Meter running when electric turned off.

edendarcy

Since moving into my studio apartment I have been mainly recieving estimated bills, my fault since I often forgot to send readings. However the last few months I have been sending in readings yet I have still been recieving large bills so I thought something may be wrong. My flat has only electric (no gas) so I know if I was using heating constantly it would be high but I have never once turned on the heating (I'm a student so trying to keep things low), I only turn on the hot water when I'm about to use it and majority of the time it is only my fridge, lamp and kettle being used on a daily basis as I typically get a free dinner at work so only even using the oven is only 2 or 3 time a week.

I mainly got really worried when I was hit with a bill for 205£! For usage between 15th of November - January 1st. I had been away for 22 days of December over the christmas period and had turned everything including my fridge during that time. 

During January I have been taking regular meter readings to try see my consumption,

The first 7 days I used 137Kw
The second I went away for 6 days and decided to turn everything off except the fridge, and still used 92kw
Third for 7 days: 109
Lastly which is 4 days worth was 64Kw to bring us up to date. 

After calling the energy company I was advised to try turning everything off and see if Meter moves. I turned everything off and it went up 2Kw in an hour. I then tried turning everything off at the fusebox and it still went up 3Kw in nearly 2hrs. Is that normal?

I'm just so worried that if I get them to come out and check if meter is faulty I will be liable for the £147, is there anything else I can do to make sure it is the meter and not something else? I do live at the top of 9 flat, my meter is in a communal space but my fusebox is in my own flat so I don't think its possible for anyone else to be steal electric etc. It's been causing me a lot of stress as I had assumed the large bills I was paying was just due to inconsistent meter readings not actual usage, but now realising none of that money will actually be coming back for a future deposit etc I'm actually quite worried. 

Gerry1

edendarcy said:

I do live at the top of 9 flat, my meter is in a communal space but my fusebox is in my own flat so I don't think its possible for anyone else to be steal electric etc.

Do the Meter Sanity Test.

MWT

Just try one more test, turn on everything you have that uses a lot of power (hot water, kettle, oven) and check the meter again and the little red flashing light should be flashing really fast...

That will confirm that the meter is definitely yours.

If your isn't flashing like crazy, then look for one that is and the odds are the other one is really your meter...

Also check that the meter number on your electricity bill matches the meter you believe to be yours. 

victor2

^^This^^

Another flat could be in for a shock if that is the explanation!

edendarcy

Thanks for you quick reply, there is no red light, also checked fusebox if you meant there instead but nothing also. The seriel number does match my bill so can't be the issue either.

edendarcy

Gerry1 said:

edendarcy said:

I do live at the top of 9 flat, my meter is in a communal space but my fusebox is in my own flat so I don't think its possible for anyone else to be steal electric etc.

Do the Meter Sanity Test.

Will give this a go tonight! But if my meter number matches my bill would this make it redundant?

Carrot007

It is obviously not your meter. Look at the falt sticker on it, someone changed it at some point. Possibly to get cheap electric fomr your flat when it was not occupied.

Still made in 84 and retested in 2004 they will want to be changing it. (the 20 year cert date will have been removed as part of the smart roll out), so offer to let them and see what happens and who gets upset when it is switched off!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

that's quite an old meter, so no red light, but you will know by speed of disc in middle.

Gerry1

edendarcy said:

Gerry1 said:

edendarcy said:

I do live at the top of 9 flat, my meter is in a communal space but my fusebox is in my own flat so I don't think its possible for anyone else to be steal electric etc.

Do the Meter Sanity Test.

Will give this a go tonight! But if my meter number matches my bill would this make it redundant?

The mark on the spinning disk is the equivalent of the red LED.  When it's gone round 187.5 times you've used 1kWh.  You still need to do the Meter Sanity Test because (unless it's inside your flat) the meter with the serial number shown on your bill could be supplying someone else's flat, the lighting and heating in the communal areas, the lift etc.

victor2

The matching serial number just means that is the meter you are being billed for. It doesn't mean it is the one supplying your flat.

Do the sanity test, you can see if the disc is turning, and how fast it is going. Turn everything off in your flat and it should be stationary.

You might need someone on the other end of a mobile phone call in your flat, if the meter is in a separate area from your flat!

edendarcy

victor2 said:

The matching serial number just means that is the meter you are being billed for. It doesn't mean it is the one supplying your flat.

Do the sanity test, you can see if the disc is turning, and how fast it is going. Turn everything off in your flat and it should be stationary.

You might need someone on the other end of a mobile phone call in your flat, if the meter is in a separate area from your flat!

Yes it is located 4 flights of stairs away so will try get someone over and help!