Huge electric bill! Help!

[Deleted User]

We moved into new house just before Christmas and requested changing suppliers back to our usual with BGas.

They completed the change over at the end of January and today we receive a bill from NPower for usage from 20/12/08 - 21/01/09, one month, for £139.98 !!!!!

£139.98 - we usually paid that per quarter with BGas at old address and the only changes is the electric oven and an eco heater in one room. It says we've used 901 kwh and that's acurate because I took the initial and final readings, I just didn't realise it was that much.

How on earth have we spent £139.98 in one month? And how can I pay for this - I'm so skint! As it's a final bill can I make arrangements to pay? And how on earth do I not get a bill like this again? I'm feeling sick with worry and didn't even want to put the laptop on to ask this question for fear of electric usage!

Magentasue

purpleposting4 wrote: »

£139.98 - we usually paid that per quarter with BGas at old address and the only changes is the electric oven and an eco heater in one room ... and didn't even want to put the laptop on to ask this question for fear of electric usage!

I think you'll find it's the heater doing the damage, not the laptop.

Can only suggest you keep reading your meter - electric heating is horribly expensive to run.

Fire_Fox

Firstly did you ask NPower for their cheapest tariff for the month you were supplied by them? Otherwise you will be on the standard (expensive) tariff. Secondly are you sure British Gas will be cheapest supplier going forwards, did you use an independent price comparison site?

What is the wattage of the eco-heater? How well insulated is your property? How many hours have you used this heater each day? What is your preferred ambient temperature? Have you set up your immersion heater timings correctly (assuming you have one)? Do you use a tumble dryer?

PS Laptops use very little energy, especially the modern ones with powerdown settings. Don't leave it on overnight tho, switch off at the plug.

[Deleted User]

I just presumed that an electric eco heater (Dimplex 3kw Cadiz Eco Oil-Free Radiator) would be ok-ish for getting one room warm each evening. Am totally gutted. The thing that surprises me though as that we used it for 3 wks at old house and the final bill was no where near as bad.

Vestra

purpleposting4 wrote: »

I just presumed that an electric eco heater (Dimplex 3kw Cadiz Eco Oil-Free Radiator) would be ok-ish for getting one room warm each evening. Am totally gutted. The thing that surprises me though as that we used it for 3 wks at old house and the final bill was no where near as bad.

How many hours each evening?

[Deleted User]

NPower are charging 15.790p for first 65 then 14.720p for the next 836 units...that'll be the expensive tariff then...

It's a 3kw heater, 3-bed double-glazed house, heater only heats living room, 19.C approx. 4-5 hrs a day. We don't have a dryer. I'm very good at turning everything off and thought I had things sorted.

You've got me questioning my move back to BGas now - we were on click energy 6 and still are for gas (last months bill was spot on). I bet we're not on click 6 anymore for electric because it wasn't a straight transfer, I'll have to check. What's the best company/tariff for electric atm? Feeling really low, it seems all bills have come at once, gas, electric, tv licence...

Vestra

purpleposting4 wrote: »

NPower are charging 15.790p for first 65 then 14.720p for the next 836 units...that'll be the expensive tariff then...

It's a 3kw heater, 3-bed double-glazed house, heater only heats living room, 19.C approx. 4-5 hrs a day. We don't have a dryer. I'm very good at turning everything off and thought I had things sorted.

You've got me questioning my move back to BGas now - we were on click energy 6 and still are for gas (last months bill was spot on). I bet we're not on click 6 anymore for electric because it wasn't a straight transfer, I'll have to check. What's the best company/tariff for electric atm? Feeling really low, it seems all bills have come at once, gas, electric, tv licence...

Going by your calculations (quite rough as 3kw heater will have a thermostat I guess) : 5 hours at 3kw = 15 kwh per day times that by 31 days = 465 units

Total cost = 465unit x 0.1472ppu = £68.44

So that is nearly £70 of your electric bill just on that heater.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the quick calculation, I can see my problem now. And have just rung BGas only to be told am on their standard tariff for electric too!

Heater off.
Comparison sites here I come.

Magentasue

You pay for gas, but are using electric heating so assume no central heating installed? There are cheaper tariffs for electricity, but electric heating is always going to be expensive in all but a small flat, and it has been very cold.

[Deleted User]

Am really annoyed now that am no longer on the Click Energy 6 tariff for electric as I am for gas (luckily). I'm stuck on their standard tariff and everyone is saying don't switch tariff yet because they are meant to all drop prices? I don't want to get stuck with a cancellation charge so I'll have to sit tight for a while.

Am also a bit annoyed because my Dad bought me the heater as a present to help save money instead of using the gas lounge fire in our old house!
(new house has no gas lounge fire)

Magentasue

purpleposting4 wrote: »

Am really annoyed now that am no longer on the Click Energy 6 tariff for electric as I am for gas (luckily). I'm stuck on their standard tariff and everyone is saying don't switch tariff yet because they are meant to all drop prices? I don't want to get stuck with a cancellation charge so I'll have to sit tight for a while.

Am also a bit annoyed because my Dad bought me the heater as a present to help save money instead of using the gas lounge fire in our old house!
(new house has no gas lounge fire)

Gas fires inefficient (unless quite new and you've got one of the energy efficient models) but gas is cheap, compared to electricity. Do some meter reads to compare but gas fire is probably cheaper option.