New Meter Usage Doubled?!?

girleight@

Hi

We got a new meter installed 3 months ago and our usage has aparently doubled from 8.9kWh per day to 18kWh per day. Previous bill was about £100 for 4 months and the current one is £176 for 3 months. No other bills as we moved in in November. I can't think of anything we've done differently and we live in a 2 bedroom terrace.

I'm thinking the meter is dodgy. Any ideas please?

Cardew

Could the old meter have been dodgy(in your favour)

Are any of the meter readings on either bill estimated?

That is the probable reason?

girleight@

No none of the readings are estimates. I would think that £30ish a month would be closer than £60ish. We also spend £23 on gas per month. As I said we live in a 2 bedrooom terrace. We both work out of the house during the day (8-7 at least) and often go away on a weekend. Last period we also went on holiday for 2 weeks.

Does anyone think £60 a month in electricity is likely to be accurate?

Cardew

£60 a month for electricity(assuming you don't use it for heating) is very high.

You can quite easily carry out a rough check on your meter yourself; although meters rarely go wrong.

Shut off all electrical appliances lights etc, including fridge/freezer, make sure that the meter is not moving and accurately note the meter reading down to decimal places.

Then switch on something with a known consumption(a 1kW electric fire for example) for a set time and note the reading.

Even using, say, several bulbs of known value will work.

You can request the meter to be tested, but if it is not faulty you pay for the test(around £70 I am told)