Can My Power Meters Be Wrong?

[ganesh]

I know I like my house warm and we definitely use a lot of electricity, but my power bills (gas and electric) have inexplicably risen from £120 pm to £580 pm! This seems absurd, and it happened a few months ago and we only realised when we went overdrawn and looked at our standing orders. When we questioned it they just said they adjusted the standing orders to bring it more in line with our usage after the meter reading (and therefore) estimated usage, and that the reading was accurate (and we checked it is correct) Something is obviously wrong somewhere and they at least agree it is high for a 4 bed modern double-glazed bungalow. we persuaded them to come and check the meter in a couple of weeks, but can it actually be wrong? I'm sure we must be powering a nearby industrial estate using this much! It's crazy!

[Old_Geezer]

No one can adjust your standing orders except you. That is why they are good. I take it you have agreed a direct debit where they take whatever they want ?

Based on what your say it sounds as if you were underpaying before. You do say the meter reading is correct. If you are unconvinced you can get them to fit a second meter to check the original. But of course if it was a one of blip then you won;t see a problem.

[razza]

Yes they can be wrong,you are supposed to be informed if your monthly DD goes up or down

[jackthehat]

1. It *is* possible for meters to malfunction.
2. It may be that they have you on the wrong tariff for each unit used.
3. I would keep a notepad by the meter and take regular readings across the day......you ought to be able to identify your times of peak-usage and locate the appliances which are drawing most energy.....they may be malfunctioning.

[Old_Geezer]

...if it was a one off blip then you won't see a problem.
Like I typed

[Daffy6543]

That is ridiculously high. We are excessive users of electricity in our house at £120 pm and gas during winter of a similar amount, our house is smaller but the insulation here is rubbish so we waste a lot of heat I suppose.
Our winter usage would equate to £240 pm for dual fuel so your initial amount may have been too low.

[jackthehat]

How long was the period for which your fuel consumption was estimated?

If it was a couple of years....you'd be surprised at how quickly a fuel-debt can build up.

What was/is the amount on your statement?

[ganesh]

Yes it is a d/d, apologies and they are allowed to put it up,and it is all online in that we don't get quarterly bills, and we admit we overlooked the amounts when they changed. However, At our last house (similar size) we were paying around £120 pm too on average and for the first year here we were paying this amount. It has now been 'reviewed' since the last meter reading and we have apparently used so much that they are taking £580 each month to catch up. Are you saying, oldgeezer, that £120 pm for years sounds like underpaying?

[bhg481]

Is your next-door neighbour powering his cannabis farm from your power?

I did come across a case some time ago where someone found that a lamp-post by his house was connected to his supply - has there been any work in your street recently?

[jackthehat]

Well, if your DD has risen from £120 pcm to £580 pcm to 'catch up' your supplier must believe you to have been under-paying.

Who is your supplier?

[ganesh]

Yes Daffy I agree, it is a big bungalow but it double-gazed and insulated.

[ganesh]

Npower

[ganesh]

BHG- yes there has actually, and since we have lived here we have had loads of power cuts in our street!

[jackthehat]

Is it the Electricity, or the Gas component that has increased?

[ganesh]

Both-half and half! Basically they are saying we have used £4,500 of power from Aug to Aug.

[jackthehat]

Is that the amount on your statement, or have you extrapolated using your new pcm DD?

[ganesh]

Our statements but this is what they have taken from us and according to the meter reading and calculation on their statement it is right.

[Old_Geezer]

I was simply saying that you said the meter reading was correct so the next likley reason for a sudden large jump would be a realisation that you had underpaid previously. Granted you suspect a meter problem.

£120*12=£1440. Hmmm I'd have to check my own bills to get a feel for how large or small that is, but you did say you like a warm house. As this is for both electricity and gas it could easily be on the low side, I think. And of course we would have little idea how long you may have underpaid unless the fuel suppliers can give details.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh the supplier is always right, until proven wrong. They go out of their way to make their bills unreadable and ensuring the method of correcting any past errors is not simple and near undecipherable.

[jackthehat]

Well, if all the maths add up, there is either a problem at the supply/meter end, or at the consumption end.

I'd certainly be keeping an eye on my consumption as it is the only thing over which I presently had any control...

[ganesh]

Im prepared to believe £120 is a little low but that is what we were paying for the first 7 months we were here and I think if it was that wildly low they would have increased the amount during that time surely. The increase would have been in the winter I suppose, but why would the electric go up so much? We have gas central heating and a gas cooker? I find it very strange and worrying. What do people normally pay for this size house and average usage?