Usage increase after switching providers

enixambsc

In March I switched elec provider from Eon to SSE as they quoted a much lower monthly payment. I have now found out that the amount quoted hasn’t been covering anywhere near my bill. So I’ve looked into why this has happened & according to my bill they are stating that in 3 months I’ve used more kWh than I did for the whole year with my previous provider. I live alone and historically have always been a low user so I’m am truly baffled as to why this could be - I’ve checked with my landlord that the meter serial number is mine (I live in a flat) & all the meter readings look normal (from what I can tell) Does anyone have any suggestions? (Note: this is not a post about the current price increases. This issue has been ongoing for the last 6 months). Thanks in advance 

JJ_Egan

You have been giving them frequent meter readings ?

Are the bills showing  E for estimated .

Did you give correct closing readings and do they match SSE opening readings .

What are your old readings

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

Several questions arise.  Gas or electricity?  How does your landlord know that your meter is yours?

You need to do a blackout test yourself: turn absolutely everything on at maximum, and make sure that the meters are increasing.  For what you think is your electricity meter, look at the light marked 1000 Imp/kWh or similar and make sure it's flashing rapidly.  Then switch off at the meter and make sure that your supply goes off.  Similar for gas, although there probably won't be a flashing light.

Have you been reading the meter(s) and sending them monthy?

TheMilkmansDad

Step one - check your latest bill. Does the meter serial number on the bill match you meter serial number? If so, then good start.
Step two - does the opening meter readings match the closing meter reading from your previous suppliers final bill? If so, and assuming it was an actual reading and not an estimate, then all good.
Step three - have you provided regular meter readings? Check all your bills since switching - do the readings show E or C? If E, then this is the problem. If C then still looks good.
Step four - you need to do a blackout test to see what's sucking all the power - think @Gerry1 lays out the steps above.

Step five - if something doesn't look correct provide as much detail as you can to the forum so we can help scrutinise and see if we can offer any assistance.

Good luck!

enixambsc

JJ_Egan said:

You have been giving them frequent meter readings ?

Are the bills showing  E for estimated .

Did you give correct closing readings and do they match SSE opening readings .

What are your old readings

Thanks for the reply - yes my meter readings are frequent and actual not estimated: 

E.on 08882 - my final reading (389 kWh used Dec - Mar)

SSE 08909 - first reading 
09759 - June (850 kWh used Mar -Jun)
10203 - Sept (444 kWh used Jun - Sept)

enixambsc

Gerry1 said:

Welcome to the forum.

Several questions arise.  Gas or electricity?  How does your landlord know that your meter is yours?

You need to do a blackout test yourself: turn absolutely everything on at maximum, and make sure that the meters are increasing.  For what you think is your electricity meter, look at the light marked 1000 Imp/kWh or similar and make sure it's flashing rapidly.  Then switch off at the meter and make sure that your supply goes off.  Similar for gas, although there probably won't be a flashing light.

Have you been reading the meter(s) and sending them monthy?

Thank you - it’s electricity & my landlord (housing association) has given me the serial number of my meter - we don’t have access to them as they’re all kept in a communal locked area so I wouldn’t be able to do a blackout test as you suggest. All my meter readings are given regularly so are actual rather than estimated. Here are my meter readings for info 

E.on 08882 - my final reading (389 kWh used Dec - Mar)

SSE 08909 - first reading 
09759 - June (850 kWh used Mar -Jun)
10203 - Sept (444 kWh used Jun - Sept)

TheMilkmansDad

How are you getting the meter readings to supply to SSE? Are you being given a reading by your landlord? Or is it a picture that shows the reading and (hopefully) the meter serial number? I would ask that the next time they come to read it you demand to be given access at the same time to ensure everything looks correct. Also, at that point they can assist with a blackout test.

Gerry1

enixambsc said:

Gerry1 said:

Welcome to the forum.

Several questions arise.  Gas or electricity?  How does your landlord know that your meter is yours?

You need to do a blackout test yourself: turn absolutely everything on at maximum, and make sure that the meters are increasing.  For what you think is your electricity meter, look at the light marked 1000 Imp/kWh or similar and make sure it's flashing rapidly.  Then switch off at the meter and make sure that your supply goes off.  Similar for gas, although there probably won't be a flashing light.

Have you been reading the meter(s) and sending them monthy?

my landlord (housing association) has given me the serial number of my meter - we don’t have access to them as they’re all kept in a communal locked area so I wouldn’t be able to do a blackout test as you suggest.

Never let anyone read your meter for you; it's all too easy to make a mistake with the readings, especially with rotary pointer ones and smart meters that have gone dumb.

The blackout test is imperative because you could be paying for another flat's usage and vice versa, and nobody would have been any the wiser.

Insist on gaining access to your meter, supervised if necessary, and doing a blackout test.  Take a photo at the same time and check that the meter serial number appears on your bills.

Escalate if necessary, you're the one that's paying the bills, not the HA.  Let us know how you get on !

enixambsc

TheMilkmansDad said:

How are you getting the meter readings to supply to SSE? Are you being given a reading by your landlord? Or is it a picture that shows the reading and (hopefully) the meter serial number? I would ask that the next time they come to read it you demand to be given access at the same time to ensure everything looks correct. Also, at that point they can assist with a blackout test.

The caretaker posts them through my door on a scrap of paper so not the best way 😂 - I assume that’s how the whole block gets them though. I’ve asked again today for the most recent reading & to note my meter serial number which they’ve done. I’ve lived here for almost 8 years & there’s never been a problem with how they do it and I switch providers regularly so I’m really stumped. 

Am I reading it correctly that in my last 4 months with Eon I used 389kWh and then the first 4 months with SSE I used more than double that? 

Gerry1

enixambsc said:

TheMilkmansDad said:

How are you getting the meter readings to supply to SSE? Are you being given a reading by your landlord? Or is it a picture that shows the reading and (hopefully) the meter serial number? I would ask that the next time they come to read it you demand to be given access at the same time to ensure everything looks correct. Also, at that point they can assist with a blackout test.

I’ve lived here for almost 8 years & there’s never been a problem with how they do it and I switch providers regularly so I’m really stumped.

If you're paying for a different flat you won't know there's a problem until their usage increases, e.g. working from home, sprog returning home after uni or a gap year, new occupants etc.

It's imperative to take control by reading the meter and doing the blackout tests yourself, not relying on others who may make mistakes and / or be reading the wrong meter.

TheMilkmansDad

Not knowing your meter reading from December, so will assume it was 8493. From what you've provided it would appear your usage has gone way up which indicates something has changed. How is the flat heated? Storage heaters?