Is my electric Economy 7 meter faulty?

sandydog_2

Hi, I need advise please!

I have an Economy 7 meter - an A.C Watthour meter connected to a Radio Teleswitch. I'm concerned that both low and normal rates are changing at the same time. I've never checked this before, and if it's faulty it could have been going on for years . I've just switched to Ovo, and have posted on their forum.
Is it possible I've been paying double for all these years? How could I check?
Thanks for any input!

FullForce

sandydog wrote: »

Hi, I need advise please!

I have an Economy 7 meter - an A.C Watthour meter connected to a Radio Teleswitch. I'm concerned that both low and normal rates are changing at the same time. I've never checked this before, and if it's faulty it could have been going on for years . I've just switched to Ovo, and have posted on their forum.
Is it possible I've been paying double for all these years? How could I check?
Thanks for any input!

What makes you concerned that both low and normal rates are changing at the same time, if you have not checked???

sandydog_2

FullForce wrote: »

What makes you concerned that both low and normal rates are changing at the same time, if you have not checked???

I thought that only one rate should change at a time, i.e. the low rate should change during cheap rate hours only.

Is that what you were asking?

FullForce

sandydog wrote: »

I thought that only one rate should change at a time, i.e. the low rate should change during cheap rate hours only.

Correct.

So you have checked?

CashStrapped

I think he is asking how you know that both are charging at the same time..

Can you actually see both readings move and record use? If so, do they do this both during the day and during the night? Or do they both move at certain times only?

Are you actually on an E7 (dual rate) tariff? Do you have storage heaters?

Have you taken daily meter readings at the same time each day?

You need to start tracking your use if there is an issue with the meter.

House_Martin

The two rates do change at the same time, day rate will stop and night rate will start but possibly you are mistaking the total rate which continues to advance when both low and normal are active. The total rate is usually designated with a letter "t " or a cursor under it.

sandydog_2

I know both are moving because I've been watching them intermittently this morning.

At 9:38 low reading was 48285 and normal was 59992.
At 13:12 low is 48289 and normal is 59996.

I don't have storage heaters. I've never spent much time looking at the meters, I just do the readings as necessary. I just assumed if there are 2 readings I must be on economy 7.

House_Martin

sandydog wrote: »

I know both are moving because I've been watching them intermittently this morning.

At 9:38 low reading was 48285 and normal was 59992.
At 13:12 low is 48289 and normal is 59996.

I don't have storage heaters. I've never spent much time looking at the meters, I just do the readings as necessary. I just assumed if there are 2 readings I must be on economy 7.

Digital meters usually have three rates , low, norm and total

FullForce

sandydog wrote: »

I know both are moving because I've been watching them intermittently this morning.

At 9:38 low reading was 48285 and normal was 59992.
At 13:12 low is 48289 and normal is 59996.

I don't have storage heaters. I've never spent much time looking at the meters, I just do the readings as necessary. I just assumed if there are 2 readings I must be on economy 7.

Why are you assuming which tariff you are on???
Your bill/statement will tell you which tariff you are on.

It is worrying that both registries have increased by 4 units.
However, do some more checks this afternoon, say around 3pm & 5pm if possible, and see if both registries have increased again by the same amount on each occassion.
Based only on the readings you have provided so far, it could be you switched rates sometime between the times the 2 readings were taken.

FullForce

House_Martin wrote: »

Digital meters usually have three rates , low, norm and total

The OP said they have an A.C Watthour meter , which I understand is not a digital meter, but an older analog meter (but not one with all them clocks that go round in different directions)

matelodave

Have you checked your bills to establish which tariff you are on.

You may also need to look at your wiring to see how it's configured - perhaps a photo on here would show how the meter tails are wired.

What make and model number is your meter again a piccy would help. We used to have a dual rate meter which had be re configured to a single rate one,
It previously had a high rate, low rate and a total, each being selected by a push of a button - it was then reconfigured by the leccy compnay so it only showed a single rate.

We dont have it any more so I cant tell whether the rate & total registers kept incrementing. That's what seems to be happening with yours as they've both incremented by 4kwh.

You need to check it a bit more carefully and check your bills, have you been sending in readings and checking that your bills are using the readings or have you been happliy paying the bill and not knowing what you are paying for?