Electricity astronomical!!!

Magentasue

I think the important point is that you have electric heating - three hours of water heating is a lot for two people. Halogen spotlights will add up to a bit over eight months. But all of these things are less significant than five hours of electric heating.

Cardew

Magentasue wrote: »

I think the important point is that you have electric heating - three hours of water heating is a lot for two people.

You seem to be assuming that if you use 2 hours it will be proportionately less, or 1 hour etc.

The immersion is thermostatically controlled. It is not a case of a 3kW heater left on for 3 hours uses 9kWh or 2 hours = 6kWh

Don't forget the the important factor is how much heat is lost.

As said above, if you have it on 24/7 you will 'lose' between 2kWh and 3kWh a day.

Heat it for 2 hours or 1 hour and there will still be losses as there will be warm water in the tank.

Also as said above, the heat 'lost' warms the house.

People really have a fixation about leaving hot water on for long periods.

Magentasue

Cardew wrote: »

You seem to be assuming that if you use 2 hours it will be proportionately less, or 1 hour etc.

The immersion is thermostatically controlled. It is not a case of a 3kW heater left on for 3 hours uses 9kWh or 2 hours = 6kWh

Don't forget the the important factor is how much heat is lost.

As said above, if you have it on 24/7 you will 'lose' between 2kWh and 3kWh a day.

Heat it for 2 hours or 1 hour and there will still be losses as there will be warm water in the tank.

Also as said above, the heat 'lost' warms the house.

People really have a fixation about leaving hot water on for long periods.

Yes, I accept that.

However, from what the OP says, they are heating and using the water over three hours or ending up with cold water. Just saying it seems like a lot of hot water for two people.

Fire_Fox

kingoftherodeo wrote: »

Yes I often shower twice a day if i've been to the gym, for a run or on the turbo trainer. We dont use a tumbledryer no. Im not sure what our ambient temperature is actually.

I have a programmer for the immersion heater yes, its set now to one hour in the morning and one again in the evening for those evening showers. Plus if we go out at weekends and both want to get showered again to go out the water can be cold if its not on long enough.

Yes i have a white meter?!

Are you sure you are using the Economy 7 to it's best advantage? The hours vary from area to area, but usually around midnight to 7am. You may be heating the flat and water at peak rate. This will obviously not affect the KWH but it will affect the cost.

Water-wise, if you are running out of hot water it would suggest you are having quite long showers. It would be interesting to note your water meter readings, as I suspect you are using as much hot water as 3 or 4 'average' people with two of you showering twice daily. It's entirely your business, but if you wish to save money you might swap one shower for a strip wash. Similarly you might consider doing as I do and switching off the shower whilst you are shampooing or soaping up. Mr. Fire Fox is quick in the shower anyway, so we manage fine with the immersion only on for 45 mins overnight.

Heating wise, you should consider the ambient temperature: 18C is usually perfectly pleasant if you dress for winter. You might switch off the heating entirely in the bedrooms, and keep the doors closed. Certainly you could try heating for one hour in the morning before you arise - by the time it is starting to cool you will be leaving for work. Obviously don't try this all at once, just turn the heating down a little at a time until you feel it's the minimum you can handle.

1carminestocky

Using an electric shower twice a day (especially if you are the type who likes to luxuriate under its warm jets, lol) can be a very expensive habit. AFAIA, an electric shower will pretty much be using its full energy consumption for the whole time it's on. Our shower is rated at 10.8kwh. Which equates to approx £1.20 per hour in use. Of course, this looks like an inauaspicious figure viewed in isoaltion but multiply it by 365 and you get a far more imposing figure.

KimYeovil

You are right, in general, about electric showers but I don't think the OP has an electric shower.

amtrakuk

kingoftherodeo wrote: »

Hi All

I recently moved into a new build flat, in May 2008 to be precise. I am still yet to receive an electricity bill so have decided its been too long and there must be a problem, we're not registered or something. We are electric only.

I decided the first port of call was to check my meter its reading over 8000 units and thats for just 8 months!!! This is obviously beyond belief right now. Our neighbor moved in about 3 months ago and theirs reads over 10000 units so even higher than ours and theirs is a new build also.

There are only two of us living here. We work 9-5 so are not at home most the time.

Washing 3x a week always in the night
TV x3hrs a night
Fridge Freezer 24/7
Over or hob most nights, no more than 30 mins
Microwave x1 hour a week
Heating on for about 3 hrs in the evening and 2 hours in the morning
Immersion heater is on for 1.5 hrs in the morning and again for the same time in the evening.
We also have energy saving bulbs throughout apart from in living room where we have spotlights.

Any idea what could be going on? At least both mine and our neighbors is high so I dont feel its just mine thats astronomical. Im not sure my neighbor is aware either.

Any thoughts? Im crapp*** myself as when I get the bill its going to be crazy

Thanks

To check you're usage, take a meter reading at say 9pm. Don't skimp, use the heating and hot water like you normally would, then take a meter reading the same time next day and see how many units you're using.

Are you on Economy 7?

I was going to use a unvented water heater when I moved from gas to electric. But instead I use a redring powerstream as it only heats up the water as you use it.

Is your hot water cylinder well lagged?

Do you do alot of cooking? If so consider an induction hob and a tabletop oven.

I use standard rate electric with a 3Kw convection heater in the Front room and a 2Kw one in the kitchen and in the rest of the bedrooms. I can't speak for Storage Heaters but try not to overheat your rooms, turn down that thermostat and heat the rooms you use.

As a rough measurement, In the winter with the heaters on for about 3 hours a day, I use about 10-15 units a day - about £70 a month.

Hope these hints help.