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Electric meter readings

(12 Posts)
Silvermane Fri 02-Sept-22 09:48:53

My 1976 CSE in Maths is letting me down (even though it was Grade 1?)
In electric meter terms what is the larger number- 0032849.4 or 00062724 (there doesn't seem to be a decimal point)? And what is the difference between them? I just can't get my grey head around it! Help? -thanks

Hetty58 Fri 02-Sept-22 09:57:09

I'd ignore the zeros at the beginning (as they're meaningless) and put in commas for the thousands. So 32,849.4 and 62,724. Still, both should have decimal points to be clear. We usually take no notice of anything following a decimal point when we read a meter - and just use the whole numbers.

notgran Fri 02-Sept-22 10:09:04

I'm sorry Silvermane, I can't help. I didn't achieve any grade in a Maths Exam at school, I was so hopeless. I think you are trying to work out the best deal from your Utility Suppliers. OH and I spent about 2 hours yesterday doing all sorts of calculations with the very little comparable information out there. Luckily my husband is a maths wizz kid. Our conclusion at the end of 2 hours was we won't do anything until the utility companies release what they will be charging and increase our direct debits accordingly. We have a spreadsheet with lots of formulas that OH says will help us with our decision making on any deals there may be, when we have the latest figures to update the calculations. In the meantime we are ordering heated throws!

Lovetopaint037 Fri 02-Sept-22 10:18:31

We are waiting further news Notgran. Is your dh the chancellor by any chance. If not he should be.

Silvermane Fri 02-Sept-22 16:28:16

The first figure is the one I gave to Shell energy yesterday by taking a reading from my Smet 1 meter which wasn't talking to Shell. When the engineer came to install a Smet 2 he has given them the second figure-he says I have been reading the meter incorrectly (I have been following instructions from Shell?) and that when the meter flashes it's the second set of numbers and not the first set that show usage. He implied though that due to the triple zero at the front then it works in my favour but I'm not sure. Shell gave me a totally different figure on 11th August from either of these-apparently that was the one day my smart meter spoke to them.! Maybe I need to take it up with Ofgem?

M0nica Fri 02-Sept-22 17:05:00

Nothing to do with maths. It is a question of what do the two numbers represent? Kilowatt hours, joules? Is one your meter number or customer number, or how many hours since the last reading.

Unless we know what they are, we cannot tell you the significance of those two numbers.

Silvermane Fri 02-Sept-22 18:34:15

Hopefully these photos will attach properly-they both indicate the same thing. The 0032849.4 is the first set of numbers that flash up and the 00062724 is the second set of numbers that flash up immediately after the first.

notgran Fri 02-Sept-22 19:02:30

Lovetopaint037

We are waiting further news Notgran. Is your dh the chancellor by any chance. If not he should be.

He couldn't do a worse job as C of Ex that's for sure. We were doing forecasts using such as zmartin Lewis suggested figures and how much less we could use by turning down the boiler, etc. etc.

Oldnproud Fri 02-Sept-22 19:26:33

Silvermane

Hopefully these photos will attach properly-they both indicate the same thing. The 0032849.4 is the first set of numbers that flash up and the 00062724 is the second set of numbers that flash up immediately after the first.

I wonder why there are two readings. Do you have a single rate, or do you have economy7?

M0nica Fri 02-Sept-22 19:27:56

Silverman Are you on Economy 7 or other tariff that gives you a lower rate for the electricity you use at night?

Having done a bit of googling and watched some Youtube videos, it does look as if that is so. Both screens have KW h in the bottom right hand corner and that stands for kilowatt hours, which is the unit electricity is measured in, so suggests that both are measuring kilowatt hours.

In which case, the 2 numbers are for measuring the number of units you have used under the different tariffs. One for the daytime rate and one for the night time rate

here is a YouTube video that may help www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXpTYQTX2lc

Oldnproud Fri 02-Sept-22 19:45:23

I've spotted a difference now - the arrow next to the E1 is different on each reading. E1> and <E1.

I've Googled those, and found this:

The left arrow indicates the energy exported into the electricity grid, and the right arrow shows the energy imported from the electricity grid to your premises ...

Based on that, I assume that the reading showing your usage (energy imported from the electricity grid) is the relevant one, and that is the one showing 32849.4 That is the one with E1> next to it.

That is just my take on it though. I'm no expert. Hopefully you will be able to get some clarification quickly from Shell.

And keep those photos, in case you need proof smile

Silvermane Fri 02-Sept-22 20:43:06

Thank you so much-I think you might have cracked it!