Dodgy meter (or just too much gas)?!

Sgt_Oddball

Hi.

We moved into a new 2 bedroom flat last summer. Previously we lived in another (new, rented) 2 bedroom flat.

Now, we have just received a large bill (much larger than usual) and looking into the details it seems our gas usage is between 2 and 3 times higher.

Old flat: 50 units / month average
New flat: 125 units / month average.

The average was done with actual readings using 12 month separation for old flat and 10 month separation for new. For the most recent month we have used 200 units (m3) alone! This seems really excessive.

Has anyone else had problems with over-use of gas in new properties? I am suspecting the meter but am not sure.We have the heating on a timer (mornings/evenings, use gas for cooking etc.).

Please reply if you can help! Many thanks.

mute_posting

Was one metric and one imperial?
Think that is about a factor 3 difference IIRC.

HTH

MP

notbritishgas

Sgt_Oddball wrote: »

Hi.

We moved into a new 2 bedroom flat last summer. Previously we lived in another (new, rented) 2 bedroom flat.

Now, we have just received a large bill (much larger than usual) and looking into the details it seems our gas usage is between 2 and 3 times higher.

Old flat: 50 units / month average
New flat: 125 units / month average.

The average was done with actual readings using 12 month separation for old flat and 10 month separation for new. For the most recent month we have used 200 units (m3) alone! This seems really excessive.

Has anyone else had problems with over-use of gas in new properties? I am suspecting the meter but am not sure.We have the heating on a timer (mornings/evenings, use gas for cooking etc.).

Please reply if you can help! Many thanks.

From your post it appears the meter in your new flat is a metric one (m3).

As mute posting states, if the one in your old flat was imperial (cubic feet) then your new one will use about 3 times more units than the old one.

This does not mean your bill is 3 times higher because they convert the units into kwh and there is a different formula for each type of meter, so the kwh and hence the bill total should be about the same as old flat (all other things being equal)

Sgt_Oddball

Hi,

thanks for the replies.

The old flat was also new (built in 2004) so I believe it was metric. To double check usage I am now taking readings twice a day (evening and morning).

Ta!

espresso

Your monthly average usage of 125 M3 converts to 1420 kWh per month or 17040 kWh per annum, which is not high when compared with the average customer. I think that you are wrong to suspect the meter.

notbritishgas

Sgt_Oddball wrote: »

Hi,

thanks for the replies.

The old flat was also new (built in 2004) so I believe it was metric. To double check usage I am now taking readings twice a day (evening and morning).

Ta!

If the month when you used 200 metric units, which converts to approx 2200kwh, was a winter month, ie you had your heating on as normal,then that is not too high a reading.
Once you take into account your lower summer usage your yearly average will be lower than the national average of 20000kwh per year.
Indeed I have just looked at your opening post and see that your average for a year is 125 per month, this works out at 16500kwh for the year. But for your old flat your consumption was 6600kwh for the year, which I believe is very low for someone with gas central heating.(you did have that in old flat?)

PS I used approx figures to convert to kwh, ie multiply units by 11, that is why my figures are slightly different than espresso's

Sgt_Oddball

Thanks for the messages.

The previous flat was GCH. I would also expect our usage to be lower than the average user - we are a working couple, no kids, and living in 1st floor flat. The flat we are now in was built in 2005 so I would expect insulation and boiler efficiency to be better than average.

I have tried finding out typical usage levels to compare them. My only guide at present is our previous flat (which is similar to new one - modern). Generally speaking I would expect consumption to be broadly similar between the two flats.

Does anyone know of any figures for typical consumption for different groups e.g. working couples in flats or large families in houses etc.

Cheers.

smartie1976

It does look like imperial vs metric with the approx 3x conversion factor, though given the reads you've provided, although it seems unlikely an imperial meter would be in a 2004 built property, you never know I guess.

Imperial have 4 white numbers and one red, metric have 5 white numbers and 3 red.

Check for sure with the supplier of your old property.

Sgt_Oddball

Regarding the Imperial vs Metric argument, I don't think this can be the answer since if it were the actual cost value (£'s) would be similar for the two flats. Imperial unit is just another measure of volume but total volume used is the same whether Imperial or metric.

What we are actually seeing is increased energy use (over 2 x) and increased cost due to this (2 x - in proportion).

Cheers.

espresso

Sgt_Oddball wrote: »

Regarding the Imperial vs Metric argument, I don't think this can be the answer since if it were the actual cost value (£'s) would be similar for the two flats. Imperial unit is just another measure of volume but total volume used is the same whether Imperial or metric.

What we are actually seeing is increased energy use (over 2 x) and increased cost due to this (2 x - in proportion).

Cheers.

So post your actual usage in kWh and not units then for old and new.

You are talking about two different properties with different insulation, boiler etc. etc. and your usage is still below average.

Sgt_Oddball

Yes, when I get home tonight I will work out and post the energies used for the 2 flats.

espresso, I would also re-iterate what I said earlier - the flats are nominally identical in size, our habits haven't changed and both are new (2004/2005), middle-floor flats. From this I would expect similar gas consumption.

Unless....there is something wrong with the boiler, a gas leak, or the meter itself.

I will post the numbers later- if you could give your opinion again as to whether there is a problem or not (at which point I can decide the next course of action) I would be really grateful!

Cheers