Stupidly high electricity bill- and not sure how?

milestone_3

I've moved into 1 a bed flat in november (first time on my own!) and just had a quarterly bill for £208 between 22nd November till 4th of Feb- Is it me or is it high?

I have a economy 7 rate. No gas, just all electric.

Day units are 440 (20.70p for first 203 units then (12.47p for next 237)
Night are 2535 (at 4.98p)

The meter readings seem to be correct as on the bill.

I live by myself in a 1 bed flat with 2 storage heaters. Work during days so pretty much night and weekend use only.

Kitchen has just fridge/freezer, use the electric cooker about 30 minutes for dinners, no kettle, and rarely use microwave

In living room have the tv (which is on for about 4 hours, together with probably dvd player and two laptops on)
All rooms have energy saving lightbulbs.

I'm a bit bewildered as to why my bill is so high!?

Magentasue

Your bill is high because you have storage heaters. Horrendously expensive to run.

Do check though, that the correct meter serial number, opening readings and closing readings on the bill are correct.

milestone_3

Magentasue wrote: »

Your bill is high because you have storage heaters. Horrendously expensive to run.

Do check though, that the correct meter serial number, opening readings and closing readings on the bill are correct.

I thought storage heaters where most cost efficient? The readings and the serial number match.

I struggled to figure out how they worked to be honest as not sure what the input and output settings are best set at- I just set them in the middle for each.

Magentasue

Well, basically the higher you set input, the more heat is stored (and obviously the more it costs). Then you have output on minimum so that heat is stored. If you have it in the middle, it's letting that heat escape so the heaters will go cold more quickly.

All electric heating is cheap to buy and install (compared to gas or oil CH) but is expensive to run. Storage heaters have the advantage of storing heat at night (cheaper electricity on Economy 7) but the disadvantage that they use so much of it.

Are the heaters still hot when you get home from work?

milestone_3

I thought that's how it worked, but with frustration of wanting heat there and then I just set it so I so it would vent it out. Thanks for letting me know as i was just guessing and wasn't too sure. The heaters are still hot when I get home from work.

Do you think the £70 a month bill is due to the heating then? If so I'm shocked! The previous tenant had bills of only £75 for the quarter, so I'm not sure how mine has trippled!

Magentasue

I would set the output to minimum but turn it up if you need more heat. No point in letting out heat when you're out.

And, yes, I think £70 a month for storage heaters is more than likely.

Fire_Fox

Comparison between my parents electricity usage (five storage heaters, I think) and mine (limited use of one panel heater).

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1397217

milestone_3

Just read from your link firefox. That is absolutely mad with the difference. I can't believe that I've been so vigilant with the usage of my electricity in terms of appliances. I switch everything off from mains, even the microwave, tv, switch one light on at a time and I end up getting stumped because the heating is pants. I really need to get this looked into otherwise I'll be skint just trying to keep alive!

Magentasue

I moved into a house with storage heaters and we used them for one winter until we put gas CH in. We ran our dishwasher, washing machine, tumble drier overnight. Immersion on at night only. We also had coal fire alight because heaters were cold by about 8pm. When I checked our meter after a month, I couldn't believe it. My first thought was faulty meter but it wasn't. Would never move somewhere without option of gas CH.

storminbalder

I moved from GCH to storage heating back in September 08. I have just gone my first winter with electric heating.

I have to say that once I have got used to it, i'm very happy with it. My previous bills combined for gas and electricity and now just electricity are about the same (£50 pcm). I certainly have not reduced my heating temperatures to achieve this.

I think that a benefit with having electricity only (and something that is rarely commented on), is that you do benefit from only paying one standing charge as apposed to two.

I think it is that compensates for the slightly higher rates for electricity (I pay 6.35p inc. per Kwh for heating and water 10 hours per day and don't have to pay any economy 7 premium for day use).

Plus now with a water meter - that's halved that cost.

See if you can get on to a economy 10 or heatwise (that's what i'm on) tariff - that might help.

Fire_Fox

milestone wrote: »

Just read from your link firefox. That is absolutely mad with the difference. I can't believe that I've been so vigilant with the usage of my electricity in terms of appliances. I switch everything off from mains, even the microwave, tv, switch one light on at a time and I end up getting stumped because the heating is pants. I really need to get this looked into otherwise I'll be skint just trying to keep alive!

Continue to be vigilant with lighting and appliances as dayrate electricity is expensive. An electric underblanket on your bed removes the need to heat a bedroom: these cost as much to run as a lightbulb, i.e. very little. Draw any curtains at night, fitting thermal linings if it's your flat or your curtains. Wear a fleece plus a thin bodywarmer or two fleeces when home and/ or keep a soft throw/ single duvet on the sofa for cozying up in and you won't need to use the heating half as much.