Electricity charges - I think we're being ripped off...

Magentasue

It sounds as if your high costs are simply due to high use - for two people you are using as many appliances as a small family and they are energy-inefficient on a high tariff (Econ 7) during the day.

As has been said, electric heating and hot water are cheap and easy to install but expensive to run.

prolific8

I just got back from doing the heater test. The heater itself is rated at 2000w, and to begin with I turned off all fuses with the exception of sockets, and made sure to unplug everything from the sockets, including the fridge and freezer. I confirmed before I began that the wheel on the meter wasn't moving, and ran the heater for exactly half an hour taking readings at the beginning and end.

In that half an hour period, the heater used 2.7 units. At our current tariff, that's almost 45p. I know these heaters are expensive and the 2kw reported on the heater probably isn't going to be exact, but surely that amount is wrong?

ex-energywatch_adviser

A 2000w fan heater at full capacity should only use 2 units of electricity per hour so if your readings are correct then this would indicate that either the meter is faulty or there is something in the property that you aren't aware of that is using electricity.

If you don't own the property you could ask whoever does to arrange for an electrician to check the internal system and/or pay for a meter test.

ex-energywatch_adviser

I've just read you post again. If the meter had stopped before you did the test that would indicate a faulty meter rather than an internal problem.

1carminestocky

Or you could get a wireless monitor which, whilst maybe not quite as accurate as the plug in types, at least gives you the TOTAL house consumption at any time. You can then simply switch off/switch on each item and observe the change in consumption. Process of elimination. One of the main drawbacks of the plug in types is they are focused on one appliance at a time, I personally prefer the wholistic approach to saving electricity...although I have both types, of course.

espresso

ex-energywatch_adviser wrote: »

I've just read you post again. If the meter had stopped before you did the test that would indicate a faulty meter rather than an internal problem.

Perhaps you should read it yet again! The meter had stopped because everything had been switched off in order to do the meter test.

Personally I would do another meter check using another appliance e.g. the immersion heater.

prolific8

Is there any way I can check the power rating of the immersion heater, ie is it likely to say it anywhere on it, or will I have to dig out a manual?

ex-energywatch_adviser

The cap on the immersion heater element should have the kw rating on it.

To espresso - you missed my point - which was that if the meter stopped registering when everything was switched off then this indicated that there was nothing else in the property using electricity so that would exclude any internal problems, leaving a faulty meter as the most likely outcome (provided the readings had been taken correctly).

BallandChain

ex-energywatch_adviser wrote: »

The cap on the immersion heater element should have the kw rating on it.

To espresso - you missed my point - which was that if the meter stopped registering when everything was switched off then this indicated that there was nothing else in the property using electricity so that would exclude any internal problems, leaving a faulty meter as the most likely outcome (provided the readings had been taken correctly).

lol! I confess I had read it the same way as Espresso read it. Now that you explained it makes sense.

espresso

prolific8 wrote: »

Is there any way I can check the power rating of the immersion heater, ie is it likely to say it anywhere on it, or will I have to dig out a manual?

Most standard immersion heaters are rated at 3kW. Try the meter test experiment again using the immersion or get hold of a power meter e.g. here or try Lidl who were selling them recently.