Electricity Bills - Don't know where to start

Katastrophe

After much pondering and coughing up quite a lot of money every month, for the past year I think it's about time I looked into what we're paying for.
I have our bill dated 24th December from Scottish Gas.

We are £8.98 in credit - paying £67 Sept / £76 Oct / £76 Nov (we were told of a price increase in Sept).

Looking at the back, it says the following:
19 Aug 08 - 54795 (Estimated)
8 Dec 08 - 56489 (Estimated)
1694.00 kWh used over 112 days (Estimated)

I have been out to check the meter and it shows 57309(6).

We have a 4 bed detached new build, 2 of us living here.
Is that normal usage / costs?

Where do I start with working out if we're paying too much each month / getting over charged / wasting electricity (we shouldn't be too much because I would like to think I am quite careful and green minded)?

Any help / advice would be much appreciated.

Magentasue

You have an acurate reading of 57309 - do you have an earlier accurate reading? You need two accurate readings and then you can work out how much you're using.

Do you have gas/oil heating? How do heat hot water?

Katastrophe

Thank you for your reply.

The 57309 is the first reading I have taken since the one I gave when we moved in a year ago.

When should I take the 2nd and subsequent readings?

We have gas central heating, gas hob and water is heated by gas (I think). Our oven is electric though.

The gas needs looked at too, but I thought it would be easier to do one at a time. I am totally clueless about this sort of thing, and if I wait for hubby to help me we'll never make any head way. :rotfl:

Oh and the Gas is with a different supplier - Scottish Power I think. We kept the same supplier as was used when we bought the house.

Magentasue

What was the reading a year ago?

Katastrophe

I have no idea.

It was the day we moved in and I probably threw away the paper after I phoned the suppliers to tell them

Magentasue

Well, make a start today. Take daily readings for a week and work out a daily average. Then weekly or monthly to keep a check. Do gas as well, even if you're only going to save them for later as it will help you predict winter use next year.

Katastrophe

OK, I will take readings every day and keep them in my dairy from now on.

I have the Gas reading for today anyway. Did them both at the same time.

Once I start to get a pattern, what should I do then?

Magentasue

To start with, compare it to Scottish Gas's estimate of about 15kwh a day. If you're using less, you may be able to reduce your DD, if you're using more, prepare for an increase.

Keep reading at least monthly - in six months' time, you should be able to work out your annual use (gas will obviously vary a lot between summer and winter). Knowing your annual use is very useful for putting into comparison sites and being able to work out what your DD should be.

You need to know how much you are paying for each kwh - also any standing charge, discounts etc.

KimYeovil

Katastrophe wrote: »

OK, I will take readings every day and keep them in my dairy from now on.

There's your problem - those milking and pasteurising machines cost a bomb to run.

Magentasue

Ooh, well done Kim, I missed reference to the dairy. Maybe no more than a milking stool and a jug, though?

Katastrophe

Magentasue wrote: »

To start with, compare it to Scottish Gas's estimate of about 15kwh a day. If you're using less, you may be able to reduce your DD, if you're using more, prepare for an increase.

Keep reading at least monthly - in six months' time, you should be able to work out your annual use (gas will obviously vary a lot between summer and winter). Knowing your annual use is very useful for putting into comparison sites and being able to work out what your DD should be.

You need to know how much you are paying for each kwh - also any standing charge, discounts etc.

That makes sense. If I can get an idea of what we're using then I can see if what we're paying is about right or not.

I know I have been very lackadaisical with this, but its something I kind of expected hubby to take charge of and he isn't. At least I am trying.

I am thinking they are basing the estimate on the previous owners who had 2 kids and would probably have used way more energy than us. But on the flip side, we might use the TV etc more than they did. Who knows

The bill shows the price of the kWhs - first 153 x 24.355p and next 1541 x 11.545p. Not sure if that is good, bad or indifferent though.

Thank you again for your help, it is very much appreciated. I will report back shortly with more details.