How can I ascertain if I am paying for someone else's electricity? Help!

[7029 dave]

It's clearly different from the opening post, its very difficult to comment when being drip fed information.

 

[littlespark]

I bet no one was expecting that!

 

[Timbo]

Looks like the garage head only has Red phase energised?
What do the current monitors on the utility room tails connect to?

 

[David Prosser]

The garage meter display shows all three phases energised.

 

[freddo]

Do you really have two 3-phase electric supplies to the property?

They seem to have 100A fuses fitted too, which suggests heavy loading is expected. At the start of the thread I pictured a single phase supply feeding one consumer unit! Tracing where the electricity is being used might take some time and require a bit of testing by an electrician. The standing charge for having 2 3phase supplies will be a fair bit too.

 

[Timbo]

The garage meter display shows all three phases energised.

I was just looking at the fuse carriers, funny only the one has a label stating fuse size fitted? And its a newer one, too.

 

[pc1966]

I was just looking at the fuse carriers, funny only the one has a label stating fuse size fitted?

The older carries also say 100A, but not clear if that is what is fitted or the carrier limit.

It does look as if things have been changed over the years, maybe even it was overloaded and damage something leading to the "new" holder in some way (and 2nd supply?).

As many others are saying, it needs someone on-site to look at the whole picture.

 

[OnlQQker]

I'm now thinking it is possible you are supplying the farm shop next door with that set up.
Possibly the whole farm as well with those sort of bills!

 

[7029 dave]

I'm now thinking it is possible you are supplying the farm shop next door with that set up.
Possibly the whole farm as well with those sort of bills!

Simple turn off all switch gear in house and garage, they will soon come running if that's the case.

 

[Danielle]

So you have two three phase supplies?

TBH in think you need to get a sparky in to trace out a lot of that cabling and check your loads for phase balancing etc. Not unusual for the supplier to load bills for unbalance three phase supplies.

thank you i really appreciate this, its stuff like this i wouldn't even have known to ask!

 

[Danielle]

Simple turn off all switch gear in house and garage, they will soon come running if that's the case.

ok i need to check with the company that i installed the air source how to turn it off, i'm sure they will be happy to tell me as we are going nuts at them because we only installed it to see a reduction in the electricity bills!! i really appreciate your advice, i am desperate to get to the bottom of this!

 

[Danielle]

I have one of these connected at home... allows me to see exactly what I'm using... Very easy to use.

Elite Classic - Efergy

The Efergy Elite Classic Wireless Energy Monitor is the world's best selling in-home energy display (with over 500,000 units sold).

efergy.com

thank you i am going to order one of these!

 

[Electrics]

ok i need to check with the company that i installed the air source how to turn it off, i'm sure they will be happy to tell me as we are going nuts at them because we only installed it to see a reduction in the electricity bills!! i really appreciate your advice, i am desperate to get to the bottom of this!

I'd get the place warm and then turn everything off for a bit and sit and watch the meter. If it goes up someone is leeching from you. I reckon one of those meters is running somewhere else and you're getting the bill.

 

[pc1966]

ok i need to check with the company that i installed the air source how to turn it off, i'm sure they will be happy to tell me as we are going nuts at them because we only installed it to see a reduction in the electricity bills!! i really appreciate your advice, i am desperate to get to the bottom of this!

At the rate you are paying for power if there is any mistake then it would pay for an electrician's call-out in only a couple of days!

 

[Danielle]

Like @telectrix says above...

Turn your main switch off when the farm shop next door is open.

If it plunges in to darkness and utility vans start turning up you'll know something is wrong!

that's a good idea!! is there any way they could be taking from me but somehow from inside my wiring network? which would explain why the meter readings are so high. my dec bill said i used 15,000kw of electricity. all of my heating and hot water is on air source!!

 

[Danielle]

At the rate you are paying for power if there is any mistake then it would pay for an electrician's call-out in only a couple of days!

yes i totally agree, but i want to find somone who "gets" how to unravel this... i had a local sparky and he attached a monitor onto my 3 phases to monitor them but couldnt really work out anything!!

 

[pc1966]

yes i totally agree, but i want to find somone who "gets" how to unravel this... i had a local sparky and he attached a monitor onto my 3 phases to monitor them but couldnt really work out anything!!

If someone on here is near you they should be able to do it. Don't post personal details but most of a post code ought to be enough.

 

[DPG]

yes i totally agree, but i want to find somone who "gets" how to unravel this... i had a local sparky and he attached a monitor onto my 3 phases to monitor them but couldnt really work out anything!!

But did he know about the other supply?

 

[Danielle]

I'd get the place warm and then turn everything off for a bit and sit and watch the meter. If it goes up someone is leeching from you. I reckon one of those meters is running somewhere else and you're getting the bill.

i totally agree. my house used to be part of a farm, i think i am paying for their farm shop freezers and lights. would there be a way they could leech off me from inside my wire network, ie so it looks like from inside the house?
or would turning it all off solve this? would the meter stay on if no power? its digital

 

[pc1966]

But did he know about the other supply?

He should have looked!

But the obvious is not always seen.