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Original poster

Regretting getting a smart meter already...

134 replies

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:36

Has gas and electric really gone up this much? ☹️ Just moved house and got a smart meter installed, lost my fixed tariff as I couldn't bring it with me and nowhere offers fixed anymore.

We've been out most of the day, no heating on and all plugs are switched off bar the fridge freezer, oven, sky box and router. Currently it's sat at £10.30. Bloke had to install new meters as our old ones were prehistoric.

£300+ a month for barely using any gas or electric? Is this right and has it really gone up this much?! I only used to pay £100 a month and I'd not be minimising any of my useage. I'm hoping it's faulty meters because I'm never gonna be able to afford to put heating on and I'm on a pretty good salary!

I hate this smart meter already.

OP posts:
BettyOBarley · 10/12/2022 20:38

I've turned mine towards the wall tonight, it's so easy to get obsessed by it.

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:40

I may have to... Trying to avoid nasty surprises when the bill comes 😭

OP posts:
MammaWeasel · 10/12/2022 20:41

Better a smart meter now than a massive shocking bill at the end of the quarter. Yes, it's gone up by that much. 😪

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Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:44

That was my thought 😭 depressing to see it though!

I think the old gas meter was faulty as it had the same reading as when we moved in. Missed a trick 🤣

OP posts:
cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 20:46

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:36

Has gas and electric really gone up this much? ☹️ Just moved house and got a smart meter installed, lost my fixed tariff as I couldn't bring it with me and nowhere offers fixed anymore.

We've been out most of the day, no heating on and all plugs are switched off bar the fridge freezer, oven, sky box and router. Currently it's sat at £10.30. Bloke had to install new meters as our old ones were prehistoric.

£300+ a month for barely using any gas or electric? Is this right and has it really gone up this much?! I only used to pay £100 a month and I'd not be minimising any of my useage. I'm hoping it's faulty meters because I'm never gonna be able to afford to put heating on and I'm on a pretty good salary!

I hate this smart meter already.

How many kWH of electricity and gas does it say you have used?

BudgeUpAnne · 10/12/2022 20:47

Are you sure the heating hasn't been on? What is the £ split between gas and electric, you can find out on the meter by pressing a few buttons

cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 20:48

If you turn things off, you should see the 'display' go down for the electricity. That will show you how much electricity is being used in watts / kilowatts at the moment. What does it say now?

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:48

61.36kwh gas, 9.35kwh electric

OP posts:
cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 20:49

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:48

61.36kwh gas, 9.35kwh electric

And you haven't had your heating on today?

That electricity is a lot. What's your current use in watts?

It's also a lot of gas, if you haven't been using any heating today.

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:52

Considering only our heating and water is via boiler - everything else is electric.

We were out from 12-5pm so I was shocked to see it so high! Heating definitely not on.. it's an old-ish boiler and it's quite loud.

OP posts:
Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:53

The electric is high too? Is it possible our meters aren't working properly? Only got installed yesterday.

OP posts:
ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 10/12/2022 20:53

Remember standing charge is so much higher now too. Gas is £9 a month and electricity £15 a month. Thats £24 a month without any use whatsoever!

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:54

@ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen this is just for the day! It was already at £2 when we woke up this morning

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 10/12/2022 20:55

I had a smart meter put in back in April. I hate it. I hid it in a drawer for ages. You can get obsessed so easily.

cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 20:55

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:53

The electric is high too? Is it possible our meters aren't working properly? Only got installed yesterday.

All depends on the devices you are using.

For electricity, you can see the current 'demand' by looking at the display - it should show the current watts.

How have you kept your house warm if the heating hasn't been on today? It must have been cold this morning.

cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 20:56

XenoBitch · 10/12/2022 20:55

I had a smart meter put in back in April. I hate it. I hid it in a drawer for ages. You can get obsessed so easily.

Pedant alert.

You hid the display. Not the Smart Meter.

Sorry...

onedayiwillmissthis · 10/12/2022 20:57

Is is possible you have a 'backup' immersion heater switched on?

IneedanewTV · 10/12/2022 21:00

to be £10 you must have the heating on or an immersion Heater? Mine is £10 a day - heating on 2 hrs morning and 5 hrs evee we bring. If I’m careful the electricity is under control ( apart from oven). It’s the gas so bloody expensive.

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:00

@cakeorwine I'll go have a look at the current demand shortly. I've just sat on the sofa with a glass of wine and I have no intention of getting up in the next hour 😂

Currently the only things using power should be; oven, microwave, fridge freezer, router, sky box and TV. All other plugs are switched off.

House hasn't been kept warm. Sat in multiple layers of socks and an oodie! It's -4 here. I'm freezing and darent switch the heating on because I can't afford it given what it's costing to not have it on!

OP posts:
Emmalou0607 · 10/12/2022 21:02

Can you check it's not showing for the week? If it was only installed yesterday, your week would only be 2 days long so far so might be more I. Line with the real usage you've said you've had.

I'm forever accidentally changing the screen on mine to show week costs rather than daily costs and having a mild panic attack when I glance and think it's for the day.

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:02

How do I tell about a back up immersion heater? New house so I'm still figuring things out ☹️

@IneedanewTV 7 hours of heating and you're using £10 a day?! Is that on a fixed tariff or with the government's price 'guarantee'?

I just checked ours and we're being charged 42p per kWh, I thought it was supposed to be capped at 31?

OP posts:
Fufumcgoo · 10/12/2022 21:03

XenoBitch · 10/12/2022 20:55

I had a smart meter put in back in April. I hate it. I hid it in a drawer for ages. You can get obsessed so easily.

I think you mean your in home display.

The smart meter is on the wall!

nepolibats · 10/12/2022 21:03

Something wrong there. Check the DC haven't left something charging. I went round at my DMums and turned everything off then turned things on one by one at her house. Found out her fridge was so old it was eating electricity.

cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 21:04

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:00

@cakeorwine I'll go have a look at the current demand shortly. I've just sat on the sofa with a glass of wine and I have no intention of getting up in the next hour 😂

Currently the only things using power should be; oven, microwave, fridge freezer, router, sky box and TV. All other plugs are switched off.

House hasn't been kept warm. Sat in multiple layers of socks and an oodie! It's -4 here. I'm freezing and darent switch the heating on because I can't afford it given what it's costing to not have it on!

That 60 kWh of gas must be doing something.

MithrilCostsMore · 10/12/2022 21:04

I'd bet the immersion heater is on.