Electricity meter readings are 20x higher than average and I don't know why

Reed_Richards

WiserMiser said:

Reed_Richards said:

Why not ask Octopus to fit a smart meter in place of the "dumb" meter that you suspect is malfunctioning?

That would be a 'dumb' thing to do because the evidence of over charging would be lost and the meters might still be crossed.

I disagree.  When the old meter is disconnected and the lights don't go out then it would be obvious that the problem is a crossed meter.  And if the meter is removed and subsequently tested you will know if it was overcharging.  But you'll never know for sure for how long and by how much you have been overcharged because you can only estimate either.  That applies whatever you do.  

QrizB

Reed_Richards said:

WiserMiser said:

Reed_Richards said:

Why not ask Octopus to fit a smart meter in place of the "dumb" meter that you suspect is malfunctioning?

That would be a 'dumb' thing to do because the evidence of over charging would be lost and the meters might still be crossed.

I disagree.  When the old meter is disconnected and the lights don't go out then it would be obvious that the problem is a crossed meter.

Although it doesn't appear to be a crossed meter. OP says they've done a burn test, for example.

Assuming the OP does press Octopus for a meter test, it'll be replaced and taken away and then you're in the hands of the examiners.

UnsureAboutthis

WiserMiser said:

Reed_Richards said:

Why not ask Octopus to fit a smart meter in place of the "dumb" meter that you suspect is malfunctioning?

That would be a 'dumb' thing to do because the evidence of over charging would be lost and the meters might still be crossed.

That's one way of putting it,

brianposter

Forget about a "meter accuracy test" unless you find your own electrician to test by putting another meter into the circuit - removing a meter and testing it proves little about what the meter was doing before it was removed.

You appear to have enough evidence to persuade a court that you are not being billed correctly.

QrizB

Forget about a "meter accuracy test" unless you find your own electrician to test by putting another meter into the circuit - removing a meter and testing it proves little about what the meter was doing before it was removed.

Ofgem does not share your opinion. Removing the meter to a certified lab is the recognised response to an alleged faulty meter.

@MeteredOut has been through this process.

Reed_Richards

I'm not optimistic about how easily you will get a refund.  If you manage to get your meter tested (and the best way to do that is in a certified lab) then you will know exactly how faulty it is NOW but you will never know with certainty when the fault developed and if it was always over-reading by the same percentage (or whether it has got exponentially worse as referenced in the news item on page 2).  Your best hope would be to persuade your supplier to bill you on an estimate based on your consumption in previous years.

This thread has provided you with a range of advice, with disagreement as to your best course of action.  Best of luck with whatever you choose to do.  

Ildhund

After reading that Irish Sun article, it seems very likely that this meter is one of the bad batch of 27,000 Ampy 5235a meters installed between 2007 and 2009 that the article refers to:  "... the digital meter... has a faulty component that over-records usage for short periods of time before it fails completely". There must be more of them still in service; I wonder who could track them down. At any rate, Octopus can't just ignore this evidence. Perhaps someone at Landis & Gyr (who acquired Ampy at some stage) has a long memory.

brianposter

QrizB said:

Forget about a "meter accuracy test" unless you find your own electrician to test by putting another meter into the circuit - removing a meter and testing it proves little about what the meter was doing before it was removed.

Ofgem does not share your opinion. Removing the meter to a certified lab is the recognised response to an alleged faulty meter.

@MeteredOut has been through this process.

I dont think the Laws of Physics are particularly interested in the opinions of Ofgem. Removing the meter to test it may suit the suppliers but technically it is nonsense.

Do you think this guy would have got anywhere by having his meter tested ?  

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6591156/gas-bill-spike-after-leak-on-other-side-of-town/p1

 

EssexHebridean

brianposter said:

QrizB said:

Forget about a "meter accuracy test" unless you find your own electrician to test by putting another meter into the circuit - removing a meter and testing it proves little about what the meter was doing before it was removed.

Ofgem does not share your opinion. Removing the meter to a certified lab is the recognised response to an alleged faulty meter.

@MeteredOut has been through this process.

I dont think the Laws of Physics are particularly interested in the opinions of Ofgem. Removing the meter to test it may suit the suppliers but technically it is nonsense.

Do you think this guy would have got anywhere by having his meter tested ?  

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6591156/gas-bill-spike-after-leak-on-other-side-of-town/p1

 

Practically though, in this case it is still the course of action most likely to see the OP get their overcharged amount back! 

brianposter

EssexHebridean said:

Practically though, in this case it is still the course of action most likely to see the OP get their overcharged amount back! 

Not at all. "Meter testing" is simply asking for trouble.

The OP already has a pretty certain win in court and should be OK with the Energy Ombudsman. It is actually quite surprising how many "faulty" meters are found to be "reading accurately".