Streetlight connected to my Meter

[EM20006]

I live in a old house with a c.1920's meter attached to the side out the house. Despite my best effort, electricity bills seem unusually large. Please see picture attached - the first black cable on the left below what I think is a fusebox is (I think attached the streetlight - it goes underground and pops out again 8 feet away)

Might I be paying for this streetlights electricity? Image also here https://ibb.co/egLLmQ

The first black cable (from left to right) is the streetlight, the middle is (i assume) the main cable to my house, and the third is a new extenstion to an outbuilding.

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[JohnD]

no, it looks like the service head is just being used as a junction box. The cable to the street lights is not coming off your meter. It is not a 1920's meter. More like 2000's

Street lights are usually "unmetered supplies" and the local authority pays a flat-rate based on typical usage for all their lamps.

If you tell us what your usage is (by meter reading, not by payments) it might be informative. Your meter probably has a little flashing light, the faster it flashes, the more power is passing through. A label will tell you how many flashes per kWh and you can calculate flashes per minute at various rates.

A period covering winter months, and a period covering summer months, please.

How do you heat your home and your hot water?

 

[bernardgreen]

The cable you say is the cable to the street light is connected directly to the incoming mains cable at the main fuse. Hence it is connected before the meter. The power to the street light is therefore not going through your meter.

 

[mwatsonxx]

As others have said, the streetlight is not connected to your meter.

 

[EM20006]

Thanks. Sorry I meant a 1920's streetlight. The meter is obviously new. Cheers

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Might I be paying for this streetlights electricity?

Easy enough to show yourself that you are not.

After dark turn off all the main switches in all of the CUs in your house and outbuilding, and (with a torch if necessary) go and watch the meter, which will have stopped.

Despite my best effort, electricity bills seem unusually large.

What do you consider "unusually large"? What previous experiences are you comparing with?

What do you use electricity for? What have you used it for in the past?

 

[wig]

I live in a old house with a c.1920's meter attached to the side out the house. Despite my best effort, electricity bills seem unusually large. Please see picture attached - the first black cable on the left below what I think is a fusebox is (I think attached the streetlight - it goes underground and pops out again 8 feet away)

Might I be paying for this streetlights electricity? Image also here https://ibb.co/egLLmQ

The first black cable (from left to right) is the streetlight, the middle is (i assume) the main cable to my house, and the third is a new extenstion to an outbuilding.

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[JohnD]

eh?

 

[winston1]

Could be a meter fault. Those new electronic meters have been known to over read.

 

[securespark]

Easy enough to show yourself that you are not.

After dark turn off all the main switches in all of the CUs in your house and outbuilding, and (with a torch if necessary) go and watch the meter, which will have stopped.

There's an easier way. After dark turn off all the main switches in all of the CUs in your house and outbuilding and (a torch may be necessary), go and watch the streetlight, to see if it is still illuminated.

 

[deadshort]

I live in a old house with a c.1920's meter attached to the side out the house. Despite my best effort, electricity bills seem unusually large. Please see picture attached - the first black cable on the left below what I think is a fusebox is (I think attached the streetlight - it goes underground and pops out again 8 feet away)

Might I be paying for this streetlights electricity? Image also here https://ibb.co/egLLmQ

The first black cable (from left to right) is the streetlight, the middle is (i assume) the main cable to my house, and the third is a new extenstion to an outbuilding.

Thoughts appreciated.

There should be an isolator fitted to that supply cable to you're outbuilding if it's more than 3 meters to the CU in the outbuilding. And why are there taped up cables coming from the house ? Where's the earth ?


DS

 

[aptsys]

There should be an isolator fitted to that supply cable to you're outbuilding if it's more than 3 meters to the CU in the outbuilding. And why are there taped up cables coming from the house ? Where's the earth ?

TT supply?
Taped up were probably E7 supply

 

[deadshort]

Yes, could be. But in view of the lack of isolator i would want to confirm the earthing arrangement. I never assume !

DS

 

[ban-all-sheds]

.

 

[mwatsonxx]

There should be an isolator fitted to that supply cable to you're outbuilding

It should be a form of protection fuse/mcb/rcbo.

if it's more than 3 meters to the CU in the outbuilding.

Whats that got to with anything?