Whats the UK average kWh usage per year

toerag33

I would like to know where I can find the figures for average usage of gas and electric for a household for a year. At the beginning of this thread there were some links but the information available is not recent.

We are with Scottish Hydro and I have started using their iplan monitor but aware they haven't given statistics of how many households etc that they are using for comparisons. We thought we were doing quite well with our electric energy consumption until I started looking at the comparisons for 'like me'. I am very disappointed as we have upgraded/replaced our washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge freezer and coffee machine in the last 8 weeks. (All appliances not worth repairing again.)

Our daily electric usage is a minimum of 1/3rd more units used as the other households being used for comparison by Scottish Hydro.

Any pointers in the right direction gratefully followed up.

toerag33

HappyMJ

toerag33 wrote: »

I would like to know where I can find the figures for average usage of gas and electric for a household for a year. At the beginning of this thread there were some links but the information available is not recent.

We are with Scottish Hydro and I have started using their iplan monitor but aware they haven't given statistics of how many households etc that they are using for comparisons. We thought we were doing quite well with our electric energy consumption until I started looking at the comparisons for 'like me'. I am very disappointed as we have upgraded/replaced our washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge freezer and coffee machine in the last 8 weeks. (All appliances not worth repairing again.)

Our daily electric usage is a minimum of 1/3rd more units used as the other households being used for comparison by Scottish Hydro.

Any pointers in the right direction gratefully followed up.

toerag33

Averages don't really mean anything. The average electricity usage is 3,300kWh per year over all household with gas for hot water, cooking and heating but what is an average household? Some people can use 1,000kWh and some other people use 5,600kWh per year. Average the 2 and you get 3,300kWh per year.

Gas usage the "average" is 16,500kWh per year but again what is the average house? A small house with an occupant out all day with the heating off and when home the occupant might be happy with a temperature of 18 degrees and no heating at night would use less than half the average and a 5 bedroom house with 2-3 reception rooms with heating set 24/7 and set to 21 degrees with an inefficient boiler could use double the average.

So just compare your own usage to the previous year and get your own usage down as far as is comfortable. Personally I use a website called http://www.ebico.imeasure.org.uk/ and take weekly meter readings. The site compares my usage to the weather and generates a chart indicating if I used more or less than another week taking the weather into account. It takes a while to get all the weekly meter readings in and getting meaningful information but I feel it's worthwhile.

So even though you use 1/3rd more than the "average" do not be disappointed. It's probably quite normal for your household.

North_Pole

In our 3 bed mid terrace we used 8770 in Gas and 3335 in electricity last year 2011/2012.

jamesmorgan

Knowing the average (mean) is little use without knowing the standard deviation (ie how spread out the figures are). For gas the SD is around 10,000 and for electricity the SD is around 3000. This means that 66% of the population will have a gas usage of between 6,500-26,500 KWhr and electricity of 300-6,300 KWhr. If you are outside this range it is still not exceptional but in the 33% that aren't in the middle.

Normally statistical significance uses 2 SD's which covers 95% of the population. So if you have gas usage of over 36,500 or electricity of over 9,300 then you would considered to be statistically unusual.

Of course, none of this really tells you whether your energy usage is sensible. The only way to do this is breakdown your electricity usage based on the devices you use in the home. It is fairly easy (and useful) to do this. One simple example could be a family of 6 where each family member uses the shower for 10mins/day. Their total electricity usage from the shower alone will be around 3500 KwHr. Another family may not use showers at all so will immediately have 3500 less usage. Saying that the average is 3300 has no real meaning without knowing which devices are being used.

C_Mababejive

If i havent already replied to this thread earlier

two bed 30 year old mid terrace,uses gas for CH/HW and cooking. Lovely conventional fully pumped system (non of your combi carp)

Gas 8198Kw pa
Elec 1805 Kw pa

plane_boy2000

12,000 Gas and 5100 Elec.

2 Adults plus 5 kids.

Largeish (1750 square ft) modern 4 bed detached mostly occupied during the day

Towser

£600 coal pa and 6200 Kw pa Electric.

2 Adults plus 2 kids.

(1150 square ft) 1950's 3 bed semi detached mostly occupied during the day tumble dryer user

Is that a lot? EDF have made two whopping(they say they have got the figures the wrong way round) mistakes on our bills in the last three years have had our meter read but they ignore those readings. I just want a normal bill without issues consecutively so that we can leave. Is it time to get OFGEM in?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Electricity - Ofgem - Jan 2011

In Jan 2011, the Ofgem benchmark figure for average household electricity consumption was 3,300kWh pa [median] this was unchanged from the 2003 baseline.

Gas - No idea

SwanJon

Ofgem's review here

toerag33

Many thanks, SwanJon, Richie-from-the-buro, Towser, plane_boy2000, HappyMJ, North Pole, James Morgan. Very interesting reading with helpful information which I am going to follow up.

2011 - 2012: Electricity 9441; Gas 26771 - Last year I spoke with advisor at Scottish Hydro and he said our consumption was below the average for the number of bedrooms.

4 bedrooms, house occupied during the day, but I don't know the square footage but we are 5 levels. Occupants vary from rarely 2 adults up to 7 adults. High usage of laptops!!!!! We are well insulated and have cavity wall insulation.

October 2011 new worcester boiler, underfloor heating part of the ground floor, heating controls to split the house and all radiators have individual controls. Spotlights changed to LED if they can take the bulbs. September - Washing machine, tumble dryer replaced as not cost effective to repair, Fridge freezer (Maytag) changed as energy rating C November 2012.

Coffee machine also died!!!!!! That was very traumatic as is my indulgence.

It is interesting seeing the varying usage of gas and electricity. When i checked iplan the other day the 'norms' had changed and the difference wasn't so dramatic - presumably more folks using the system

Thank-you

toerag33