Strangely high electric bill

gogsboy

I wondered if anyone know is it possible for these old style meters to play up and end up costing you more than you should be paying..

Have both gas and electric with Scottish Hyrdo and the recent bill was something like £19 for gas but £110 for electric.

Ok so mentioned it to family and they said price has gone up, ok I know that but not that much, anyway I go and look back at my previous bills and never ever have I used nearly 900 day units until now.

I have no idea why this is possible to be honest as I have been working away from home the majority of the time and the occasions that I have been here I haven't done a great deal and I always switch off stuff etc.

Anyone had similar problems or advise?

Thanks

dellxps

hi gogsboy,

what you need to do:


-check whether the meter reading is used is estimated or an actual reading.
-check the meter reading on your actual meter today
-does it tally with what scottish hydro have used?
-If the meter readings do not tally ring scottish hydro up and get them to send you an amended bill.

From what you said it seemsyou are on an economy 7 meter (with a night and day reading). I'm not sure about this one but they may have billed you on a normal one rate meter perhaps...unlikely.

Basically, check your readings and if you're still not happy call them. The fact is it is very very very very rare for a meter to be incorrect, but then again, there is still a possibility.

gogsboy

Hi, thanks for the reply.

More often than not it's an estimate on the electrics side as I'm not here that often, however on this occasion I happened to be in the house when the guy came to read the meter and have checked it and the numbers tally up.

It does have a night and day reading but in the past I have hammered the electricity and even then never used near 900 units of day energy and like I said with regards to this time I wasn't at the house much at all.

dellxps

what it probably is that because the past bills have been estimated for some time, when the meter actually got read you had a 'catch up bill'. Scottish hydro were probably underestimating your usage and now they've got a real reading your bills have unexpectedly shot up.

My advice: if you ever have an estimated reading check it against your meter to check whether it is accurate and if not get it changed straight away.

gogsboy

dellxps wrote: »

what it probably is that because the past bills have been estimated for some time, when the meter actually got read you had a 'catch up bill'. Scottish hydro were probably underestimating your usage and now they've got a real reading your bills have unexpectedly shot up.

My advice: if you ever have an estimated reading check it against your meter to check whether it is accurate and if not get it changed straight away.

I meant to say that I always seem to manage to be about at some point to phone in the reading so don't think playing catch up.

I just dont see where near 900 day units could possibly have gone

Terrylw1

Hi,

Does your reading on the bill match that on your meter? The meter readers reading may not be the one shown on the bill.

I was going to say it's catching up but if you have been supplying readings that may not be the case now.

It is possible for a meter to "speed" which can easily be identified with a Standard Load Test (SLT) arranged by your Supplier. However, they won't want to do that until they have checked your bills are correct and that your appliances do not add up to the cause the jump in the bill.

Meters have a speed requirement but they can become faulty. It is rare though.

One thing worth doing would be to work out your daily consumption to see if you have any spikes. So, take a reading the same time for a couple of days and see how it compares to the 900 units you have been billed over X days.

It's difficult to advise without seeing some readings on the thread from your bills and the current meter readings. If you could post them we could understand what you mean as I think it's a bit unclear at this stage.