Coin Energy Meter in bedsit

kristeva

Hi all

Has anyone any experience with coin meters? I moved into a self contained bedsit arrangement couple of weeks with its own coin meter. The landlord told me it usually costs £2 to £3 a week in the summer months and about £15 a week in winter. So I put four £1 coins in and the clock registered almost full, about 70 units on B rate. I use a microwave instead of the oven, power a TV and computer, and avoided using the hot water boiler completely. Just over 2weeks later there's still just 10 units left, which left me quite satisfied so i decided to pump another four £1 coins in but this time the clock only registered over half way at about 40 units, which left me a little confused at the discrepancy.

I wish I'd paid more attention to the meter readings when I first moved in but I could have sworn the meter must have been fully empty because out of habit I tried switching the lights on when I first moved in and there was no power to the room. I can't imagine there was money already in the meter. Is there a simple explanation for this, or am I being paranoid?

I guess I'd better ask the landlord how much I'm paying per unit. I've made a proper note of the readings and I'll see how long this £4 lasts in comparison to the last.

House_Martin

Try and work out exactly how much you are paying for one unit of electric on the meter..One unit is equal to one KWH and the price may well be OK..The last one checked on here was paying the going rate, minus VAT. Price for a KWH of electricity varies throughout the UK a lot and can be between 9/10 p/ kwh and approx 15p/ kwh..Also the landlord will be paying the daily standing charge which could be 30 p a day.
The law is that he cannot make a profit selling it on to bedsits

[Deleted User]

Hi,

well if you got 70 units for £4 that's about 5.7p a unit, which seems cheap, 40 units for £4 is 10p a unit, which is probably nearer what it should be.

There should be an indicator on meter telling you what it is 'set at', that is, how many units you will get per coin, then divide £1 by that figure to get price per unit.

For example, 'set at' 9 = 11p/unit, 'set at' 12 = 8.3p/unit.

If you're round about the 10p figure, you seem to be getting a good deal.

Just a thought, is meter ready for the new coins, you may have to stock up on old coins, just in case.

kristeva

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

well if you got 70 units for £4 that's about 5.7p a unit, which seems cheap, 40 units for £4 is 10p a unit, which is probably nearer what it should be.

There should be an indicator on meter telling you what it is 'set at', that is, how many units you will get per coin, then divide £1 by that figure to get price per unit.

For example, 'set at' 9 = 11p/unit, 'set at' 12 = 8.3p/unit.

If you're round about the 10p figure, you seem to be getting a good deal.

Just a thought, is meter ready for the new coins, you may have to stock up on old coins, just in case.

Thanks. I had some units left when I put the £4 in the other day so it'll probably be more than 10p. So I guess the meter must have had some money left in it when I put my first £4 in? I could have sworn there was no power to the room. And there I was well pleased I'd got over 2 weeks out of £4 Oh well. Is the units per coin indicator located on the dial on the right where the money goes in? I think it does take the new coins, I'm sure I managed to shove one in the other day. Here's a pic of the meter:

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Yes, have a look at the nut to top left hand of coin box, you should see a line underneath the locking lug, so looks like you are set at 6.8 units per coin, so 14.7p per unit.

kristeva

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

Yes, have a look at the nut to top left hand of coin box, you should see a line underneath the locking lug, so looks like you are set at 6.8 units per coin, so 14.7p per unit.

Spot on Frugal, you must have better eyesight than me! Looking through my magnification glass I can see it's set at 6.8 units. So I'm paying just about the highest rate going.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

well I knew where to look, it's easier seen when coin box is off, but you would need lock off for that.

The highest rate setting for that meter would be A rate, set at 1 unit per coin, so £1 a unit.

SpotlandRules

kristeva wrote: »

Spot on Frugal, you must have better eyesight than me! Looking through my magnification glass I can see it's set at 6.8 units. So I'm paying just about the highest rate going.

When you factor is the standing charge, it is not as bad as it seems.

Cardew

I agree with the above. In my region(Midlands) Ebico (which has no standing charge) it is 16.09p/kWh

With your projected low consumption I doubt if you would find a much better deal even with your own credit meter and having to pay a standard charge.