Overloaded Goods cause of Energy Spikes?

Quackersd

I have seen several emails relating to energy spikes over the years, but who is accountable?   Over the years had issues with goods being overloaded so used extension leads with surge protection and cut down my usage to the point I hardly used my electricity.  But was paying over £200+ before.  A contractor told me there was something amiss with the meter.  Although my goods were plugged out the meter kept running and stopping when the neighbours meter lighted up.   I got the meter changed to a smart meter and later got the consumer unit changed. All my white goods were changed. I barely use the electric and turn off and plug out all items, but I am noticing spikes on my electric hub, eventhough I dont have anything plugged on and went away several times . My consumer unit has surge protection.   I contacted my energy supplier who claimed nothing wrong with the meter but wont account for the surges.   I plugged my kettle in at the normal place and it wouldnt work, (and heard as though the neighbour had pushed a switch)so plugged it in somewhere else it worked. Went back and plugged it in at initial spot later on and it came on.  That seems to happen all over the property and hear the neighbour pushing a switch.   Living in a flat,  unable to access neighbouring property.   Is there anything that can be used to stop it.? If energy supplier dont help what can be done.   Any electrical investigators out there to make someone accountable 

MattMattMattUK

Quackersd said:

I have seen several emails relating to energy spikes over the years, but who is accountable?   Over the years had issues with goods being overloaded so used extension leads with surge protection and cut down my usage to the point I hardly used my electricity.  But was paying over £200+ before.  A contractor told me there was something amiss with the meter.  Although my goods were plugged out the meter kept running and stopping when the neighbours meter lighted up.   I got the meter changed to a smart meter and later got the consumer unit changed. All my white goods were changed. I barely use the electric and turn off and plug out all items, but I am noticing spikes on my electric hub, eventhough I dont have anything plugged on and went away several times . My consumer unit has surge protection.   I contacted my energy supplier who claimed nothing wrong with the meter but wont account for the surges.   I plugged my kettle in at the normal place and it wouldnt work, (and heard as though the neighbour had pushed a switch)so plugged it in somewhere else it worked. Went back and plugged it in at initial spot later on and it came on.  That seems to happen all over the property and hear the neighbour pushing a switch.   Living in a flat,  unable to access neighbouring property.   Is there anything that can be used to stop it.? If energy supplier dont help what can be done.   Any electrical investigators out there to make someone accountable 

What do you class as "energy spikes", voltage spikes, peaks on the usage chart, something else? 

Robin9

Is this a flat that is a conversion or purposely built?


PS If you think the problem is that of high voltage then your DNO will instal voltage monitoring equipment 

squirrelpie

You haven't clearly described your problem(s) to a point anybody will be able to diagnose it, I think. You sound like you don't understand much about the electrical system, so maybe you need some help in person. Whereabouts are you? You might start by asking your local Citizen's Advice Bureau about who can help.

Ectophile

The only thing you could use would be a UPS that's sufficiently large to power any sensitive appliances.

But that seems like a band-aid that doesn't fix the underlying problem.  And it won't be the meter.  It could be the electrics in your flat.  Or in the building.  Or on the supply to the building.  It needs a qualified electrician to diagnose, and may require an electricity supply logger to detect what's happening.

Robin9

Do you own or rent ?   When did the electrical  installation have a full inspection  -  not just a casual visit by an electrician.

ROY47

First thing to do is turn off your consumer unit (fuse box)   look at your meter and take a reading ,  leave it for 2-4 hours or more , take a reading again . Fridge / freezer ok for about 6-7 hours with power off

If the reading has gone up  then you have a problem , which could be the internal system is wrongly wired  and

you may be supplying next door as well 

You could also turn it all off at consumer unit  then ask next door if everything is still working at their property , if sockets / lights / cooker etc are not working next door , theirs your answer .

ROY47

Also you say you can' t access next door but you can hear them putting on switches ?

If you hear that go and knock on door and speak to them

Quackersd

Hi .where do I start. Its a flat in small block of flats. The meter seems to be ok. But if i turn everything off in the flat and plug everything out, turn off the switches at the consumer unit for each appliance you would think no electric but i checked my suppliers electric hub.  This shows spikes in the usage as though its being used.  I usually have the fridge on and you would think it would balance out.   I went away for a long weekend twice, the first time leaving the fridge on and the second without but the consumer unit switched on.   Electric was being used both times.    The second occasion absolutely nothing was plugged on and all other switches were off.   Ive had to replace numerous white goods before and after my consumer unit was changed.  Had electrical sockets updated amd had an EICR which passed. One of neighbours takes a walk when i turn off the consumer unit, while other you can hear pressing switches.    Not able to acces properties to do any further checks.  Had issue with plug socket recently - kettle woudnt go on , tried it in another socket and worked. Went back later to first socket and just before I pressed the switch, heard the neigh our press something on the wall. I was just about to pull it out but pressed my switch and it turned on. This has happened several times wiith other goods and it appears that if I leave any good s in any of my sockets without an extension lead with surge breaker, i will return to find the. not working  
 

Quackersd

What do you mean a UPS.   Do you mean a seperate power unit like a generator.   Have had contractors who believe its a neighbouring issue, someone able to access my electric  before the consumer unit  behind the adjourning wall before the meter.    Electric company only interest is the meter and payments My new consumer unit has been checked and working fine.  

QrizB

Quackersd said:

. But if i turn everything off in the flat and plug everything out, turn off the switches at the consumer unit for each appliance you would think no electric but i checked my suppliers electric hub.  This shows spikes in the usage as though its being used. 

Ignore" your supplier's electric hub" for now, you can get all the info you need from looking at your meter.

Yor meter should connect directly to your consumer unit. Your consumer unit should have a main switch which isolates every circuit (although if you have E7 or another complex tariff you might have two or more CUs).

You should try @Gerry1 's Meter Sanity Test:

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

Carry out the test and let us know the outcome.

If you want to share photos of your meter and/or your consumer units, we might be able to give some more suggestions.