Being hit by a massive 6k bill

Talldave

Do you have a really old fridge or freezer that's running 24/7 struggling to get cold?

With the consumption you've measured today, the meter led will be flashing 20 times a minute.  If your consumer unit has a lot of circuit breakers with little flappy levers, you can turn one or more off to see which one causes the flashes to significantly slow. That can give a clue to which circuit the culprit is on. 

Robin9

Forum members - I seem to recall about 12 months ago - a similar unexplained high usage that proved to be a garden pump that was working too hard trying to drain a swamp.  Any one else recall ?
OP - any pumps , sump pumps in a cellar etc ?

Gerry1

Robin9 said:

Forum members - I seem to recall about 12 months ago - a similar unexplained high usage that proved to be a garden pump that was working too hard trying to drain a swamp.  Any one else recall ?
OP - any pumps , sump pumps in a cellar etc ?

Yes !

BooJewels

That's funny @Gerry1 and @Robin9, I've been dropping into this thread today, without having chance to post or anything to add before, wondering something similar.  The wayward garden pump being in my father's garden - a property I've been managing for 18 months.

The difference in my case, was that I was monitoring power consumption carefully, so when there was an unexpected spike in use (after a power cut, but I think that was a red herring), I spotted it straight away - I knew something was suddenly drawing excess power, it was narrowing the culprit down that proved tricky.  I'm happy to report that since we disengaged the garden pump and the old freezer I was also dubious about (but don't think was actually using much), the house uses an average of less than 2kWh per day at the moment. But I was on to it within 2-3 weeks and the excess power usage only lasted about 6 weeks in total.

I would really urge the OP to take control of this situation going forwards - to make a note on your calendar to read meters and note them at the end of each month and keep on top of it - tally your own information with the bills you get - an hour a month to do some calcs and make some notes might well save you the sickening fright this has given you - it's perhaps a lesson we all learnt the hard way at some point in the past - hence we're evangelical about urging others to do likewise.   

If I hadn't been monitoring my father's property carefully, as well as my own, that blocked pump might have cost me over £250 extra over the 7 months since I pulled the plug.  The would have been £1700 over the 4 years your bill covers.  Just for one malfunctioning device (actually blocked with a pebble).

gzoom

Superbbill said:

I did a meter reading at 0930 - 64246
Meter reading at 1700 - 64255
We've not been in much today as we are moving stuff to storeage. Just lights, laptop on charge for music and kettle for the odd cup of tea.

As others have said it's impossible you're appliances have used that much electricity. There are only two possibilities:

1: Something is causing a massive back ground usage in the house. You need to check your readings tonight and see how much it's gone up overnight. If there is more than 1-2kWh usage overnight than something is drawing alot of power and you need to find it.

2: The meter is wrong - This can happen but its as rare as hens teeth, and you need to buy or convince the energy company to send you a coupler to monitor your actual usage versus meter readings.

The problem is the possibility of number 2 occurring is very low, and if it turns out something in your house is actually using a stupid amount of electricity you may still have to pay the additional bill!!!

Petriix

I guess the OP has discovered a 2kW electric heater switched on in the shed and accepted that the bill is accurate then... 

Robin9

Expect another thread in 4 years time - the OP will have taken his shed heater with him, not read his meter and the cycle continues ....................................

MWT

I suspect the OP just got caught up by his moving date.

Hopefully he will drop in again and let us know if he solved the mystery before he moved...

Talldave

Moving does take over life entirely, especially since phone lines with that slightly important broadband connection don't operate like the energy supply does (instantly available,  deemed contract). I  always seem to be running around sorting 4G data SIMs. Last time around though, sorting the dead fox on the lawn took priority! 

[Deleted User]

BooJewels said:

I would really urge the OP to take control of this situation going forwards - to make a note on your calendar to read meters and note them at the end of each month and keep on top of it - tally your own information with the bills you get - an hour a month to do some calcs and make some notes might well save you the sickening fright this has given you - it's perhaps a lesson we all learnt the hard way at some point in the past - hence we're evangelical about urging others to do likewise.   

Yes deffo do this. I had EDF try to ramp up my DD by 60% a month after estimating future usage totalling more than £948. Only been with them 2 months and already in credit. They hadn’t counted on the fact that I keep my own records and can account for every kWh used. When I pointed this out to them they backed down and kept the DD how it is.