electricity consumption help

[BrianDB9]

You can do you own test with a known load eg 2kw electric heater should use 2 units of electricity in 1 hour , if your using 30 kw a day its more than a kilo watt per hour , i'm just reading my annual statement for a 3 bed semi its 11 kwh per day,with Gas fired space and water heating .

I did come across a job recently where the property had a dryer cabinet with an electric heater in the bottom and left it on 24/7 for 2 years because the switch wasn't identified it ran up £600 debt !

Make sure you know what all switches are for and if you can't identify them - switch them off one at a time until it becomes obvious what they are for. (check for critical equipment like freezer as you go )

Be careful with on neon indicators - just because the aren't lit doesnt mean the switch isnt in the on position the neon can fail.

If your on communal heating and hot water have you got your own "back up" immersion heater ? switch it off or it will heat the water in the cylinder and will cycle on and off as you draw hot water off thereby cooling any cylinder of stored hot water.

 

[trev]

I agree, if they've given you the runaround for that length of time I'd escalate it or I'd hand it to my lawyer to deal with them.

OFGEM won't charge her though, and they have sharp pointy teeth.

 

[lilly123]

i am not sure if i posted this already, this morning i woke, never put on any lights, checked my efergy meter with a light from my lighter and it was reading 264kw, then after 10 minutes it dropped to 168 x so do not know how long it was showing 264 x

 

[BrianDB9]

If it read 264 i'd be out of there - the heat from that the place would be on fire ! kettle = 2kw ? so 132 kettles ? suspect efergy meter is faulty ? or decimal point in wrong place maybe 2.64 ? Immersion heater is 3 kw

 

[lilly123]

thanks, there is no back up what so ever, if the heating and hot water supply goes off we have to wait for them( council) to fix the problem, there is no storage heaters, no boilers no dryer cabinet, i did switch off my main supply via the main switch therefor nothing was working, i then put 1 switch on at a time in the main box then i plugged in 1 appliance (on) at a time to try and distinguish if it could be any of my appliances, this was not the case, also i do not have any old appliances, thank you for your advice x

 

[trev]

Let us know how this pans out please

 

[lilly123]

i sure will do i have had such good advice from all of you, which i thank you all, xx as soon as i have anything to report i shall do so xx

 

[trev]

Same applies if you need any more info Lilly

 

[BrianDB9]

I work for a social housing (council) we have our own energy advisers and like me electrical surveyors who would come out free , i suggest you contact your housing provider and escalate to councillor if they ignore you, the electricity meter is a contract between you and your supplier but you may well find your landlord will fight your corner - we certainly would i have regular battles with the suppliers re incorrectly wired supplies etc. You could also request your supplier installs a "check meter" ( or get council to do ) so you have two meters working at same time that way you could determine if there was a fault on the meter and then claim back the same proportion of what you have paid.

 

[trev]

The thing is Brian, this has been going on for two years and the supplier have, from what I've made out from this, fobbed her off. Time to escalate I'd say

 

[Marvo]

From what I've seen of Lilly's posts she's probably far too nice and polite when she deals with her supplier and the low-life's have just given her the runaround. The supplier will have a record of all the correspondence as well as their steps (or lack of) to resolve so they're unlikely to change they're tactics unless she gets more proactive with them.

I would also suggest Trev is on the right track with some kind of official complaint to a third party with 'sharp pointy teeth'.

 

[BrianDB9]

I agree Ofgem would probably make the supplier go and investigate the meter but if the efergy meter is showing unexpected load as well it does sound like a load does exist from somewhere and is worth checking out - its the councils installation so they are responsible for its safety. It costs nothing to call them.

Probably clutching at straws but if its an upstairs flat - does it have PIV (Positive Input Ventilation) some units have a 500 Watt heater that kicks in when the loft falls below 10 C they cycle on and off. They have a "heater enable" switch that can be switched off.

 

[Octopus]

Write to the Chief Executive.

Too often people complian by phone but that's not good enough. DO IT IN WRITING.

 

[Geordie Spark]

2 years and they've done nothing? Get on to OFGEM, screw your supplier they've had their chances and by the sound of it are messing you around.

Spoken like a true Geordie.

I'm proud of ye bonny lad.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Write to the Chief Executive.

Too often people complian by phone but that's not good enough. DO IT IN WRITING.

Yes ... I agree with this.

My dear departed Dad always said; "A telephone call isn't worth the paper it's written on".

That advice became my mantra during my 20+ years of being in business and saved me a lot of hassle.

That said, there's nothing wrong with making your telephone call and backing it up in writing later. Something along the lines of:

"Dear xxxx

Further to our telephone conversation of xxxxx, the following is my understanding of what we discussed and agreed upon.

(insert here what was said & agreed - as you see it)

Should your views differ, please contact me - in writing - within the next xxxx days otherwise I shall assume the version of events written here is a true and accurate one.

Yours ....."

Post it Recorded Delivery and ALWAYS keep a copy !!!

 

[Midwest]

No one has climbed into your loft (or meter cupboard) and helping themselves to your electricity!

 

[Octopus]

Yes ... I agree with this.

My dear departed Dad always said; "A telephone call isn't worth the paper it's written on".

That advice became my mantra during my 20+ years of being in business and saved me a lot of hassle.

That said, there's nothing wrong with making your telephone call and backing it up in writing later. Something along the lines of:

"Dear xxxx

Further to our telephone conversation of xxxxx, the following is my understanding of what we discussed and agreed upon.

(insert here what was said & agreed - as you see it)

Should your views differ, please contact me - in writing - within the next xxxx days otherwise I shall assume the version of events written here is a true and accurate one.

Yours ....."

Post it Recorded Delivery and ALWAYS keep a copy !!!

Thats a greatly worded draft letter and should be followed

 

[lilly123]

hi, i am honestly wondering if i am actually connected to the street lighting as i do have 1 street light outside of my house, Midwest, lol i am tempted to turn off my power supply to see if my neighbours lights do go off it will be one week today that i shall have my energy supplier attend to check my meter, then i shall take it from there, i have already said to them that i am going to with hold any payments to them until this situation is resolved or they have at least done their part in helping me find the problem, i understand that it is the councils responsability as well and therefor i shall put aside my rent monies until (if it is not a faulty meter) they resolve this situation, as i can not afford to pay these amounts that i am paying have a good evening and thank you xx

- - - Updated - - -

thanks you for your kind words x

 

[thomas-1981]

I would request a check meter from your supplier as this will confirm if the meter is working correctly. These are usually fitted and left for a month. If the meter turns out to be accurate then get on to the council to inspect the installation.

 

[ayjay]

how much in pounds are your bills?
are the meter tails hot?
i think theres something fishy going on, one street light wont cause this problem
you need an accreditted sparky to checkout the wiring