My smart meter might be faulty

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Independent electricity smart meter accuracy test?.

AforAll

Hi there - I've just found this discussion and am in a very similar position with what I believe is a faulty smart meter. Am currently just engaging with the Energy Ombudsman after British Gas have simply utterly ignored me.
One question I'm hoping someone will be able to clarify is; just how accurate and reasonable are the "Average Daily Usage" figures quoted by all the utility companies and, indeed, Ofgem?
They all say that the average use for a 2/3 bed house with 2/3 people living in it is 2700kwh per year - equating to 7.4kwh a day.
I know with averages it means some are higher and some are lower etc  but just how accurate is that daily rate in real life? 
I'm one person living in a 2/3 bed semi and my usage last year was nearly 9000kwh - over three times the national average!
My gas was just below the estimates of 11500 so correlates well with the national average (and you have to heat the house the same whether there's one person living in it or a family of 5) but I cannot fathom why on EARTH my electric is so high.
Reading through the forum though, and asking friends, it seems 7.4kwh per day is rather low and wishful thinking. What do others think?
For info - as I say, I'm just one person. Slimline dishwasher on maybe 3 times a week (so not so much water to heat up) 30 degree wash on once a week. Under counter fridge and freezer (so no big American jobby). My meals are done in the air fryer and/or microwave - all very "average". So why is my usage so high?? And it fluctuates wildly from day to day sometimes even though my days are akin to Groundhog day. Any ideas anyone?
Oh, and just to reassure you (as I genuinely had to reassure the B gas person) - no, my neighbour is NOT feeding off my supply. And no, I do NOT have a cannabis factory in my loft! Those were genuine, throwaway comments I got when I originally phoned B gas for help.  Things went downhill from there which is why the Ombudsman is now involved.
Sorry for the rant but would appreciate people's views on if 7.4kwh per day is a realistic figure.  Many thanks

Spoonie_Turtle

AforAll said:

Hi there - I've just found this discussion and am in a very similar position with what I believe is a faulty smart meter. Am currently just engaging with the Energy Ombudsman after British Gas have simply utterly ignored me.
One question I'm hoping someone will be able to clarify is; just how accurate and reasonable are the "Average Daily Usage" figures quoted by all the utility companies and, indeed, Ofgem?
They all say that the average use for a 2/3 bed house with 2/3 people living in it is 2700kwh per year - equating to 7.4kwh a day.
I know with averages it means some are higher and some are lower etc  but just how accurate is that daily rate in real life? 
I'm one person living in a 2/3 bed semi and my usage last year was nearly 9000kwh - over three times the national average!
My gas was just below the estimates of 11500 so correlates well with the national average (and you have to heat the house the same whether there's one person living in it or a family of 5) but I cannot fathom why on EARTH my electric is so high.
Reading through the forum though, and asking friends, it seems 7.4kwh per day is rather low and wishful thinking. What do others think?
For info - as I say, I'm just one person. Slimline dishwasher on maybe 3 times a week (so not so much water to heat up) 30 degree wash on once a week. Under counter fridge and freezer (so no big American jobby). My meals are done in the air fryer and/or microwave - all very "average". So why is my usage so high?? And it fluctuates wildly from day to day sometimes even though my days are akin to Groundhog day. Any ideas anyone?
Oh, and just to reassure you (as I genuinely had to reassure the B gas person) - no, my neighbour is NOT feeding off my supply. And no, I do NOT have a cannabis factory in my loft! Those were genuine, throwaway comments I got when I originally phoned B gas for help.  Things went downhill from there which is why the Ombudsman is now involved.
Sorry for the rant but would appreciate people's views on if 7.4kwh per day is a realistic figure.  Many thanks

Might be worth starting your own thread (or asking this to be split into its own).

It would be useful to go room by room to do an audit of everything that uses electricity (including the loft, cellar if applicable, any outside spaces or garden power usage, etc.).  Also do a test turning the mains power off overnight, taking a reading at the time of turning it off and then again the next mornin to check it's not registered any usage.

The other thing to do is check you're being billed for the correct meter and based on actual readings, not estimates.

Has your annual usage stayed roughly the same or has there been any particular jump or gradual increase?

Gerry1

Start by doing the Meter Sanity Test.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78850409/#Comment_78850409

You could also ask an electrician to supply and fit a meter downstream of your smart meter.  Might be a bit cheaper than the charge if the official check finds no problem, and it would remain yours and permanently installed.

Alternatively, a clip-on Energy Monitor could be used (make sure it's not just an instant power display).  Not quite so accurate unless it also has a physical connection to measure the voltage but could be a useful guide.

FreeBear

AforAll said: I'm one person living in a 2/3 bed semi and my usage last year was nearly 9000kwh - over three times the national average!
My gas was just below the estimates of 11500 so correlates well with the national average (and you have to heat the house the same whether there's one person living in it or a family of 5) but I cannot fathom why on EARTH my electric is so high.

Single person and cat in a 1920/30s 3 bed semi. Electricity consumption is 2200kWh, and gas 3000kWh per year.

Gerry1 said: Alternatively, a clip-on Energy Monitor could be used (make sure it's not just an instant power display).  Not quite so accurate unless it also has a physical connection to measure the voltage but could be a useful guide.

I've got a Peacefair PZEM-016 clipped on to the meter tails to keep track of consumption. The numbers match pretty close with the main meter. But the 016 requires a computer+interface to read, so not easy to use. A PZEM-022 or 061 would be more suitable as they have a display - Available for around £10 on ebay.

Gerry1

FreeBear said:

AforAll said: I'm one person living in a 2/3 bed semi and my usage last year was nearly 9000kwh - over three times the national average!
My gas was just below the estimates of 11500 so correlates well with the national average (and you have to heat the house the same whether there's one person living in it or a family of 5) but I cannot fathom why on EARTH my electric is so high.

Electricity consumption is 2200kW, and gas 3000kW per year.

Electricity consumption is 2200kWh, and gas 3000kWh per year.  FTFY !

EssexHebridean

2 of us in a 3 bed semi here - 1900kWh for us over the past year but that does include quite high use during the winter months as use was being made of a garden office with electric heating (heating in the house is via gas/open fire). Gas is roughly 7000kWh/year. 

Are you a heavy user of a gaming-spec PC? Any fish tanks, ponds etc? 

nologo

is it your power shower, or your fish tank?

Newbie_John

@AforAll, was your usage form the meter or from the electricity supplier (possibly estimated) ?
What's your daily usage? 
Check the reading at different times of the day 8am, 2pm, 8pm and again 8am.
Calculate daily usage, it will also give you some suggestions of when you're using the most.

Do you have any electric heaters at home, immersion heater, storage heaters etc.

You're using 25kWh per averager a day.

debitcardmayhem

Immersion heater perhaps

EssexHebridean

Even for an immersion, that would be a lot!