Gas usage mega increase

rjmiller

Morning all,

I'm hoping somebody may be able to offer some guidance or advice on what looks to be a troubling turn of events.

I live, on my own, in a 2 bedroom apartment with just one neighbour above. My energy is supplied by Bulb.

A couple of years ago I finally resolved an issue that turned out to be a crossed electricity meter with my upstairs neighbour, whose electricity it turned out I'd been paying for years. So that was nice. But now onto gas.

My gas usage has always been low and steady. For example, in November 2021 the reading was 82 units. December it was 98. March this year was 76, April was 67.

August 2022, however, was 117 which was nearly double the previous month (58) which itself was nearly double that of May (31). Alarmingly, the reading I submitted yesterday (21835) is a 447 increase on the previous reading of 21388.

Last October was, for comparison, 39.

My boiler was installed 5 years ago. I use the central heating minimally to dry washing, and even more minimally with the price increases. (Including shutting 2 of the radiators off, and turning the heating off after a quick blast.) I have, since the middle of the month, been using a heated airer so the heating hasn't been on at all since then.

I am truly using no more or no less gas than this time a year ago when I would dry washing on radiators for much longer.

If I'm correct, the increases coincide with a new neighbour moving in upstairs. Could they have mistakenly given my meter serial number to their supplier? esterday I turned the gas off at the meter and confirmed that there was then no supply to my boiler/hob. 

I'm flummoxed and would hugely appreciate any hints or suggestions at what might be happening. 

I've contacted Bulb who have said they can send out an engineer at my cost if it transpires there's nothing wrong with the meter. If the meter's ok could it be anything else?

Many thanks in advance, 
rjmiller.

moneysaver

Is it a smart meter?

rjmiller

No, apparently I can't get one installed as it's in the ground.

TadleyBaggie

rjmiller said:

f I'm correct, the increases coincide with a new neighbour moving in upstairs. Could they have mistakenly given my meter serial number to their supplier? 

Possibly but that wouldn't result in your gas usage changing. All that would do is them paying their gas bill based on your usage and not their own.

rjmiller

TadleyBaggie said:

rjmiller said:

f I'm correct, the increases coincide with a new neighbour moving in upstairs. Could they have mistakenly given my meter serial number to their supplier? 

Possibly but that wouldn't result in your gas usage changing. All that would do is them paying their gas bill based on your usage and not their own.

Thanks. Could I be paying for theirs? (Doubtful I know, but this seems madness!)

moneysaver

rjmiller said:

No, apparently I can't get one installed as it's in the ground.

Ok I was just checking. A  while ago I had some crazy readings from my smart meter, it tuned out that the internal battery of the smart meter was depleted & in turn gave me some very high usage readings.

All sorted now with a new meter installed and some lengthy negotiations with Bulb(that's another story)

Moneysaver

TadleyBaggie

rjmiller said:

TadleyBaggie said:

rjmiller said:

f I'm correct, the increases coincide with a new neighbour moving in upstairs. Could they have mistakenly given my meter serial number to their supplier? 

Possibly but that wouldn't result in your gas usage changing. All that would do is them paying their gas bill based on your usage and not their own.

Thanks. Could I be paying for theirs? (Doubtful I know, but this seems madness!)

Only if their gas supply is coming through the same meter. Turn of the gas supply and ask them if they still have gas.

rjmiller

TadleyBaggie said:

rjmiller said:

TadleyBaggie said:

rjmiller said:

f I'm correct, the increases coincide with a new neighbour moving in upstairs. Could they have mistakenly given my meter serial number to their supplier? 

Possibly but that wouldn't result in your gas usage changing. All that would do is them paying their gas bill based on your usage and not their own.

Thanks. Could I be paying for theirs? (Doubtful I know, but this seems madness!)

Only if their gas supply is coming through the same meter. Turn of the gas supply and ask them if they still have gas.

Will do, thankyou.

rjmiller

Quick update. In 24 hours my gas meter only just went up by 1 unit without me being particularly frugal.

How it has jumped over 400 units in a matter of 3 or 4 weeks completely baffles (and troubles) me.

ProDave

Turn the gas off at your meter, and see if the upstairs neighbour suddenly complains they have no gas.

rjmiller

Brief update.

Spoke to my neighbour who said that since they moved in March their supplier, EDF, haven't confirmed to them which meter is theirs and have said it's all one property. I've asked him to email me anything pertinent.

EDF are sending an engineer out next week to confirm.

Might this be progress? Could my supply be fueling two properties? I've turned the gas off but he's no longer replying to me knocking to ask if he has power or not...