Cascade of problems changing from British Gas to Octopus.

MickyLuv

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

thanks.

Odd though, 05:03 yet says PM.

That's because this one of the 4 readings was taken at 05:03 PM yesterday

MickyLuv

QrizB said:

Thanks for the photo.

Those meters cycle through displaying two register values, 1 and 2, plus a total value t. The first (smaller) digit on the screen shows the register number. This number flashes to indicate the active register at the time.

At 8am and at 5pm, which register number was flashing?

That's great info, thanks. As it is, I took photos not videos so any flashing is not recorded.

So it's back up those step ladders again.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

ok, usually 05:03 is 5 am in the morning, 5pm would be 17::00, must be a 12 hour clock.

MickyLuv

MickyLuv said:

QrizB said:

Thanks for the photo.

Those meters cycle through displaying two register values, 1 and 2, plus a total value t. The first (smaller) digit on the screen shows the register number. This number flashes to indicate the active register at the time.

At 8am and at 5pm, which register number was flashing?

So it's back up those step ladders again.

And, as a result I see that at 09:46 AM, the "1" reading, which is showing the lower usage number is flashing.

Thanks for the education.

QrizB

MickyLuv said:

MickyLuv said:

QrizB said:

Thanks for the photo.

Those meters cycle through displaying two register values, 1 and 2, plus a total value t. The first (smaller) digit on the screen shows the register number. This number flashes to indicate the active register at the time.

At 8am and at 5pm, which register number was flashing?

So it's back up those step ladders again.

And, as a result I see that at 09:46 AM, the "1" reading, which is showing the lower usage number is flashing.

Thanks for the education.

We will get to the bottom of this!

MickyLuv

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

ok, usually 05:03 is 5 am in the morning, 5pm would be 17::00, must be a 12 hour clock.

At this point I'm sure if things can get more complicated they will. Though at my perception level I may not notice.

victor2

So it appears Rate 1 is "day". The next question is when does it switch to and from Rate 2 ("night")? You could spot check it at different times during the day/night to see when the number 2 is flashing. Not so easy if it involves going up a ladder! Could you rig up a camera you can remotely view?

I stand to be corrected, but I believe those meters have an external time switch?

Maybe a fuller picture of the meter and associated boxes would help.

It's largely irrelevant for a single rate tariff, but it would be nice to know.

QrizB

What we know so far:

• You have an electronic, non-smart, dual-rate electricity meter.
• Register 1 reads ~27000, register 2 reads ~45000.
  
• Register 1 is active at 0846 GMT / 0946 BST.

What we don't know about the meter:

• What time it switches between registers. Without knowing this, we cant say for certain which register is which (it curreently looks like Register 1 is "day" but we don't know if the internal meter clock is still correct).
  

What we don't know about billing:

• Whether BG's final bill makes sense - have you received this yet? Have they used the expected readings to close your account, or have they swapped the readings to erroneously show you've used an extra ~100,000 units?
• What happens when you next switch supplier?

From what you've said, you don't have storage heaters and are unlikely to ever want to change back to an E7 tariff. In these circumstances it doesn't make any practical difference which register is recorded as which, and at some time in the next couple of years it's likely to be swapped for a smart meter anyway.

The only real concern is making sure that tyour suppliers are consistent in billing and you don't find, on a switch, that they've used Register 2 as the closing reading for Register 1 and vice-versa.

MickyLuv

victor2 said:

So it appears Rate 1 is "day". The next question is when does it switch to and from Rate 2 ("night")? You could spot check it at different times during the day/night to see when the number 2 is flashing. Not so easy if it involves going up a ladder!

Thanks for the information. I might be able to fit a meditation cushion to the top of the stepladder and then wait for a significat event but folks around here think I'm weird enough already.

Could you rig up a camera you can remotely view?

The meter is in a fairly busy spot, so that might be tricky.

I stand to be corrected, but I believe those meters have an external time switch?

Maybe a fuller picture of the meter and associated boxes would help.

It's largely irrelevant for a single rate tariff, but it would be nice to know.

I'm hoping to be remaining on a single rate tariff, in fact this is my fondest hope.

I will add a photo of the larger area though.

Gerry1

MickyLuv said:

I might be able to fit a meditation cushion to the top of the stepladder and then wait for a significat event but folks around here think I'm weird enough already.

Just tape your smartphone to a broomstick, set it to video and pop back at hourly intervals until you see the rate has changed.