Economy 7 - possibly faulty meter/wiring - help please

QrizB

TheLookingGlass said:

Her electricity readings are somehow 3-4 times higher than her old flat. The meter says that she's now using around 800-900kwh per month, which is crazy.

One more thing. If the meter is clocking up 900kWh per month, that's 30kWh per day. It must be going somewhere which means something must be getting hot. Are the panel heaters on their own circuit? And the immersion heater? Is there anything else that heats, eg. an electric shower?

Switch all of those off at the consumer unit for a couple of days (the weather's warm, two days without a shower won't hurt or she can use yours) and see if that helps. If the consumption falls, you've found the problem. If not, you've eliminated them and the problem is elsewhere.

Post a photo of the consumer unit (and the rest of the meter cupboard stuff) if you need pointers or think it would help!

Tallerdave

Not sure if this is a purpose built block or conversion, but in the latter case especially it's worth checking that none of the wiring disappears off to another flat.

TheLookingGlass

Thanks everyone
Yes of course, a DD is not a bill. I'm just explaining what's going on now, compared to her previous bills/readings. kWh I've mentioned already between her current and previous flat.
We will do the extra tests you both mentioned.
I still think the meter is running fast! And I still think that Neon Reef customer service are talking BS with their responses. They know it's an E7 meter.
What do you think about their response? Even if the arrow is moving, it seems you agree that their response is BS?

The issue is, they've stated high fees to send out an engineer if the meter ISN'T faulty. But surely it sounds like it is (even if it isn't running fast)

TheLookingGlass

Qriz - 
Panel heaters and immersion not on own circuit. No electric shower.
Thanks for the tips, we'll try some different things you suggested.

MWT

TheLookingGlass said:

The issue is, they've stated high fees to send out an engineer if the meter ISN'T faulty. But surely it sounds like it is (even if it isn't running fast)

There is a fault, but not one that is helpful to your case and quite separate from the charges that they will make for a meter accuracy check.

The failure to switch between day/night registers is a red herring, don't let that distract you from tracking down where the high usage is occurring...

coffeehound

Does the fact that the meter clearly has a fault mean that the OP won't risk being charged for a meter accuracy test?

Maybe stating the obvious but what the OP definitiely wants to avoid is the meter being swapped for a smart meter without its accuracy being documented first.

coffeehound

An overall photo of the meter board and consumer unit would help see what's happening

MWT

coffeehound said:

Does the fact that the meter clearly has a fault mean that the OP won't risk being charged for a meter accuracy ?.

No, the work is quite different. An accuracy check would still be charged for if no inaccuracy is found.
it is trivial to do your own check even with an old spinning disk meter, so no point in waiting and paying more in usage and fees.
Need to figure out what is using the power ASAP

Gerry1

It's possible to have a check meter installed.  Does anyone know if there is a charge for this, and whether it's lower than the expensive test where the suspect meter is taken away to a laboratory?  Electricity Check Meters (search for it) are available for around £20 or less, so if all else fails that might be a possibility if the OP knows an inexpensive electrician nearby.

But as been suggested, it's extremely easy to do a test by counting the revolutions and/or watching the numbers change, so that should put the OP's mind at rest by confirming that the meter is not overcharging.  Then real the detective work can begin to establish what's drawing the power.

welshmoneylover

Is there a boost button for the immersion heater somewhere?