I agree that 10000 unit in 18 months isn't excessive. To put your mind at rest though, you should take a meter reading then turn off everything in the flat at the fusebox/consumer unit for a few hours (overnight or while at work perhaps, but be aware of fridges, freezers, etc) and check that the meter reading doesn't change. You should also turn on and off a heater or vacuum and check that the meter responds properly (a small 1kw heater or vacuum will use 1 unit in an hour). It is possible that another property is wired up to yours - it happened where I work - but it is not likely.

For economy 7, "daytime" includes everything except the 7 hours between around 12:30 (or 1:30 now that the clocks have changed) and 7:30am/8:30am. By deciding to change meter and tariff, you are likely to save something on future bills if you don't have storage heaters.

beedee:

As usual in these situations there is more than one thing going on and not a simple answer.

First of all, who says that 10,000 units in 18 months (2 winters + 1 summer) is excessive? Have you no room or water heating? How well insulated is the flat? How warm do you like to keep it? Cooking? Kettle? Toaster?

Lets deal with the last question first. Unless the Distribution Network Operator negligently connected the meter wrongly (very unlikely), you as owner and account holder will be liable to pay the full bill. If it is correctly connected but somehow also feeding another flat (unlikely), you *may* have a claim against your legal adviser and/or surveyor. If you *believe* that to be the case, you need to employ an electrician to test your wiring. You cannot rely on the meter changer.

Need some more information to be of more help. You said EDF first read the meter after 18 months but the important issue is how many bills or statements have you received? If you received earlier bills or statements what did you make of any estimated readings on these earlier bills? Have you been paying by fixed monthly direct debit or quarterly billing?

Next, is the meter outside your premises or inside? Is it near your fuseboard? Where is your fuseboard? If you switch everything in your house off, preferably on a cold evening, at the fuseboard switch if you know how, does the meter stop turning or flashing?

It's really important to get a handle on your consumption by taking daily readings for a week and then weekly readings for a month. Then keep on top of estimated readings. Ideally you should have done that when you moved in but better late than never.

With more answers it will be clearer if there is a meter problem and whether the "catch up" bill is fair.

One other thing, before the meter is changed take a good close-up photograph of the meter and the visible wiring.

I purchased and moved into my tiny 1 bedroom flat (with only basic appliances) 18 months ago. So far 1 have paid 800pounds in estimated electricity bills. EDF recently came to read my meter for the first time since i moved in and have given me a catch up bill for 1200pounds. The bill states i've used over 10,000 units in 18 months (most of them in the daytime). I leave for work at 7am and return at 7pm so I can't explain the huge meter reading, except if my meter is wired to another flat too. EDF are coming to change the meter next week (currently on economy 7 for some reason even though I have no storage heating!). Q1. When they change the meter will that unlink it from any other flat it may be wired to? Q2. If it turns out that my meter is wired to someone else's will I still be required to pay the full bill?