Faulty meter?

[Old Salt]

As a retired risk manager for an electricity supplier I advise you most strongly not to touch the main fuse. This is exceedingly dangerous if you dont know what you are doing.

 

[john4703]

I know I stirred things up slightly but it is interesting that I phoned my DNO and asked if they would pull the main fuse so I could fit a switch fuse. I was asked when I planned to do the job, I gave a date and was told to pull the fuse and fit the new switch fuse and someone would come the next day to reseal the fuse. It was over three years before anyone came to do anything and that was to replace the meter, I just left the fuse unsealed as I'd been told to do by the nice lady from the DNO.
I do agree it is dangerous and that anyone pulling a main fuse has to take precautions, I'd not recommend it to anyone who did not know exactly what to do.

 

[Pickup]

Hi folks,

In the last 25 hours the meter reading has increased by 3,2,5 (day, night, total) units...

current draw with both c/u switches off 8mA,
c/u on 187 mA (which I’m guessing is the lights (1) + the mains heat (1) & smoke detectors (2))
hob 1 ring on (to create a decent draw) 6A
lights & cooker off 28mA
c/u off 8mA

Pretty confident it’s the correct supply and the meter is reading incorrectly....

Have recorded a video for the ‘leccy company..

Thanks again for all the help and advice. It is very much appreciated!

 

[crystal ball]

As a retired risk manager for an electricity supplier I advise you most strongly not to touch the main fuse. This is exceedingly dangerous if you dont know what you are doing.

Things have certainly changed, when I worked for the local board our PPE for pulling fuses was jeans and tee shirt, a few years ago I worked with the DNO installing a new supply to a factory and the meter man arrived to connect & energise, he was wearing something just short of full body armour, gauntlets , full visor and hard hat

 

[JohnW2]

Things have certainly changed, when I worked for the local board our PPE for pulling fuses was jeans and tee shirt, a few years ago I worked with the DNO installing a new supply to a factory and the meter man arrived to connect & energise, he was wearing something just short of full body armour, gauntlets , full visor and hard hat

Experiences (and practices) seem to vary. I have to say that the 'routine meter changes' I have experienced here (4 in just over 30 years, goodness knows why!), the most recent 3-4 years ago, have involved absolutely no PPE, not even gloves.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Taylortwocities]

Things have certainly changed, when I worked for the local board our PPE for pulling fuses was jeans and tee shirt, a few years ago I worked with the DNO installing a new supply to a factory and the meter man arrived to connect & energise, he was wearing something just short of full body armour, gauntlets , full visor and hard hat

A bit like this? Not sure if the fleece complies though?

Untitled

• Taylortwocities
• 11 Jun 2011
• 8

 

[Old Salt]

Lots of horror stories about pulling big fuses, okay for those who know the risks PPE or not, it is not so clever for those who don't know what they are doing. I have seen knowledgable trained staff with horrific burns when equipment (fuse holders etc) fails.

 

[JohnW2]

Lots of horror stories about pulling big fuses, okay for those who know the risks PPE or not, it is not so clever for those who don't know what they are doing. I have seen knowledgable trained staff with horrific burns when equipment (fuse holders etc) fails.

I am sure that what you are saying is very wise, and it certainly has to be 'the advice' that one gives to anyone. However, my point was that even those who hopefully are "knowledgeable trained staff" don't to seem to necessarily practise the wise advice which they would preach!

Kind Regards, John

 

[SimonH2]

A bit like this? Not sure if the fleece complies though?

The fleece doesn't really need to if there's a suitable layer below.

 

[Pickup]

Just a quick update, supplier asked for a creep test to be done. Did the creep test and sent them the results + photos + video on 22/11/20. They acknowledged receipt and were going to arrange engineers.

They were e-mailed on Wed (16/12/20) asking for an update. Got a reply today (20/12/20) saying they had no record of our complaint; same blurb as before about electricity usage increasing during winter, our cost if no fault found and and asking us to do a creep test before they do anything.

Latest bill just shy of £400, electricity still off, meter still increasing daily.

Can definitely advise people not to use Octopus Energy.

 

[Old Salt]

I very much doubt that Octopus have many engineers. I suspect they will contract work out to various agencies with field staff in the appropriate area e.g. SSE, EDF, etc

 

[john4703]

I get my gas and electric from Octopus. I have found them good to deal with and very quick to respond to messages.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Experiences (and practices) seem to vary. I have to say that the 'routine meter changes' I have experienced here (4 in just over 30 years, goodness knows why!), the most recent 3-4 years ago, have involved absolutely no PPE, not even gloves.

Kind Regards, John

3 swaps here in the past 5 or so years and likewise, no PPE at all.

 

[Pickup]

engineer coming on 9th July to test the meter, current bill is slightly over £400 .

 

[Taylortwocities]

Blimey, only 9 months for them to get their Rse in gear. Hope they will pay interest on all the money they have stolen.