Electricity meter not recording usage - help!

Carrot007

Ed_Winchester wrote: »

You see my confusion... Spark said it was Economy 10, but EDF (who I contacted after hearing they dealt with Economy 10) told me it was actually this SuperTariff thing, which I'd never heard of before.

To answer your last question, it has 4 reads which are cycled through by pressing a blue button. One is zero (is that the error one you mention?) and the others have readings which have never changed since I've been there. The interesting thing is that there are a mixture of meter types in the cupboard; not all of the six properties in the building have this type of meter.

Definatly supertarrif then. Spark [rpbably only took over as they did not know. They might not even supply both mpans. This will be hard to check via a supplier of the help line. If you are OK PM'ing me your meter serial I can check (this will give me your address so if you are worried do not).

Ed_Winchester wrote: »

Would your advice first of all be to contact Npower to see if they'll take over the supply? Assume a faulty meter is something they would cover if they'd do so?

Yes, play up theI have moved into a dflat and it should be on supertarrif and will you please take back the supply. I suspect you will need a manager to investigate what ST even is, so it may not be easy. But you never know you could get someone with extended knowledge! They do exist.

Ed_Winchester wrote: »

Failing that it will need a new meter but at my landlord's cost? Spark did offer to change the meter but said they'd need confirmation from an electrician/the landlord that the property would support an Economy 7 or standard meter.

Is that a fair summary?

Yes, the meter change will probably be free. However as ST storage heaters I asssume are set up in a very special way and will need extensive changing by an electrician before the meter change as you will otherwise lose heating.

Please confirm how the property is heated for more info here.

Ed_Winchester wrote: »

By the way, thanks to both of you for your advice - I'm getting more sense here than I've had from any of the suppliers I've spoken with.

Glad to help out. I know how frustrating metering can be when you move into a property. Full disclosure I do work for a supplier, however I will not mention who as this is purely unofficial advice. I started in domestic so know a fair bit here, which is why I can offer information, though I have not worked in it for over 10 years.

House_Martin

Excellent advice from Carrot007.
Also have a read of what Wolf3 commented on here.He lives up in Scotland and has a good knowledge of these odd legacy tariffs.https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5543108.
Looks like Spark Energy can t solve this and only Npower will be able to sort it and will need a specialist manager from Npower only to deal with it.
Everyone else will fail.
I m still suspicious that a previous tenant has got so fed up of high bills that they have resorted to "fixing " the damn meter by an internal wiring link.
Although the lower cover seal is in position give it a close look and a tug. The clever ones cut the seal neatly then super glue it back.Others simply buy a few seals from Ebay and replace the proper DNO ones by one with no number printed on it.
The red light on solid , with no rapid pulsing when electricity is being used, is always the indicator to me of an internal adjustment inside the meter. I usually spot this on the electric key meter which is the most tampered meter.
Your digital meter not advancing is still a mystery

Ed_Winchester_2

Thanks again both - I'll be contacting Npower on Friday when I'm next home and see if they can help me out. I'll double check those seals on the meter again too as I'm definitely suspicious re: the previous tenants.

The property does have storage heaters, yes. Wouldn't have been my first choice but everything else about the place (location, layout, room size etc) was perfect for me so it was a compromise.