Smart Meters

Alfie2020

I am new to this, with SMART2 meters to be installed in a couple of weeks.
I am currently looking after my deceased uncle's house pending exchanging of contracts to the new owner.  The house is empty, nothing using electricity is switched on yet the smart meter display has been showing usage (about 1.5Kwh a day).  Whilst I realise that this is a small amount in the big scheme of things, I am puzzled as to how this is so.  I am the only person with a key for the house at the moment and I have only been in during the day time thus not putting lights on etc.  I know the standing charge is still applicable but this is usage rather than money.  Am I missing something really obvious or is this related to the smart meter?  

Gerry1

Is there no heating whatsoever?  It may not yet be cold enough for burst pipes, but it may get a bit damp and musty.

Unless the supply has been switched off at the meter, there are probably still a few items drawing a small current.  No doorbell, boiler controller, burglar alarm, aerial amplifier, PIR floodlight etc?

Alfie2020

Not at the moment.  I am checking each day to make sure everything is ok.  It's a terraced house so actually isn't really cold.  It's not damp at all.  No boiler, aerial, floodlight etc.  There is a doorbell which I hadn't thought of but would that draw that much?  As I said it's not a large amount, I was just puzzled.  If I have to have the meters installed then I want to know what to expect as well but won't bother with the monitor.

Gerry1

Immersion heater left on? 60W bulb left on in the loft?  Either of those would use about 1.5kWh per day.

Have a look at the red light on the meter marked '1000 Imp / kWh' or similar.  If it's a constant load such as a lightbulb, it's likely to flash about once per minute.

Also check for something like a thermostatically controlled electric towel rail on a low setting that may only operate overnight for an hour or two when it's cold.

MikeJXE

Fridge freezer ?

macman

Do smart meters uses much power themselves to power the display and comms hub, and if so, is this from the metered or unmetered side of the supply?

QrizB

Alfie2020 said:

Not at the moment.  I am checking each day to make sure everything is ok.  It's a terraced house so actually isn't really cold.  It's not damp at all.  No boiler, aerial, floodlight etc.  There is a doorbell which I hadn't thought of but would that draw that much?  As I said it's not a large amount, I was just puzzled.  If I have to have the meters installed then I want to know what to expect as well but won't bother with the monitor.

If you're sure everything is off, throw the main switch on the consumer Unit to "off" (of the isolator switch, if you have one). This will disconnect the entire system. Then see whether you're still using power.

Gerry1 said:

Have a look at the red light on the meter marked '1000 Imp / kWh' or similar.  If it's a constant load such as a lightbulb, it's likely to flash about once per minute.

Also, some smart meters will illuminate this lamp as solid red if there's no load.

Gerry1

macman said:

Do smart meters uses much power themselves to power the dispay and comms hub, and if so, is this from the metered or unmetered side of the supply?

Not a lot, and it's from the unmetered side (unless you have a 4-terminal meter and a separate contactor that livens up an E7 circuit).

Alfie2020

Thanks all for your comments.  Absolutely everything is off bar the doorbell (the house is pretty much empty bar a few pieces of furniture).  Have checked everything, so a mystery.