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Electricity bills shot up!

Hello everyone.

My boyfriend and I have just moved to a new flat. Our EDF electricity bill used to be £20 a month for 3 units a day. It was a small flat and we both worked during the day, but we did have the dishwasher and washing machine on a lot.

Our new flat has one extra bedroom and I now work from home 2.5 days per week. I expected our electricity to go up slightly, but EDF have just informed me that we are now using 14 units per day, which makes it £70 per month! We are good with lights and always turn electrics off at mains at night and when we aren't in.

Does this sound right? We are worried the flat above might be running off our electrics too? We have gas heating and cooking, plus it's only a small 2-bed flat.

Thank you, Holly

Comments

  • Magentasue
    Magentasue Posts: 4,229 Forumite
    When you say you were using 3 units a day, was that actual or estimated? Also, was it summer or over a whole year.

    Next, do you have a tumble drier, new plasma TV - anything else that's changed? Is the 14 units a day based on actual readings?

    Finally, yes, you could be paying for someone else's electricity too. You need to look into all possibilities.
  • iamesbo
    iamesbo Posts: 258 Forumite
    As you have a metre you can check it is reading correctly eg turn off all electrics, don't forget the fridge, and it should stop turning.
    If you switch one device on at a time you can see what each one uses.
    Was a correct metre reading done when you moved in?
  • you need to check your own readings - i do this dailyto see my useage but weekly woud normally suffice - then you can see where you may be wasting electicity
  • iamesbo
    iamesbo Posts: 258 Forumite
    According to here an average bill would be £668 which is about £55 a month.
    http://www.whatprice.co.uk/utilities/electricity-bills.html
    That's a lot more than I use though.
  • Thanks everyone. We're about to go away for a week, much needed holiday, so will take a reading before we go. It shouldnt go up at all while we're away if we switch everything off.

    It seems bizarre that average is £55 a month and we're £70 in 2-bed flat.

    Holly xx
  • Phlik
    Phlik Posts: 1,088 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I now work from home 2.5 days per week.

    Cups of tea through the day, cooking yourself some lunch(if its an electric oven), microwave, PC on, radio/TV on in the background?

    I'd be astonished if you were using an average 3 units a day in your old place too.


    Phlik
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