UK Electricity meter problem

[Davephoto]

Just received a £900 electricity bill for an empty flat, the electricity is turned off at the fuse box so I checked the units on the meter. The units are going up 5 units per day, 20 units at night and 50 units stored. I have no storage heaters and I don’t have a hot water tank. I assumed when the electricity is turned off the meter should not go up, is this right?
The meter is from 2003 Horstmann radio telemeter series 2A

 

[Davephoto]

Ok I’ve turned off every switch in the fuse box. Could the RED message on the meter be anything to do with the water heater electrics being worked on? A new water heater was fitted but required a bigger fuse and new wiring which was fitted into a spare socket in the fuse board.
The red lights are still flashing after everything is turned off.

 

[pc1966]

Really you need to get a professional electrician in to look at this.

If it is still taking power with all switches off then either they are faulty (not disconnecting even though switched off) which is obviously very dangerous, or there is some hidden connection to the meter outputs. That could be some older fusebox that has stupidly been boxed in somewhere, which again is a risk for all sorts of reasons, or it might be a deliberate fraud by some neighbouring property or previous tenant.

When you do get someone in ask that they photograph what they find before any attempt to put it right, just in case it is due to fraud and you need to speak to the police.

 

[pc1966]

It might be a faulty meter, but a professional will be able to clamp-meter the tails of the supply meter to see if the installation really is taking power or not, and so if the meter is reading in an unexplained manner or it is genuine(even before finding any hidden load).

 

[James]

Where in the U.K., are you?
maybe someone could pop in for a quick look in exchange for a beer?

 

[Davephoto]

I’m in the South East in Aldershot.
I’ve spoken to SSE twice about getting someone out but that was 3 days ago and still nothing hence the reason for this post. I’ll contact them again tomorrow.

 

[LukeD]

Either you have a circuit you dont know about due to it been used by "next door" etc . I would be pulling the main fuse out .See if the neighbours start looking around !


Yonks ago A clients sister bought a flat in London, terrible place and never worth 50% of what she paid . 3 flats all developed . turned out developer owned ground floor and the other 2 flats supplied his electrics ! His mate had been crafty with the wiring . Seen other flats where they have spurred off a ring and used it etc.

 

[brianmoooore]

Put everything on both fuse boxes in the down (off) position, not just the main switches, and see if that stops the meter.

 

[mainline]

Put everything on both fuse boxes in the down (off) position, not just the main switches, and see if that stops the meter.

Ok I’ve turned off every switch in the fuse box. Could the RED message on the meter be anything to do with the water heater electrics being worked on? A new water heater was fitted but required a bigger fuse and new wiring which was fitted into a spare socket in the fuse board.
The red lights are still flashing after everything is turned off.

 

[brianmoooore]

OP says they've turned off every switch. We don't know if that's the three labelled as switch, or absolutely everything. That RCD could conceivably be wired as a fourth main switch.

 

[pc1966]

OP says they've turned off every switch. We don't know if that's the three labelled as switch, or absolutely everything. That RCD could conceivably be wired as a fourth main switch.

If it is that convoluted the OP really, REALLY, needs to get someone in to sort it out!

 

[mainline]

OP says they've turned off every switch. We don't know if that's the three labelled as switch, or absolutely everything. That RCD could conceivably be wired as a fourth main switch.

Read post #13 onwards

 

[brianmoooore]

Read post #13 onwards

I have, and post #16 tells me that the CU has been 'played with' since it's original installation, and that the person who made the changes might even have been a plumber.

 

[pc1966]

...the person who made the changes might even have been a plumber.

Indeed, someone competent has to check it!

 

[mainline]

I have, and post #16 tells me that the CU has been 'played with' since it's original installation, and that the person who made the changes might even have been a plumber.

Or he may have been an experienced electrician.

 

[brianmoooore]

Indeed, someone competent has to check it!

the fact that power is being drawn through the meter when it shouldn't be demonstrates that this is self evident, but in the meantime, it would be helpful to the OP if we could discover just how and where this power is being drawn, and whether it's bad wiring or something more sinister.