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

Reed_Richards

Ildhund said:

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.

I couldn't find a link to that Irish Sun article in this thread so here it is (again?):
https://www.thesun.ie/news/333159/dodgy-meters-hiked-hundreds-of-irish-homes-electricity-bills/

Also :https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/customers-face-higher-esb-bills-over-meter-fault/35310704.html

and https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1220/840106-esb-networks-electricity/

Spoonie_Turtle

Reed_Richards said:

Ildhund said:

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.

I couldn't find a link to that Irish Sun article in this thread so here it is (again?):
https://www.thesun.ie/news/333159/dodgy-meters-hiked-hundreds-of-irish-homes-electricity-bills/

(Just to let people know, it was via an archive.ph link)

Chris_b2z

The Irish Sun article states that ESB Networks were alerted to the problem by the manufacturer. Does anyone know whether Ofgem and all UK suppliers were also alerted of this critical defect that could have resulted in much stress and widespread over-charging?

Baldytyke88

EssexHebridean said:

Baldytyke88 said:

L564 said:

Octopus did offer a smart meter, which I'd be happy to get but I don't want to lose evidence of the inaccurate meter readings. I'm looking at an excess charge of over £500 at the moment and it is going up every day. If they don't think the meter is at fault, then this won't solve the problem.

There is your answer, your delay could cost you a lot of hassle.

Did you miss the bit where the OP estimates that this has already cost them £500+ in charges for the extra "use"? while you may be able to afford to wave that level of money goodbye, most people (including I suspect the OP) really can't - and that is why it's important for them to actually solve the issue, rather than just getting the meter replaced.

"For reference, my meter is Ampy Metering 5235A 2008 model", he has lived at his address for 4 years, most people have been asked numerous times to switch to a smart meter!