8000+ kwh bill for a small flat for a month???

okasen

I'm hoping you folks can offer guidance! My husband and I got a bill from Bulb today for a whopping 1228 pounds, per an apparent ~8000 kwh used since January 24th. I checked their math, and it looks like they're comparing an estimate (19583) based on our last read (18816 on Jan 30th) to the prior estimate, which was 11156. 19583 - 11156 = 8427 and a killer bill.
I dug through to our first bill where the meter was last read, in December of 2018 when my husband moved in. It was 7308. I checked it today, and the number was 20476. So on average, 940 a month for 14 months, which feels excessive.

At the same time, I checked the meter an hour from the 20476 and it was 20479, so that's 3 kwh an hour... which WOULD lead to an exorbitant bill.

I'm calling bulb when it's not the early morn, and I'll be turning off everything in the flat to make sure the meter stops ticking up in a few hours. For some more background, the biggest energy drains I can think of are the electric radiator in the living area that's on almost 24/7, and a second radiator in the bedroom on a timer for about 6 hours a day. (There's basically always someone home and we get mold issues if we don't keep a low level of heating on).

Anyways, questions. First, can they actually charge us for the meter being this off from the estimates, considering the laws against backbilling? As its impossible to truly tell where the meter started diverging from the estimates.
Second, is it even possible to be using this many kwh in a small, purely electric flat? About 30 a day per my calculations?

Third, oh my don't trust your spouse to tell you things like "we've been paying electric by estimate for a year but they really prefer that you submit readings." I've only even been in the country, much less this flat, for about 5 months, so this was all very new and... exciting,  to research. To make matters better, we move house in 3 days (no, really). Guess I'll know to read the meter like a well loved book in the new place...

The_Fat_Controller

What is the rating of the electric radiator in the living room that you say is on 24/7 ?
It is entirely possible that this could be using 2 units per hour and along with your water heating, cooking, washing and the second radiator, 30 units a day is not impossible.

Robin9

30kwh in an all electric flat is quite possible,
If your heaters are wall mounted panel heaters and as you say one of them is on 24/7 then that's a bad idea.
Describe these heaters please - make and model number.

dogshome

I'm afraid you have put your finger on it, but just too late

For your own protection you have to give any supplier regular meter readings and check the bills

Running Elec heaters 24/7 will hike up the bill as will cooking up Hot water, but there is also the meter to consider that may have gone rogue, but with just 3 days occupancy left there is isn't really enough time left to investigate it, and I'm afraid Back-Billing  doesn't apply in this situation unless Bulb failed to send out any bills for 12 consecutive months

Good Luck in the new home and hang on tight to that new resolution 

Hasbeen

As per above. You were using to much electricity and relying on estimated Bill's. Your husband did not read or submit any readings since Dec 2018 WOW. You owe the money.
Hope you both do not rely on estimates in future and submit at least monthly readings in your new property.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

take a final meter reading (even a photie) when leaving and notify supplier, you  don't want another estimated bill to complicate things further.

Of course, you will take an entry reading at new place and notify supplier?

Good luck.

RelievedSheff

This is a big lesson to learn for you both, or a couple of lessons really.

Always submit meter readings on a regular basis to keep an eye on your energy consumption.

And the second lesson. Electric heating is by far and away the most expensive form of heating. 30kWh per day in an all electric flat is easily possible.

okasen

Ah, thanks all for the prompt replies. You've saved me a call to Bulb at least, which is something! Lesson learned...

Hasbeen

okasen said:

Ah, thanks all for the prompt replies. You've saved me a call to Bulb at least, which is something! Lesson learned...

Also when you move into new property you will be on a deemed contract so when you notify new supplier and give readings, they will put you on a standard tariff which is expensive.
Once registered you can move to a cheaper tariff or move to a cheaper provider.

burntwood

okasen said:

I'm hoping you folks can offer guidance! My husband and I got a bill from Bulb today for a whopping 1228 pounds, per an apparent ~8000 kwh used since January 24th. I checked their math, and it looks like they're comparing an estimate (19583) based on our last read (18816 on Jan 30th) to the prior estimate, which was 11156. 19583 - 11156 = 8427 and a killer bill.
I dug through to our first bill where the meter was last read, in December of 2018 when my husband moved in. It was 7308. I checked it today, and the number was 20476. So on average, 940 a month for 14 months, which feels excessive.

At the same time, I checked the meter an hour from the 20476 and it was 20479, so that's 3 kwh an hour... which WOULD lead to an exorbitant bill.

I'm calling bulb when it's not the early morn, and I'll be turning off everything in the flat to make sure the meter stops ticking up in a few hours. For some more background, the biggest energy drains I can think of are the electric radiator in the living area that's on almost 24/7, and a second radiator in the bedroom on a timer for about 6 hours a day. (There's basically always someone home and we get mold issues if we don't keep a low level of heating on).

Anyways, questions. First, can they actually charge us for the meter being this off from the estimates, considering the laws against backbilling? As its impossible to truly tell where the meter started diverging from the estimates.
Second, is it even possible to be using this many kwh in a small, purely electric flat? About 30 a day per my calculations?

Third, oh my don't trust your spouse to tell you things like "we've been paying electric by estimate for a year but they really prefer that you submit readings." I've only even been in the country, much less this flat, for about 5 months, so this was all very new and... exciting,  to research. To make matters better, we move house in 3 days (no, really). Guess I'll know to read the meter like a well loved book in the new place...

8000+ kwh bill for a small flat for a month???

No, it sounds like a catch-up bill covering the last 14 months


You can't take a consumption over a single hour an extrapoloate that to cover the whole year. That would only work if you drew a consistant load over the day/month/year, which you almost certainly do not.

For example, today, I see you were burning the midnight oil between about 4.40am and 5.30 am when you created this user account and thread.

burntwood