Broken clock on electric meter

catjn

Hi, I am with EDF energy on an economy 7 tariff. I did my meter readings a few days ago, and was shocked to see my day usage had more than doubled, while the night rate increased only minimally. I am barely in the flat during the day, and have a storage heater which charges over night. My consumption pattern has stayed the same since I moved into the flat last September.

I called EDF; they were adamant that the meter is not faulty, and that my meter reading "tallies up" with my consumption patterns. I felt this was a blatant lie as you can obviously notice the huge contrast with the previous bills. My landlord had an electrician come over, and he was able to determine that the clock on the meter was six hours off. This means my storage heater must have been charging at the day rate for weeks. I am assuming the clock was altered/damaged when there was a power cut in my area a few weeks ago, and UK Power Networks came in for repairs. They did work outside the building, pulling up the pavements and restricting access for a week.

Now, I am saddled with a bill that's double of what I normally pay. I would appreciate any advice on my options. Can I make a complaint to UK power networks? Whose responsibility was this? According to the landlord, my neighbour on the 1st floor was also complaining about the meter.

molerat

How is your system set up ? Under most circumstances the E7 items - storage heaters & water tank - are switched by the clock on the meter.

catjn

Hi, I am afraid I don't know too much about the technical details. I know that I have an electric storage heater that is set to charge overnight. I also have the option for hot water, but I have had the switch turned off since I moved in.

My consumption pattern for December to January was basically +121 on the day meter and + 297 on the night meter. For January, it has been +514 on the day meter and +44 on the night meter. That's why I assumed there was something wrong; there is no way these readings should have come out like they did if otherwise. January was so warm and I had turned down the heater settings too.

Gerry1

Take a video of the meter as it changes from day to night, and vice versa.  Ideally this would also include the two hour slot in the middle of the night (nominally 0030 - 0230) but the 2230 and 0730 ones will do.  Timestamp it by including a DAB radio showing the time and date.  Send the video to EDF and ask for a deadlock letter.  Go to the Ombudsman upon receipt or after eight weeks it it doesn't materialise.

catjn

Hi, I took some photographs yesterday. However, I am given to understand that the electrician employed by the landlord fixed the clock today. Will this be a problem when dealing with EDF? What are my options now?

Gerry1

If the electrician has altered the meter's clock, that will be tampering and you'll potentially have a BIG problem; if it's just a local timeswitch you just need to keep an eye on it to make sure it shadows the correct E7 times. Don't forget there may be a peak rate from 0030 - 0230.  Ideally it shouldn't be mechanical because power failures mean it will go out of kilter.

If it's a local timeswitch provided by the landlord you'll have to take the hit, it won't be EDF's responsibility that your heaters charged at peak rate.

catjn

The meter is digital, but there are no time stamps. Only a blinking '1' or '2' next to the readings, which I think indicates whether the day rate or night rate is on. I do the meter readings myself, but never saw any clock around the box.

Really? I had no idea about that. Why would he try to fix the meter then? I was unfortunately out when he came over to have a look, along with the landlord. I only meant for him to check if the meter and/or the storage heater was working as it should. 

Gerry1

You may have a radio teleswitch, separate from the meter itself.  That's unlikely to go wrong and certainly not something your landlord's electrician could possibly change.  It's cheap rate when the red lever is in the down position.

A local timeswitch could be inside the property.  You need to find out where it is because, as you've found out, it's very expensive when it's not correctly shadowing the E7 times.  Do you know what your E7 times are?

catjn

I think my E7 times are 11:30pm to 6:30am.

Thank you for the clarification. I will go home and have a look. I will also ask the landlord and the electrician for more details.

Richie-from-the-Boro

You've been in the dwelling for 6 months. Historically you will have had a big number and a noticeably smaller number, example:
-8500 ISH night rate

-2600 ISH day rate

Has one been copied wrong and entered/swapped into your account ?

GoTo your online account and download the last 6 months pdf's and check your 6 entries. E7 I'm assuming. What clock ? There's no clock on PartL heating. There is a clock on PartL water, usually next to the water controller.you are 100% accountable for what is behind your front door.

Photograph both your counters (meter) and switch off your water only at the water controller, next day same time Photograph both your counters again. Has your kW consumption changed ?

Gerry1

No good relying on the landlord or electrician: they won't pay your bills if they've given you duff information.  Check with your DNO / electricity company, but above all, see what the meter is actually doing because that's what determines what your bill will be.  Then make sure that your storage and immersion heaters aren't coming on during peak rate periods.