Is this possible? 650-700 thousand kw of electricity usage?

[Loncan]

Sorry, another energy one, mostly spurred on by my nightly panic about rising costs.

I own a flat in a relatively large building (approximately 230 flats). Last year’s monthly maintenance fees went up drastically as we apparently used around 700,000 kw of energy last year (up over 2300% than the previous year).

It’s a large building, but no onsite facilities (no gym, laundry room, kitchens, no central heating/air con in common areas, etc), and all lights except for the ones in the main reception hall are on motion sensors so off more than they’re on. Beyond the lifts and the lights, I’m not sure there are many other things using electricity in the shared spaces. Is it even possible to use that much energy? This doesn’t include individual flat usage as we all have individual meters.

I’ve been panicking lately as if this usage is accurate, our bills will be anywhere between 750k -1.5 million pounds per year, which will be passed onto us. This is insanity right?

Nah doesn't feel right (unless you have heating / air conditioned under ground parking or central air con to all units.

Ask for the breakdown.

If it's just some outside / motion sensitive corridor lights, 7,000 kWh feels about right.

@alwaysmovingforwards

Thanks for your reply! No underground parking, communal heating, air con, etc. I’m literally flabbergasted at how the building could have used that much.

I did request a breakdown last year which was refused, but I’m reaching out again now.

For reference, we had 10k in the budget (based on previous years usage). I literally do not understand how we used over 230k worth…

Does each flat have its own boiler? Some buildings have “communal” boilers for heating and hot water in each flat. Then individual meters for other electricity used.

@Awakened22

We do but I thought it was gas (and we’re billed individually for what we use). Even so, I’ve lived here for years, and the electric charge has never been for more than 10k in a year until this last year . If it was electric, would that use 700,000 kw/year?

cannabis factory?
someone running off hall sockets?
electric cars being charged from shared sockets?

I’d be insisting on proof.

Relevant story on today's BBC

Been done on estimates and last was a catch up.

Insist on proof

Lol, no secret grow ops as far as I’m aware. Now I’m concerned that it’s the boiler, but I’m almost certain that’s gas or district heating. We have individual meters in our units that measure any hot water we use and are billed accordingly by an external company, but who knows.

Thanks for all the replies…I’ve been so anxious about this, so thanks for being kind either your responses. Have reached out to ask for clarification on the huge increase, so hopefully I’ll have a response this week.

Could you arrange a group of other tenants to query this with you, maybe by cc’ing them into the email to show they support?

@Qik Yep, that’s what we have. Not sure what my new rate is now (hasn’t been published and my next bill isn’t until end of the month). My understanding is that wouldn’t affect the electricity bill though? But maybe I’m wrong…