Advice on massive nPower Elec/Gas bill

greenbee

Faulty meters don't appear to be the problem very often, I think we just get a shock at winter consumption, particularly when it is cold. Bear in mind that if you were in your previous property July/Aug/Sept and early October, you won't have been using much gas. Although it wasn't a hot summer, there are a lot of people on these forums who didn't have heating until well into November, so it can't have been that cold! Also, with the shorter days you will be using more electricity - and if you have a tumble drier you are probably using it more at this time of year.

Have you had snow? If you've still got some you can check the from the outside whether you are heating just the house or the whole street :rolleyes: .

If snow has melted on your roof, and isn't settling right up to the walls and on the window sills, then that's where your heat is getting out.

If you're using the heating during the day, its likely to be expensive. You don't say what temperature you're heating the house to during this time.

Ideas for getting the bills down:

Switch things off at the mains when not in use (and yes, I include the cooker, microwave, toaster, WM, TD, DW, kettle... just in case - the odd LED might not use much, but it all helps with the habit).

Do you have a plasma TV or tumber drier? If so, keep usage to a minimum as these are VERY expensive to run. Get a plug-in energy monitor and start getting an idea of what your gadgets cost to run.

Switch lights off in rooms that you aren't using and change to energy saving bulbs. If you've got lots of halogens in this house and didn't have in the last, it will make a difference.

Hot water - switch the thermostat to around 50C, and have it timed to come on for about an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. This should be plenty, and you can also override it manually if you need more occasionally.

Heating - turn the thermostat or radiator valves down a little and work out what a sensible temperature is (there are some very tough people around here who stick to about 14C, I find 16 comfortable if I'm doing stuff, 20 if I'm working from home as I'm sitting still). Remember that bedrooms should be cooler than living rooms. Close the doors between rooms so that heat isn't moving out of one and into the others. Shut up unused rooms and don't heat them.

Close curtains at dusk and open them during the day to make the most of the heat from any sun. Consider thermal linings for curtains or blinds and curtains at all the windows. If you don't have double glazing, try glazing film or bubble wrap for added insulation. Use draught excluders and door curtains on your external doors.

Ensure external lights are switched off at night (and have energy saving bulbs in too).

Cooking - use the microwave where possible. If you're using the oven, do batch cooking to make the most of the heat. Fan ovens are very energy-hungry.