what the next steps are if there is a connection. Am I paying for someone else's electric?

warehouse

Turn off your electric and check with the other flat.

Robin9

Switch your flat off again and see if the same person complains again

Cardew

It is quite common for properties converted into flats to have the problem of wiring feeding from one flat to another. I suspect this is usually due to incompetence of the workmen during conversion, although it could be malicious.


As you now suspect this is a possibility, it will be easy to check. Switch off everything in your flat including Fridge/freezer and see if you meter moves.

Jmoo

Cardew wrote: »

It is quite common for properties converted into flats to have the problem of wiring feeding from one flat to another. I suspect this is usually due to incompetence of the workmen during conversion, although it could be malicious.


As you now suspect this is a possibility, it will be easy to check. Switch off everything in your flat including Fridge/freezer and see if you meter moves.

So essentially switch off stuff in my flat, but not at the actual meter? It's always been flats, so not actually converted, but yeah I'll have a look tonight.

Jmoo

So I can't see any drastic changes since I left it this afternoon - I'd consumed 1KwH since it was put in at 3.30. I probably need to wait until I know the person is in to do this test.

What I can see is the tube to my meter is also feeding Flat 87 and 71 as well as mine. The difference with Flat 87 is that they have no meter connected, whereas 71 does. Could this explain it at all? How is he getting electricity with no meter, yet complaining his has gone off?

AndyPK

turn off your flat when the other person is home, and make sure the meter isn't going round, or light pulsing.

Jmoo

I turned off everything at the "mains" part of the 'starbreaker' within my flat, and I can confirm the light was still flashing every minute but presumably this could be normal?

HappyMJ

Jmoo wrote: »

I turned off everything at the "mains" part of the 'starbreaker' within my flat, and I can confirm the light was still flashing every minute but presumably this could be normal?

If you're not using anything then the meter should not flash.

Jmoo

HappyMJ wrote: »

If you're not using anything then the meter should not flash.

I read it can do that if you don't leave it long enough.

I'll have to speak to my letting agent again. SSE confirm my neighbour are not on a meter, so how would they be getting electricity unless it's through me?!

Jmoo

I turned it off again this morning and there was a constant red light on 100A - I read that might mean there's no electricity?

The worrying thing is it says on my display for total "00033" kWh and "00016" for both rate 1 and 2. This seems ridiculously high for 15 hours?