Does this sound a lot to you?

claireac

We're on our first winter in a 3 bed mid terraced house that we're renting, and getting our power from Scottish Power. We have gas central heating, electric cook, and a tumble drier. We don't leave things on standby and I work 4 days a week (oh 5 days), so the heating is off most days.

We've been in the house about 7 months now and my oh has been sorting the gas and electricity out - we pay by monthly dd. So far we've been paying around £70 a month for both gas and electricity. Oh gave them a meter reading 3 months ago and recently given them another one. We had an email from then yesterday saying that despite making our monthly payments (and a £40 one off 3 months ago), that we owe them £235 and our payment is going up to £150. So, basically they're saying that in 3 months we have used £445 of gas and electricity!! I knows it's been very cold but still................

We're going to struggle to pay £150 a month to be honest - but it seems an extreme amount to me, or is it??

Magentasue

No, I don't think so. Do you know how many kwh you are using in a day/week or month?

Your £150 includes debt repayment - your DD might go down in April once you've repaid that and got your account on a zero balance.

claireac

And I was hoping someone was going to tell me I must be heating the street!

No, I don't know how much we use per day - but I will be finding out, and monitoring it.

I was just sat here trying to figure out how to reduce the costs, but the heating is off much of the day (I work 4 days a week), all the radiators have thermostat type valves on them, and we don't like the house "hot". We have a 2yr old though, so do have to keep it warm for her.

Have a very economical washing machine but an old tumble drier. I do use the tumble drier as 2yr olds make a lot washing, oh is a roofer and I have a 17yr old son (teenagers are just dirty!). I can't wait for the warmer weather so I can get my washing out!

Magentasue

claireac wrote: »

Have a very economical washing machine but an old tumble drier. I do use the tumble drier as 2yr olds make a lot washing, oh is a roofer and I have a 17yr old son (teenagers are just dirty!). I can't wait for the warmer weather so I can get my washing out!

We have a newish tumble drier and it uses 1.75 kwh an hour. I used to tumble dry everything through the winter, when I was working full-time. Now hours and income down, I've gone back to my frugal days when I was home with small children. I have an airer and put the washing over that. Next day, I iron and put over radiators to air as I go. Everything else gets a blast in the tumble drier. It takes a bit of organising on days when I do bedding and towels but I reckon it's worth it as there are six of us.

We've almost halved our electricity usage by minimising the tumble drier, washing at 30deg (whites on hot wash once a week), energy saving bulbs almost everywhere (no halogen spotlights now), economy program only on tumble drier, constabtly nagging at kids to turn everything off at the wall and getting rid of a second fridge.

claireac

Goodness you've done well!

Maybe if I can be a bit more organised with the washing, then I won't need to tumble so much. Got to be worth a go!

Not much I can do about the downlighters as the house is rented, but I work for a lighting company so the bulbs are free. It all helps!

I did go into the teenagers room last night and woke him up to turn tv off at 1am....... kids :mad:

Will start reading meters!

Magentasue

claireac wrote: »

Goodness you've done well!

Maybe if I can be a bit more organised with the washing, then I won't need to tumble so much. Got to be worth a go!

Not much I can do about the downlighters as the house is rented, but I work for a lighting company so the bulbs are free. It all helps!

I did go into the teenagers room last night and woke him up to turn tv off at 1am....... kids :mad:

Will start reading meters!

Yes, meter reading is the way to go. Just over a year ago, we were using more then 20kwh a day. I clocked 26kwh one day!. This summer I got it down to average 13. It's now about 16 because of dehumidifier and tumble drying. No TVs in kids' rooms here but they have got their own sitting room - I close it down if I find TV left on - they soon learned!. We still have some ordinary lights but have lamps with energy saving bulbs in most rooms now.

None of these things make a huge difference on their own but added together, they're more significant.

milliemonster

You'd be amazed how much electricity a TV uses, we had a brand new meter fitted yesterday and as the TV was off all day I watched the dial and it only moved on 1kwh over 5 hours, as soon as the kids came home and TV went on, it was up to 8 by the time we went to bed (all lights are low watt bulbs, washing machine/tumble drier weren't on and cook with gas) I was astonished to be honest!!!

space_rider

claireac wrote: »

Goodness you've done well!

Maybe if I can be a bit more organised with the washing, then I won't need to tumble so much. Got to be worth a go!

Not much I can do about the downlighters as the house is rented, but I work for a lighting company so the bulbs are free. It all helps!

I did go into the teenagers room last night and woke him up to turn tv off at 1am....... kids :mad:

Will start reading meters!

My 3 year old house is full of spot lights that are 50w each. I only use the ones in the kitchen, bathroom and downstairs hallway and I have been replacing the ones that have gone out with 25w. When the ceilings need decorating I shall remove the ones I can. In the living room alone there are 8 of them and if I were to use them they would cost a fortune over the quarter. Instead I use energy efficient lamps.

I only use dryer for bedding and towels and the rest go on an airer. I have used 9 units for electric and I have 2 teenagers and an 8 year old with all the usual appliances. They understand not to waste the electric by leaving things on standby as turning things off equals treats.

space_rider

claireac wrote: »

I did go into the teenagers room last night and woke him up to turn tv off at 1am....... kids :mad:

I took the remotes out their bedrooms. That way they have to get out of bed to turn tv off!