Energy Usage (OVO)

cookie666

Has anyone come across this?

Our July kWh was 279 units but for August it leaped to 589, we've not added any new devices to our house but our usage has doubled? I understand the price going up, but this is purely usage.

I've tried calling OVO for help to get a home monitor so we can see each device plugged in to see if its causing the increased usage but due to a "connectivity issue" they are on hold with no timeframe for when they will send these out again.


Any suggestions on what we can do?

 

[Deleted User]

Check for anything that's making heat or hot water - they're the usual suspects.

Immersion heater perhaps?

cookie666

We have a Gas boiler and that's not been on for months, the only things we have are an electric cooker and a one cup kettle (once a day) and we can identify from the usage when we use that and we keep them unplugged and nothing is left in stand by mode but it's made no difference to our daily kWh.

[Deleted User]

There are plug-in monitors that can help you, but if it's a big a change as you have recorded I don't think it's just using the kettle a bit more.

Do you have a hot water cylinder?

cookie666

I did not realise you could buy the monitors off the shelf, had a quick look and it seems you have to plug everything into one?

Ideally want something that monitors the whole household, any suggestions?

We don't have a hot water cylinder.

cookie666

Just come across one of the Ovo monitors on eBay, does anyone know if I can just plug them in and go and it would work?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314148133047

[Deleted User]

cookie666 said:

I did not realise you could buy the monitors off the shelf, had a quick look and it seems you have to plug everything into one?

Ideally want something that monitors the whole household, any suggestions?

We don't have a hot water cylinder.

OWL is one possibility - replicates the function of the smart meter display without sending anything to the supplier.

https://www.theowl.com/index.php/products/energy-monitors/

QrizB

cookie666 said:

Any suggestions on what we can do?

Try @Gerry1 's meter sanity test:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78850409#Comment_78850409

cookie666

Thanks @QrizB but we live in a detached property and it's definitely our meter.

MattMattMattUK

Actual or estimated reads?
Do you have a smart meter?
You say the boiler has been off for months, how do you heat water for washing/showers?

QrizB

cookie666 said:

Thanks @QrizB but we live in a detached property and it's definitely our meter.

Yes, but is it working correctly?

Ignore all the bits about it meters in flats and skip to the "Then unplug ..." bit.

If you switch literally everything off, does the IMP light stop flashing (and, possibly, then come on as a constant red light)?

If you turn then apply a known load, does the IMP light flash at the speed you'd expect?