Meter check or smart meter?

Anita85

I've had a reply today from my email. They haven't answered all my questions, no surprise there. They are just repeating that consumption test shows no issues with the meter. They don't seem to believe me that my readings are way higher than last year. So I've replied re-asking questions that weren't answered and also attaching last year's bills. Not sure it'll accomplish anything but worth a try.
I've also ordered a clip on monitor to do test @Gerry1 suggested. It should be with me by next Monday.

Anita85

Meant to ask at what point can/should I go to energy ombudsman?

Gerry1

Send a letter headed COMPLAINT by snail mail asking for a deadlock letter and get a free Certificate of Posting.  You can then go to the Ombudsman upon receipt of said letter or after eight weeks if you haven't received it.

Anita85

Okay thank you for advice.
A couple of weeks or more ago I did change it to a complaint as I wasn't getting anywhere with enquiry. I'll do other test when clip on monitor arrives and see if that points to faulty meter and get electrician to check wiring as you suggested @Gerry1. Also wait for response from todays email, if its not satisfactory then I'll do a letter requesting a deadlock letter. 

Gerry1

Make sure you keep receipts for the electrician and clip-on monitor so that you can ask to be re-imbursed.  The worst that can happen is that they say no !

niktheguru

Sorry, i think i'm getting a bit confused between two similar threads. Anita, have you asked for a meter check yet?

Anita85

I received an email from my provider this week telling me my meter is not faulty and my estimated energy bill for the year is £1335. 29, £111.27 per month.
They did provide a link for citizens advice so I gave them a call. A lady has taken on my case, she's looked at my usage and has said if you have a faulty meter the readings are usually erratic. Apparently mine were to begin with but have now evened out. I explained I'd switched off/unplugged a few things and it has made a significant difference. She said it shouldn't have done and I replied under normal circumstances I wouldn't have thought so too but if meter is faulty it possible could do. She's given me a choice of either getting check meter (in her experience only once has she known a check meter to prove a faulty meter) or get an electrian in and do a survey to check everything is as it should be.
I've rung the guy that I've used before and explained the situation and he he's going to arrange to borrow a clip on meter to check consumer unit hopefully one day next week. 
Meanwhile my clip on monitor came yesterday so I've set that up. I turned off consumer unit this morning and monitor showed 0 usage kwh. I double checked meter and watched for a few minutes but it's still flashing. 
So does this mean my consumer unit and electrics are okay?
I'll still have electrician in to varify what the monitor is telling me. It also looks like the monitor is registering less kwwh than the meter. 
@niktheguru no I haven't had. Meter check yet as if not faulty I'll be charged £257. I was trying to see first if it was due to something in the house that was causing higher readings.
@Gerry1 thanks for info always worth a try. 

Tallerdave

Monitors are not so accurate at low levels, once you're down at the few W level. What's the lowest it reads when the consumer unit is on? 

 However, it's encouraging that it goes to 0 when the consumer unit is off. But the meter should then not flash - at all. What's the timing of the flashes? Measure from LED on to LED on. Ie: a flash consists of the whole duration of an LED on AND LED off cycle.

niktheguru

It's pretty clear from your photos and the fact that when you turn your consumer unit off the meter still engages that your meter is faulty. I think you have to just bite the bullet and get the meter checked or just pay up. Even if the electrician says it's your meter, you'll still ha e to get a check meter to confirm it....but now you'll also have paid the electrician! 

Anita85

Update on my energy/meter problem. I got citizens advice involved they got me to do more readings. I've had an electrician round, he checked consumer board no problems with that. Citizens advice convinced its an internal problem. Apparently most times its user error when people think their meter is faulty so they referred me to Footprint Trust ( a local charity that helps people with energy/water problems) they suggested a couple more tests. Doing some hourly reads and also switching everything off for a few hours. I used 1 unit in 4.5 hours so looks more than likely the meter is faulty.
I have spoken with Shell energy and they've said that if I go for smart meters and if my consumption goes down significantly my bills will be reasseesed and my account will be credited. So as smart meters are free I've agreed to have them fitted which is being done end of October.