Small flat, huge bills!

D_M_E

A bunch of meters together - I suspect that you are being charged for the wrong meter.

What you need to do is turn off EVERYTHING electric in the place, including fridges and freezers - an hour turned off will not have much effect on temperature if they are left shut. Make sure you also power down your boiler correctly, or leave it on if the place is up to your desired temperature and it's not burning any gas.

Now, go and look at the meters and see which one is not moving and take note of the reading.

Next, go back and fill up your kettle, plug it in and turn it on.

While the kettle is boiling go back and look at the meters.

Is the one which was not moving now either showing a spinning disc (old type) or showing a flashing red light (newer type) and/or has the reading gone up by one, possibly 2 units while the kettle is on - if so, then you can safely assume that that is your meter.

Make a note of the serial number on that meter.

Once you have identified the meter, turn fridge and everything else back on and turn off the kettle.

Now check the serial number on the bills with that on the meter - do they match?

merchcon55

Edit - the above poster beat me to it LOL

Have you tried turning everything off in your flat - even the refrigerator, say for 2-3 hours?

Take a meter reading just before turning everything off. Wait 2-3 hours, then take another meter reading.

Assuming EVERYTHING is off (so not even anything on stand by), the meter reading should be identical.

Try doing this when other people are home in the other flats in your home.

I am suggesting that perhaps your meter is registering electricity usage from another flat.

Try not to have too much in the fridge or freezer - but a decent fridge, with doors close - should still keep everything cold/frozen if power is off for 2-3 hours.

One more thing - do you have an immersion switch for your hot water? Is it possible there is one "hidden" somewhere you are not aware of and is in a permanent "on" positon?

Again, instead of doing tests on individual appliances - start with turning EVERYTHING off for 2-3 hours. Your meter should not move, even 0.1 units. Good luck.

vincent2017

Thanks, guys. Yes, I will do these tests!

I do know that the meter on the gNergy bill matches the meter that I'm looking at, because I'm the one that set up the account with them. But it's certainly possible that the meters are incorrectly labelled. I'll pay a close eye to the readings!

I can't see an immersion tank anywhere, I think it's just the combi boiler. There's an old black plastic tank in the loft which must be a cold water tank, but I'm not sure if it's in use. I don't see any hot tank like I remember my parents have in their airing cupboard. (Definitely nothing in the flat - not sure about the loft which is unconverted, but it's not immediately visible).

CashStrapped

You really need to do the meter test Vincent - I suggested doing that back on the 3/03/18 - post number 20.

It takes about 5 - 10 mins to do.

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1) Turn off all sensitive electricals ie. shutdown any computers that are plugged in. Turn your boiler off.

2) Then go to the consumer unite (fuse box) and turn off the main switch. Everything in the flat should go off.

(Make sure you have a torch with you when you do this. )

3) Then, go to the meter cupboard.

Check what you think is your meter. Wait for a min or so and see if it records any use. Wait a bit longer, check again.

4) Then go back to your flat. Turn the power back on. Fill the kettle with water. turn it on.

6) Then go back to the meter. It should be recording high use while the kettle boils.

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To double check, turn off the power again. Check the meter, and again use should be zero.

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If when the power is off, it is still recording use. There may be an issue with the meter assignment in the flats. The meter you think is for your flat may end up relating to another flat all together. So you have been paying someone else's bill!

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At that point use the same process to find the meter that corresponds to the power going off an on in your flat.

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It is the evening, when people are using electricity, so now it a perfect time to do it. It will take 5-10 mins.

This could uncover what this issue is immediately....so do it!

vincent2017

Thanks, CashStrapped! I'd better not disturb my flatmate so I'll do the test early tomorrow morning,

I've just taken readings now of the three meters in the hallway. I note mine has gone up 6 kilowatts in the past 3.5 hours of evening usage (no use of washing machine, oven, or microwave).

CashStrapped

Problem with early in the morning is that the other flats may not be using much. Which makes it harder to confirm if there is an issue. Around 5-7 is a good time to do it.

But, I suppose you should be able to see if your meter really is your meter....whatever time you do it....it just makes it a bit easier when there is likely to be use in another flat.

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Your flat mate does not have a sneaky electric heater in their room do they? Or a hidden cannabis farm

vincent2017

Ah, okay! Well, I'll do it in the evening though, and just tell my flatmate beforehand.
Thanks for the explanation!

merchcon55

6 kW in 3.5 hours, without using any high energy item (electric heater, tumble dryer, electric oven) is A LOT !!!!

As suggested above, any chance your room mate is using a "sneaky heater" ? I have a home office, which was a garage, so can get a bit cool. I use a simple Dimplex fan heater, on low setting, for say 10-15 minutes on and off to "top up" the room.

But say I had it running all the time - even on low - that is 1.5KW per hour - in 3 hours, that's 4.5KW. Even with my computer on, the refrigerator on, TV on in background, and any lighting, I would not use another 1.5kW, to get to your 6 KW in 3 hours.

SO SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG - I suspect you are being charged for other flats usage - even 1 small electric heater, running a few hours a day can have a dramatic impact!

Trust you get to the bottom of it all - good luck.

vincent2017

A bit of progress! Today I finally did what you told me, turned everything off, and discovered the meter is turning with all the switches turned off!

First, here are some readings I took before turning anything off. The house is divided into three two-bed flats, with A on lower ground/ground, B on upper ground/first floor, and C on first/second floor). Occupants of Flat A are out at work all day, while B and C have people home in the day.

10.24pm Sunday
Flat A: 52344
Flat B: 38596
Flat C: 08649

6:07am Monday
Flat A: 52345 (=1 kilowatt overnight)
Flat B: 38597 (=1 kilowatt overnight)
Flat C: 08651 (=2 kilowatts overnight)

11.08pm Monday
Flat A: 52349 (= 5 kilowatts in 25 hours)
Flat B: 38604 (= 8 kilowatts in 25 hours)
Flat C: 08664 (= 15 kilowatts in 25 hours)

vincent2017

Here's everything turned off: