Gas usage mega increase

QrizB

rjmiller said:

wild666 said:

rjmiller said:

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.

One unit of gas is roughly 11.3 kWh, my usage is less that that per week since April 2022 

I've spoken to my supplier (Bulb) who were equally shocked by the jump. I just don't know what they're going to do to resolve it.

Personally, if it turns out that your meter isn't also supplying the other flat, I'd report it as a suspected faulty meter and ask them to replace it.

Does the meter have an installation date marked on or near it? How old is it, can you tell?

rjmiller

facade said:

rjmiller said:

facade said:

rjmiller said:

And another update.

I turned the gas off. He said his hobs were still burning.

Can two supplies go through one meter?

Call me cynical, but if his supply is through your meter all he has to do is swear blind his gas is on until you turn the supply back on for him, presumably right after you asked him....

I did wonder this...

Asking him to prove his gas is on now is calling him a liar though. 

What I'd do is turn off the boiler so the pilot is out and stays out, then turn off the gas.

With the gas off, nip in the kitchen and try your hob, there should be a little hiss of gas initially as there is pressure in the pipe.

Turn the gas back on and of again to repressurise the pipe (with everything off).

Then wait a couple of hours (preferably past cooking time and heating time) and see if the pressure is still there.

If it isn't, either there is a leak- but you'd smell it, or someone else is coupled to your gas.

It is what the engineer will do, except he will use a pressure meter (a manometer) to test that pressure is maintained in your pipes rather than try listening for gas coming out.

I did this, thanks for the pointer. After a couple of hours the pressure was still there.

I've been asked to test each appliance that uses gas, for 20 mins, to see if any gives oddly high numbers. Very minor change after the hob went on, now trying the heating.

rjmiller

QrizB said:

rjmiller said:

wild666 said:

rjmiller said:

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.

One unit of gas is roughly 11.3 kWh, my usage is less that that per week since April 2022 

I've spoken to my supplier (Bulb) who were equally shocked by the jump. I just don't know what they're going to do to resolve it.

Personally, if it turns out that your meter isn't also supplying the other flat, I'd report it as a suspected faulty meter and ask them to replace it.

Does the meter have an installation date marked on or near it? How old is it, can you tell?

Here's the offending article (ignore the text)


I actually don't think it's the problem and am sure it has something to do with my neighbours and their difficulties getting their supplier to recognise that the building houses 2 properties.

I have no idea how, but it looks to me as though their supplier - without payment since March - has bunged 6 months of usage onto the meter they associate with the property: mine.

My supplier say no other property is linked to my meter. 

UGH.

k_man

If your high usage is based on actual meter readings, then the supplier can't have

bunged 6 months of usage onto the meter they associate with the property: mine.

rjmiller

k_man said:

If your high usage is based on actual meter readings, then the supplier can't have

bunged 6 months of usage onto the meter they associate with the property: mine.

I get that. But it's as if the increase on the meter happened overnight. For the last few days it's been back to a steady low rate.

It's a 2 bed apartment with just me in it. For a week I'm not there. A 400+ unit jump is insane.

Alongside this my neighbours upstairs are struggling with their supplier who don't recognise their address. 

rjmiller

Here we go...

QrizB

What wat the reading immediately before the 30th of August?

See also this article from eight years ago where it's reported that these meters sometimes read phantom consumption:
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/jun/16/faulty-british-gas-meter-bill-overpayment

And also this FOI request and response from National Grid:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/en/request/siemens_e6_gas_meters_made_in_th_2

rjmiller

QrizB said:

What wat the reading immediately before the 30th of August?

See also this article from eight years ago where it's reported that these meters sometimes read phantom consumption:
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/jun/16/faulty-british-gas-meter-bill-overpayment

And also this FOI request and response from National Grid:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/en/request/siemens_e6_gas_meters_made_in_th_2

Thanks for this, very interesting.

The last reading I submitted before 30th August was on the 16th which was 21325.

Interestingly my usage in August (100+ units) was twice that of July. And September's four times that of August.

I'll see what Bulb say about the reports you sent. Thanks again.

rjmiller

Update:

My supplier has asked me to book a gas engineer to ensure there isn't a leak. (There isn't )

And then they'll do a meter accuracy test which is a process I don't entirely trust given it has been accurate, it's just this one blip that seems suspicious.

So, all at a cost to me even though they can surely agree that a 400+ unit increase within a month is "suspicious".

I'm not sure how to put the onus on them to work with me on this.

[Deleted User]

rjmiller said:

Update:

My supplier has asked me to book a gas engineer to ensure there isn't a leak. (There isn't )

And then they'll do a meter accuracy test which is a process I don't entirely trust given it has been accurate, it's just this one blip that seems suspicious.

So, all at a cost to me even though they can surely agree that a 400+ unit increase within a month is "suspicious".

I'm not sure how to put the onus on them to work with me on this.

You can’t. You have to trust them. If they suspect a faulty meter, then they will fit a replacement meter and send your meter away for INDEPENDENT testing. If the meter is found to be faulty, then the supplier will re-estimate your usage. If the meter is checked and found to be fully serviceable then you will be charged for the meter test.