Gas usage mega increase

rjmiller

[Deleted User] said:

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.

I get that. It just seems to be a gamble. If it is a phantom reading is the bug easy to find, or will the bug go back into hiding for another x number of years, landing me another 120 on top of a massive bill.

Hard to know what to do for the best.

rjmiller

A quick update on this. I took a picture of my reading this morning: 21840 019

I then turned off my supply.

When I got home this afternoon I took another picture of the reading: 21841 978.

This despite the supply being turned off?

Glum

If you assume that is a real reading then you have a possible leak and the main valve isn't actually shutting off.
Otherwise it looks like the meter is erratically counting up with no gas flow.
I would call 0800 111 999 for advice. They will probably send an engineer to do a quick pressure test and hopefully confirm that there isn't a leak and your meter is suspect.

rjmiller

Glum said:

If you assume that is a real reading then you have a possible leak and the main valve isn't actually shutting off.
Otherwise it looks like the meter is erratically counting up with no gas flow.
I would call 0800 111 999 for advice. They will probably send an engineer to do a quick pressure test and hopefully confirm that there isn't a leak and your meter is suspect.

Thanks.

My neighbours have an engineer visiting tomorrow due to their ongoing issues so that may shed some light. (Our electricity meters were crossed previously so there's some history.)

If not I'll do as you suggest.

[Deleted User]

Glum said:

If you assume that is a real reading then you have a possible leak and the main valve isn't actually shutting off.
Otherwise it looks like the meter is erratically counting up with no gas flow.
I would call 0800 111 999 for advice. They will probably send an engineer to do a quick pressure test and hopefully confirm that there isn't a leak and your meter is suspect.

I agree 100%. Occam’s Razor: look for the obvious things first. Someone needs to check that there isn’t a leak on the homeowner’s side of the meter. 

rjmiller

[Deleted User] said:

Glum said:

If you assume that is a real reading then you have a possible leak and the main valve isn't actually shutting off.
Otherwise it looks like the meter is erratically counting up with no gas flow.
I would call 0800 111 999 for advice. They will probably send an engineer to do a quick pressure test and hopefully confirm that there isn't a leak and your meter is suspect.

I agree 100%. Occam’s Razor: look for the obvious things first. Someone needs to check that there isn’t a leak on the homeowner’s side of the meter. 

The neighbour's engineer visit tomorrow may shed some light. Here's hoping.

doodling

Hi,

rjmiller said:

A quick update on this. I took a picture of my reading this morning: 21840 019

I then turned off my supply.

When I got home this afternoon I took another picture of the reading: 21841 978.

This despite the supply being turned off?

I assume that you turned off the supply by operating the valve just before the meter?

If that is the case then either your shut off valve is faulty or the meter is faulty.  I would contact the "if you smell gas" number on your bill and explain what has happened.  They will almost certainly want to check that the valve is OK.  Presumably at that rate of "consumption", you can see the meter incrementing when the valve is turned off?

Once they have carried out that check then, assuming they don't find anything, I would talk again to your supplier explaining that the meter is incrementing even with the supply turned off and that it is therefore clearly defective.

One the plus side, if the meter is incrementing like that then an independent test should spot it very quickly!

Zandoni

That type of meter can starting registering on it's own, unfortunately it can be intermittent.

rjmiller

Zandoni said:

That type of meter can starting registering on it's own, unfortunately it can be intermittent.

That's my worry. They take it to be tested 'on a good day' when it behaves, and announce it to be ship shape.

rjmiller

doodling said:

Hi,

rjmiller said:

A quick update on this. I took a picture of my reading this morning: 21840 019

I then turned off my supply.

When I got home this afternoon I took another picture of the reading: 21841 978.

This despite the supply being turned off?

I assume that you turned off the supply by operating the valve just before the meter?

If that is the case then either your shut off valve is faulty or the meter is faulty.  I would contact the "if you smell gas" number on your bill and explain what has happened.  They will almost certainly want to check that the valve is OK.  Presumably at that rate of "consumption", you can see the meter incrementing when the valve is turned off?

Once they have carried out that check then, assuming they don't find anything, I would talk again to your supplier explaining that the meter is incrementing even with the supply turned off and that it is therefore clearly defective.

One the plus side, if the meter is incrementing like that then an independent test should spot it very quickly!

Yup, that's what I did. The valve has remained off overnight and I'll be heading home soon to see if there's been a change in the reading.

My worry about them testing it is that they take it on a day that it behaves itself and decide it's fine. I don't know if that's a possibility.