High Gas costs but on fixed tariff

tedster123

I have just received a bill which is £52.62 for electric and £76.06 for gas for 1 month.

I have a reasonably old boiler a Vokera linea 24 but has been serviced recently and no problems with it.

I have the heating on 5-6pm 8-10pm 2-4am and 6-8am a day which to me seems low in addition have 2 rooms in flat and 2 showers a day

The electricity seems highish but the gas seems very high also have gas hob

Does anyone have tips on reducing this monthly amount - to like £70 total.

Would a room thermostat help currently just have timer on boiler.

Have a largish tv and a washing machine - in addition 2 computers - ps3 and wireless router. - energy saving lights everywhere but the spot lights in the bathroom - (energy savinig spot light prices seem extertionate)

Magentasue

tedster123 wrote: »

Does anyone have tips on reducing this monthly amount - to like £70 total.

1) Cut back on the heating. 2-4am? What's that about?
2) Room thermostat should help.
3) Washing machine - full loads only amd at 30deg.
4) Use one computer, shut down when possible and consider a laptop instead.
5) PS3s are hungry aren't they? Won't let my kids have one!

tedster123

1) just to keep the house topped up on heat - youre right tho will get rid of that
2) saw programmable ones but £120 for it - are there cheaper ones out there - how much do they cost to fit
3) yep use 30degrees my flatmate uses 0 for some reason.
4) have my computer on all day if im honest download quite a bit will turn off
5) yep like a little electric radiator

Magentasue

About eighteen months ago, our income dropped dramatically, our gas and elec DD went up and I got very energy conscious. I have found that energy monitors have helped me work out where the money goes and have motivated the family (there's me, OH and four kids 15-23). Best thing is daily meter readings.

I accept that we are high users - we're a big family in a poorly insulated house with someone home all day. But we were wasteful - I tok daily readings and worked out our average and then set about cutting it back. I'm also aware how much we can use before our DD will not be enough so that's motivates me to keep on top of it. I still meter read every week and now and again realise we're slipping and have a hissy fit so we get back on track.

tedster123

will try and do daily meter readings - yeah my flat is old victorian tenement - both bedrooms are secondary glazing but the living room haven't had the money to do it yet. sandstone building - tried to see if i could get cavity wall insulation but apparently not possible in old tenement like mine.
will make the effort anyway to see if i can reduce it.

do you have a room thermostat yourself did that make any difference or are you just on a timer?

Magentasue

We had central heating put in so have a new system with a thermostat/programmer and radiator valves. I would hate to be without it - we keep the house warmer than a lot of people but only when we're in. It goes off at 11pm (we go up about midnight) and comes on 6.00am (OH gets up 6.30am) and goes off at 7.45am (last one out at 8.15am). Through out the day it's programmed to drop down and then come on again when youngest gets home from school. Goes to max for the evening so in 24 hours, it's set at five different temps from 16deg (at night, so it's off) to 20deg evenings.

tedster123

ok so went home turned the temperature down on both the hot water and central heating

it is now on 7-8am 5-6pm and 10-11pm

hopefully that will do the trick

does anyone know how much it costs to fit a room thermostat?? Also how much would you expect to pay for a programmable room thermostat - the type you can choose different programme at weekends compared to the weekdays.

Magentasue

We have this one:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/39124/Plumbing/Central-Heating-Controls/Honeywell-CM901-Room-Thermostat#

I think you can get others for about £25. Ring a couple of heating engineers for a quote - I think it's a reasonably straightforward job but labour costs will vary regionally.