Help needed on extremely high electricity bill

Robin9

@ £42 a month for 21 months - £882 . 

OP could you post a copy of the last bill please showing the unit rates and tariff - blank out the personal and account numbers. ?   We're doing a lot of guessing but the end result is a lot of money, just a question as to how much.

And when you get around to EDF and gas - why are you on a PAYG ? and not a credit meter. ?

This all most odd

OP - is this the first time you have been responsible for utilities ?

Hasbeen

Gentlegiant said:

Here is a picture of the consumer unit. Alot of the appliances do not have labels except the fridge freezer but I also notice the unit is due for an inspection. 

What is the first LH side B16 used for / sticker?

matelodave

looks like a hot water tank or fast boiler to me - 16a is generally for a 3kw circuit and is likely to be the immersion heater

Gerry1

Robin9 said:

(I don't think its been asked but do you have an electric shower)   It's most unusual to have an E7 tariff when you have gas -   did it once have storage rads and then gas installed.

I mentioned this back on 31 December, as have others, but this is one of umpteen things that the OP has ignored, including a photo of the hot tank and any electrical connections and switches, a photo of everything in the meter cupboard, whether once there were night storage heaters (hence an immersion heater), whether the property has been converted, what the gas usage is, etc, etc.

Hasbeen

matelodave said:

looks like a hot water tank or fast boiler to me - 16a is generally for a 3kw circuit and is likely to be the immersion heater

Yes thought that as well.

 Asked on page 5

Hasbeen
"But has been asked a few times if immersion heater is switched on? but reply is "hot water tank heated by gas meter."
Would still check though"

Perhaps when gas boiler goes off little switch on kitchen wall heats tank overnight?
What type of gas boiler? What type of water heater?
Straw's clutching etc?

Edit:
Op can you supply some photos of all Gerry1 has requested?

jbuchanangb

I have cranked the OP's numbers into one of my standard spreadsheets so as to show things clearly. I have assumed that the day and night rates from 17/11/18 are as shown on the bill dated 15/12/20 up to 30/9/20, and likewise after that. The Standing charge of 22.646 per day is embedded in the formula. I believe Rate 2 is the day rate, because it is the one which was changing when the OP was doing some tests earlier.

There is still the mystery of what is causing the high level of consumption, but without doubt the OP is getting an unpleasant crash course in the energy marketplace, and needs to take the advice already provided, including switching quickly to a much cheaper BG tariff and setting in place a plan to pay for the energy consumed. If indeed it has been consumed. I don't think is done the "kettle" test yet to accurately verify that the meter is recording correctly.

Gentlegiant

Robin9 said:

Looking at your consumption

Rate 1: 20730   in Oct 18 ; 25896 now = 2250 pa  @say 18p = £400  (assume day time)
Rate 2: 61547   in Oct 18; 76736 now =  6750 pa   @ say 12p =  £800   (assume night time)

add standing charges and VAT = £1400/1500 pa 

So about £3500 since you moved in *   (NB see below about the fix running out - perhaps £4000 !)

This is very indicative of a substantial night time use - far more than just immersion - perhaps some underfloor.
Keep digging as to the cause

Also - in turning your back on this - your first years fix (assuming you took out one) ran out and you will have been on their standard Ie expensive rate since Oct 2019.

You really to so seem to be learning some mistakes the expensive way
y 

Still some outstanding questions - was this a purpose built flat or a conversion. Both have potential metering issues. The meter dates from 2001 - was this when the flat was built/converted ?








  So 

The property is a purpose built flat.

Gentlegiant

Gerry1 said:

The Rate 2 opening reading is 397kWh below your moving in photograph.  Perhaps the previous occupier didn't give a closing reading, perhaps they gave a reading that was too low, or perhaps the The Mysterious Third Party changed it.  It's cost you an extra £94 but there's probably not much you can do about it now.  As to the Rate 2 reading, nobody will ever know how accurate that was.

The claimed readings show you have used a total of 20,365kWh.  Depending on exactly when you moved in, that's a total bill of of about £3772, so you owe them that amount less whatever you've paid them so far.

=========================

You really are your own worst enemy:-

• Have you done the overnight 'sanity check' on the meter?
• Have you done the flashing light test with the kettle?
• Have you switched to the cheapest BG tariff you can find on the CA and 'Which?' sites?

Place your bets !

Hi,

I was on the phone to BG yesterday for like an hour after discovering the starting reading was wrong. The guy really helped. He said the latest bill only took into account the payments from June- Dec 2020 rather than the whole lot from when I moved in. He has reversed the £2430 quid i am owning while he makes the necessary adjustments. He said I will receive a new invoice in 3days that will call the effect of these changes.

on the average I have paid  £42 monthly since I moved in. 

However regarding the main issue of high usage. I have contacted the landlord and he will be sending his technician on Saturday to investigate the issue. 

Gentlegiant

Hasbeen said:

Gentlegiant said:

Here is a picture of the consumer unit. Alot of the appliances do not have labels except the fridge freezer but I also notice the unit is due for an inspection. 

What is the first LH side B16 used for / sticker?

Its the water heater/boiler

Gentlegiant

Gerry1 said:

Robin9 said:

(I don't think its been asked but do you have an electric shower)   It's most unusual to have an E7 tariff when you have gas -   did it once have storage rads and then gas installed.

I mentioned this back on 31 December, as have others, but this is one of umpteen things that the OP has ignored, including a photo of the hot tank and any electrical connections and switches, a photo of everything in the meter cupboard, whether once there were night storage heaters (hence an immersion heater), whether the property has been converted, what the gas usage is, etc, etc.

Hi,

When I finish from work I will take a photo of the meter cupboard. Sorry didnt realise you requested this. Also, the BG I spoke to yesterday did me tion I do not need an E7 since I use central heating. The problem with that is I intend switching supplier and look for a suitable deal for my needs but until I sort this out or clear the bill I cannot do that