Really high electrical bills?

Jacus · Nov 21, 2018

Hi Everyone

In April this year I moved into a small 2 bedroom property and I find that my electrical bills are extremely high.
In my old property I had the same sort of things in my house like an electric cooker and oven, normal size fridge/freezer including a fireplace that I use throughout the cold winter months. The thing that I don't understand is that at my old property I had a fireplace too and electrical radiators in every room but in my current place I don't even have radiators - only a fireplace to warm the house.

The thing I don't understand is that at my old house I used an average of 500 units per month on electrics, where at my current property the meter reads just below 2000 units per month?

Any ideas? Is somebody tapping into my electrics or maybe the next door property connected to my electrics? ...you know what I mean...

I spoke to SSE and asked advice but they couldn't help me what so ever. Is it possible to get somebody out to come and investigate this...? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Thanks guys for the suggestions and support

MDJ · Nov 21, 2018

Do you have electric heating?

Jacus · Nov 21, 2018

No I don't have any electrical heating in my current place. Only a fireplace.

littlespark · Nov 21, 2018

A qualified electrician will have equipment for testing your installation and can measure current usage as each appliance is turned on. 4x your old usage does sound excessive.

You have no heating apart from a fireplace? So no plug-in oil filled radiators, or blow heaters? Must be freezing in the bedrooms.
How is the water heated? Immersion heater in a water tank?

Is it possible to show us a photograph of the meter?
I ask this as the old mechanical type could go faulty over time.... spinning too fast etc.
The newer electronic ones will have a flashing red light. The speed of the flash increases as more current is flowing. Watch it as you boil the kettle to see what I mean.

Did your old property have solar panels contributing to lowering the bills?

Just some ideas thrown in there

Squid · Nov 21, 2018

Turn the CSU off and see if the meter still registers, if you do this at night you will need a torch.

Jacus · Nov 21, 2018

Brilliant replies guys..Thanks! I forgot to mention about my boiler...its electrical and set on a timer for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. I live on a farm cottage...and yes, the bedrooms can be a bit cold hence the fire place running most of the day.

I think it's a good idea to get a qualified electrician out with the right testing equipment to try and figure this out and investigate. The meter is outside tucked away in a cupboard but I must say it has a digital screen but never noticed a red light flashing. I will have a look for sure. But good advise about the meters as I never knew that could happen.

Wilko · Nov 21, 2018

Hi - you mentioned you've got electric hot water now, was it gas before?

Jacus · Nov 22, 2018

Hi...it's been electric in both houses.

Wilko · Nov 22, 2018

The most likely reasons - meter duff or some thing is using more power. The meter is owned by the one sending you the bill. You could ask them what is involved in getting it tested perhaps? (I've not done this but they must have a process ...).
If more power is being used - what is that thing and are you happy for it... Some (rare) times we find there is some thing attached to one installation that should've been on another. As mentioned the "switching stuff off and seeing the meter stop" should show this. Also as mentioned, if you post up pics of supplier's fuse, meter, consumer unit and linking cables we will review

.

Squid · Nov 22, 2018

Remove the meter turn it around the other way and process your own refund.............*

*This was 100% a JOKE okay...........

Jacus · Nov 22, 2018

Here is a photo of my meter. It has a green light that's going almost non stop and 2 red ones that flashes maybe twice every 10 seconds. I had the kettle running at the time and the lights were just flashing as normal I'd say