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Suspected energy theft
I have a device which wraps around mains cables in the distribution box and shows power usage - it shows there to be a continuous 50W drain when all switches are off except for the circuit marked 'kitchen'. In the kitchen all circuit breakers are off (hob, oven, central heating boiler) and all plugged-in devices are switched off. There is nothing that should be consuming any power.
The landlord has installed a sump pump (yes, it's a basement flat), and I know that sump pumps sometimes come with battery backup - my suspicion is that it is this that is using the 50W. There is nothing in my contract which says that I am responsible for paying for this, and I calculate that over the eight years I have lived here that comes to over £2000.
Does anyone out there have any advice on what I could/should do, both from a moral point of view and from a financial one. Many thanks for any help.
The landlord has installed a sump pump (yes, it's a basement flat), and I know that sump pumps sometimes come with battery backup - my suspicion is that it is this that is using the 50W. There is nothing in my contract which says that I am responsible for paying for this, and I calculate that over the eight years I have lived here that comes to over £2000.
Does anyone out there have any advice on what I could/should do, both from a moral point of view and from a financial one. Many thanks for any help.
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Comments
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..on what grounds would you not be responsible for this??
.."It's everybody's fault but mine...."2 -
You're on an incredibly expensive tariff if 50w running for eight years cost £2,000 (or anything even close to it).
Perhaps recheck your sums if you want to take it further?5 -
gurudave said:Stubod said:..on what grounds would you not be responsible for this??
As I said, there's nothing in the tenancy agreement which mentions this. It's not like it's me that's using the power.2 -
If you don't power the pump, presumably your flat will flood (water? sewage?) how much would replacing your belongings / the inconvenience cost?3
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gurudave said:I have a device which wraps around mains cables in the distribution box and shows power usage - it shows there to be a continuous 50W drain when all switches are off except for the circuit marked 'kitchen'. In the kitchen all circuit breakers are off (hob, oven, central heating boiler) and all plugged-in devices are switched off. There is nothing that should be consuming any power.gurudave said:The landlord has installed a sump pump (yes, it's a basement flat), and I know that sump pumps sometimes come with battery backup - my suspicion is that it is this that is using the 50W.gurudave said:There is nothing in my contract which says that I am responsible for paying for this,gurudave said:and I calculate that over the eight years I have lived here that comes to over £2000.gurudave said:Does anyone out there have any advice on what I could/should do, both from a moral point of view and from a financial one. Many thanks for any help.
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50w continouous (0.05kw) is 438kwHr over a year or £100pa at say 25p per unit
Obviously prices were cheaper 8 yrs ago
Where is the pump wired into.your consumer unit ?
If you are seeing 50w draw continuous 24/7 that won't be a sump pump1 -
OK thanks everyone.
To respond to everyone's points so far...
The central heating pump is on the same circuit as the boiler.
I don't think it's within the operating tolerance of the device - when I switch on only one 3W LED lamp, the device indeed shows 3W is being consumed.
I know sump pumps do not operate continuously which is why I mentioned they sometimes come with battery back-up.
I disagree that it's like a bathroom fan extractor - that is a clear and obvious use, whereas whatever is using the 50W is hidden.
My calculation was 50W * 24 hours * 365 days * 8 years = 3504000 watt hours, or 3504 kW hours. I thought a kWh cost around 60p but have just discovered it to be around 22p. So that would make it 3504 * 22 = £770.88. Not so bad, but still a sum I could do with.
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Do you really mean "continuous" ?
If you switch off the kitchen circuit at the distribution board - does the 50W drop to zero?
As others have said sump pumps cycle, rather like a fridgeNever pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill0 -
Olinda99 said:50w continouous (0.05kw) is 438kwHr over a year or £100pa at say 25p per unit
Obviously prices were cheaper 8 yrs ago
Where is the pump wired into.your consumer unit ?
If you are seeing 50w draw continuous 24/7 that won't be a sump pump
And I have no idea where the sump pump is wired into the consumer unit. There's nothing marked as such. The pump is however below the kitchen floor, which is why I suspect(ed) it to be responsible.0
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