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

Martin Kerr · Nov 22, 2018

From the SSE card at the side of the meter ,the meter was changed in 2016 and the meter reading was recorded as 00000
The previous meter descrIption refers to a pool complex
Maybe you are recieving estimated readings for the previous meter

LeeH · Nov 23, 2018

Have you checked your tariff against any others?

SSE will not be your cheapest choose. Non of the big six will be.

SparkyAndGeorge · Nov 23, 2018

Is your immersion timer working correctly? Not long ago had a call out with this same issue. Turned out the timer was knackered and was on 24/7.

Deleted member 105166 · Nov 23, 2018

An electrician will be able to clamp the incomer or individual circuits to see how much current is being drawn, and some will have equipment they can leave on site to record readings of total current draw say every 5 minutes for a week. Your supplier could also do this, however if they find no fault on the meter, may charge for going this. In the meantime have you done a common sense check in the attic and under party wall floor boards to ensure next door aren't stealing electricity from you?

Francis Mahon · Nov 24, 2018

Hi, a similar issue maybe!
I am currently helping my mother-in-law sort an apparently very high energy usage, with nearly 21,000kWh electrical energy showing as used each year for each of the past 2 years since a new meter (a Horstmann Radio Telemeter Series K) was installed by the DNO, Scottish Power at end September 2016. The house has no gas, so space heating and water heating is from electricity supply but only two main rooms, a small kitchen and a bathroom are used now. I've put a simple 'ONZO Smart Energy Electricity Monitor' on the mains line coming into the Horstmann Radio Telemeter and over the past 10 days it is showing an average of 9 kWh used each day, which is in good agreement with 'back of the envelope' calculation for usage (including a 3kW water heater on for 1 hour/day, a 2kW heater on for 2 hours/day, a TV on for 6 hours and then all lighting being LED). But the Horstmann meter, by which billing is set, is showing total of between 55 and 60kWh being used each day (as total of R1 & R4 as is an Economy 7 meter) . I'm continuing to record Horstmann and ONZO readings and will put another completely independent energy monitor in place on the incoming live line, as a comparison, in next few days.

Has anyone seen similar discrepancies, with Horstmann or other electricity meter? It makes the difference between electricity costs of £3800/year and about £1200/year.
Thank
Francis

stevels4 · Nov 24, 2018

That’s an Elster Smets 1 meter, you should have one of the energy display units paired to the meter in order to monitor your usage.
Also which tariff are you on? It should state this on your bill i.e single rate, E7, E10.

Francis Mahon · Nov 26, 2018

on two rate Economy 7; the usage noted is the total energy throughput by the Horstmann meter (i.e R1 + R4)

*-jester-* · Nov 26, 2018

I got called out about 10 years ago to a customer complaining of high electric bills, it was loose meter tails!

They had warmed up the Bakelite insulators on the old wylex incoming terminals and over time blackened it with carbon which conducted electricity, but not enough of a short circuit to blow the main 80amp fuse.

It could've been very dangerous which is why It is imperative to double check all connections, it's to easy to get distracted and forget to tighten connections.

Just putting it out there ...but it would need to be checked by a qualified sparky or Scottish Power Engineer.

Francis Mahon · Nov 26, 2018

Many thanks Jester, will have the tails looked at , much appreciated.
am

brianmoooore · Nov 27, 2018

There's what appears to be a 5W dual connector block in the bottom right of the pic., with four ways in use, so this isn't a 'simple tails from meter to single consumer unit installation'.
Where do the other two pairs of tails go to? One set appear to feed a switch fuse in the top right. What's this for, and is it switched on?
Looks like there's a very good chance the OP could well be supplying a.n.other with free electricity.

Wilko · Nov 28, 2018

brianmoooore said:
Where do the other two pairs of tails go to? One set appear to feed a switch fuse in the top right. What's this for, and is it switched on?

Yes that was my thought too, I did ask for a pan right pic in #12, but none forthcoming

Taylortwocities · Mar 28, 2021

[ElectriciansForums.net] Really high electrical bills?

@Shannon L Foreman well, thank you for digging up a topic from more than two and a half years ago. I imagine that the OP has resolved the issue by now.

loz2754 · Mar 28, 2021

Taylortwocities said:
View attachment 83900

@Shannon L Foreman well, thank you for digging up a topic from more than two and a half years ago. I imagine that the OP has resolved the issue by now.

Love this.
Should automatically appear whenever a thread resurrection occurs.!

Timbo · Mar 28, 2021

Taylortwocities said:
View attachment 83900

@Shannon L Foreman well, thank you for digging up a topic from more than two and a half years ago. I imagine that the OP has resolved the issue by now.

Self confessed fireplace expert.
Seems to be trying to be a resurrection expert.

Taylortwocities · Mar 28, 2021

Timbo said:
Self confessed fireplace expert.
Seems to be trying to be a resurrection expert.

Well, she is from overseas…

Really high electrical bills?

Jacus

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Martin Kerr

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LeeH

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SparkyAndGeorge

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Deleted member 105166

Francis Mahon

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stevels4

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Francis Mahon

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-jester-

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Francis Mahon

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brianmoooore

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Wilko

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Taylortwocities

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loz2754

Timbo

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Taylortwocities

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