£1,000 electric bill :(

Lol they are trying to claim you use about 10,000 kWh per annum :p

You'll be using much less than that. Using 8042 kWh over 300 days does not add up for a 1 bedroom place, especially if you are energy concious.
 
Jono said:
...but it does seem like a VAST amount of electricity to be using for one person.. and no heating. Unless you're growing marjeewaarnaar 24/7.
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Absolutely - 8000Kwh is a huge amount for a one bedroom flat.

We use < 5KWh a day in a 4 bedroom house. (gas heating however, so adjust for that).
 
Then I don't get how I use so much :(

Seriously I very very rarely have the heating on and rarely switch on the lights. And I'm not just saying that, it's true.

The only 2 things I use a lot of are my computer (has a 700W PSU) and my washing machine.

Do you think leaving my machine on 24/7 has something to do with this?
 
There is something very wrong that is just too much for one person to be using. Unless the meter is duff or something else is using it.
 
Also, check your meter actually records in Kilowatt Hours (KWh). I remember Dom Littlewood doing a story on the one Show about some older meters measuring in different units, but the leccy companies assuming it was KWhs which lead to rediculously high bills.

ALSO:

What are your neighbours like? In all seriousness, if that much electricity was used, that's potentially of one of your neighbours hacking into your power and cultivating cannabis - UV lights, air circulation, etc. You may laugh, but it's happened before. Depends on the layout of your flats though, whether anyone can access your meter or just you.
 
Since getting my new meter a couple of weeks ago I've used 5kwh or about £1's worth

I know it doesn't help but I thought I'd take the chance to look smug :D
 
Even if your PC was going at full pelt 24/7, which it won't be, 7000 kWh would take 10,000 hrs to consume, which is more than a year :D.

I appreciate that it's a catch up but have you checked that your opening meter reading is correct i.e. the one you naturally took when you moved into the property?
 
JBuk said:
Since getting my new meter a couple of weeks ago I've used 5kwh or about £1's worth

I know it doesn't help but I thought I'd take the chance to look smug :D
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These guys took a reading on the 19th Aug of 59,663. I just took a reading myself an hour ago of 59,898.

That means in 12 days I've used 235 units, so about 19 units a day.

Does that sound right?
 
Speak to the supplier, and tell them you think the meter has been read incorrectly (not just the numbers, but because of the above - wrong units or something.)

If you have photos of the meter from the day you moved in, then take another today and then send them to the supplier. (Ask on phone who/how to do this.) You can also calculate your own bill from this.

Also, the most important thing to check here, is that it is indeed your meter they are reading. A number of times the suppliers kept reading our neighbour's meter as ours. Verify what serial number the supplier has on record/bill vs what is actually on your meter. To verify it's yours get someone to turn the heating on whilst you are watching the meter, then off again with you still watching.*

If you do infact owe this money, then, well.. sucks to be you (:p) but the supplier won't be unreasonable about it. Arrange an increase in DD and they'll be happy to accept.

(*i.e. use something that uses a lot of leccy - there may be better ways for leccy, but this works for gas)
 
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The amount of electricity you are using sounds seriously wrong to me, i live in a 2 bedroom house with a reasonable amount of electrical items on constantly and my bill is around £130 for 3 months. Definitely get them to check your meter is correct/not also supplying someone else.

Edit - Invest in an OWL energy monitor for £25, will save you a fortune once you see how much electric you are wasting :) Will also show you if someone else is stealing your supply
 
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Phone the company and tell them you think you have a dodgy meter. Once you speak to a person, they should realize it's a huge amount to use. I'd get rid of your plants first though :p.

I suspect it's being read in the wrong unit though, or someone is tapping your supply.
 
Just work out if it is correct.

They took a reading in October. Take a reading now. Ask them what tariff you are on, and cost per kilowatt. Post in on here, and you will have an answer. :)
 
AdladUK said:
These guys took a reading on the 19th Aug of 59,663. I just took a reading myself an hour ago of 59,898.

That means in 12 days I've used 235 units, so about 19 units a day.

Does that sound right?
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Sounds a lot to me but it depends what you're running

I'm not currently living at my place as i'm renovating so I only tend to use the kettle, radio , hoover and power tool now and then
 
Bennie-Mac said:
The amount of electricity you are using sounds seriously wrong to me, i live in a 2 bedroom house with a reasonable amount of electrical items on constantly and my bill is around £130 for 3 months. Definitely get them to check your meter is correct/not also supplying someone else.
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That's insane. What the hell am I doing then :confused:

Like others have mentioned I suppose the reader itself could be faulty, but I find it unlikely. I know there's at least 1 other flat in the same number range as me, plus it's a pretty recent conversion job not old equipment
 
Why are you still posting here? Get busy with the investigation already! This is £1,000 we're talking and there's plenty of advice here that you can begin to follow up.
 
I only pay about £30 for electricity for a 2 bed flat and most people pay around that.

If you were paying about £30/£40 for electricity p/m since you moved in and now they claim you owe them £1000 then something is definitely wrong (unless you grow cannabis secretly :P).

Did you not take the reading yourself when you moved in? I always do that.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
Speak to the supplier, and tell them you think the meter has been read incorrectly (not just the numbers, but because of the above - wrong units or something.)

If you have photos of the meter from the day you moved in, then take another today and then send them to the supplier. (Ask on phone who/how to do this.) You can also calculate your own bill from this.
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Thank you for the info. I think at this point I accept the readings as correct and I also accept I owe this amount, however it's just a case of is my equipment faulty, or is someone tapping into it, because the usuage is just way to much for what I do
 
AdladUK said:
That's insane. What the hell am I doing then :confused:

Like others have mentioned I suppose the reader itself could be faulty, but I find it unlikely. I know there's at least 1 other flat in the same number range as me, plus it's a pretty recent conversion job not old equipment
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How old is the meter, have you checked it to see what units it reads in? are you sure it's not the gas meter that's being read :p
 
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