Faulty gas meter

Bensonbenson

Hi

We have had a smart gas meter fitted , since then the gas bills have gone through the roof , i am talking £100 a month more , we have done a gas check , and with all the appliances OFF, the meter runs on , hence bigger bill, EON have taken the meter out to be checked by an independent firm and guess what , its come back its running ok, we have photographic proof with time and date at the side of the photos proofing its not.Has anyone else had same problem please let me know.

tacpot12

This might help:

Check if your energy meter isn't working properly - Citizens Advice

Keep_pedalling

if it is running on with everything off the the other possibility is a leak beyond the meter. Has the system been checked for this?

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

since then the gas bills have gone through the roof

What volume of gas were you typically using in a month before the meter was swapped? What volume are you using now?

we have done a gas check , and with all the appliances OFF, the meter runs on

If you turn the gas off at the isolation valve immediately before the meter, does the meter still increment?

If the meter doesn't increase when the isolation valve is switched off, it would suggest the fault lies after the meter.

EON have taken the meter out to be checked by an independent firm and guess what , its come back its running ok,

That would suggest the meter is fine.

How long was your meter away for? Did EON fit a temporary meter for that time? How much gas use did the temporary meter record?

Ectophile

If the meter records gas usage when nothing is running, but then stops recording gas usage with the gas valve off, it's not merely a fault after the meter, it's a gas leak. Get it fixed ASAP before the house blows up.

Heedtheadvice

Yes getting your gas system checked for a leak should be your first priority...as an emergency.

It is very simple for a gas qualified engineer to test your system for a leak and if confirmed you need to have your property isolated at the valve prior to the meter and then the cause located and fixed before using again. It is that serious.

You say all appliances were off, but did any have a pilot light still on? That would cause the meter to still increment ( slowly) ....but best get your gas system checked.

You imply your bill is seriously OTT. Is it by any chance about 3 times what you were expecting ( a £100 increase does not indicate how much the bill change is in terms of increased energy billed.)

If your bill is about three times your previously typical energy (pre meter change ) check if you agree with the new meter readings ( bill vs meter display ) and, if you do, investigate if your old meter was an old imperial meter and if your new meter is metric ( it almost certainly is!) measuring in cubic metres) The calculation to change metered volumetric units to energy ( kilowatt hours, kWh) differs by a factor of approx 2.8 between imperial and metric meters.

It is not unknown for a supplier to mess up the calculation by not taking out the 2.8 conversion factor when an old imperial meter is taken out and replaced by a metric one.

Given the the meter start and reading at your last bill it is quite easy to check what the energy used is and then the cost. If you suspect this we can post the calculation or do it for you ( your supplier ought to tell you what it is too!)

Chrysalis

I dont think its enough to just turn off gas appliances, it should have been turned off at the supply. Check for a gas leak first and foremost, and then only if no leak is found carry on the meter fight.

TroubledTarts

This part

we have done a gas check , and with all the appliances OFF, the meter runs on

Did you also isolate the gas supply and with the meter still accruing report a gas leak?

As to your bills going up £100 a month? That sounds a bit strange it would generally vary not be a fixed amount is this figure just a direct debit payment and not actual readings and usage?

As others have suggested more information is needed, readings and figures and now a new meter is in place has this new meter solved the issue, bearing in mind it's summer and a heatwave so gas usage will be a lot less right now.

Robin9

Can you also do a check on your bill please - there's a couple of admin errors here

1. Does your bill show the meter change - are the readings the same as on the sticker on the meter ?
2. Read the serial number on the bill - is it the same as on the meter?
3. Does the bill say m3 or ft3 - the new meter will be m3 ?

WiserMiser

You may have a gas leak rather than a faulty meter, so it's imperative that you operate the shut off valve using the lever or knob next to the meter. A lever is likely to be red, a knob may be yellow.

Make sure it's left fully off; it may be a bit stiff so you may have to turn it off and on a few times until it turns through the full 90°. Take a photo, leave it overnight, preferably 24h or more then take another photo.

If the readings aren't identical then that proves the meter is faulty. Ideally take a video showing the volume reading increasing with the supply shut off and then get it tested.

If the readings are identical, turn off the gas supply at the boiler, turn on the supply at the meter, don't use any gas appliance and check the reading frequently. If it's increasing that's bad news because you have a leak somewhere. Don't rely on being able to smell gas: it may be leaking under the floor and going up into the cavity wall. Turn on a light and BOOM.💥

Similarly, there was a case on the forum a few years ago where gas was leaking out from a dodgy connection behind a gas fire and gas was going up the chimney 24/7/365. No smell and not quite so dangerous but it was costing a fortune.

If you suspect a leak call 0800 111 999. They have some very sensitive measuring equipment and will be able to locate the problem.

Qyburn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82069901#Comment_82069901

Does the bill say m3 or ft3 - the new meter will be m3

Definitely check this. If the meter's reading cu.m but they're treating that as 100s of cu.ft, they'll be overcharging by nearly 3X.