My tips for slashing electricity bills.

NowThenAgain

At the start of this winter I was alarmed at the prospect of paying 26p / 9.8p for my electricity from Eon. Previous winters had seen my usage average out at about 32 KWH per day. At that rate I'd be looking at bills of £7 per day / £210 per month.

This is for a 2 bed flat with an electric hot water boiler and storage heaters.

So, I took drastic action.

First move was to turn off the hot water boiler. I have an electric shower and I've been washing dishes using water from a kettle. Not as bad as you'd think. This saved about 8 KWH per day.

Second move was to abandon the storage heaters. I'd grown used to sleeping in warmth but, ultimately, I am alseep. I don't need ambient warmth for sleeping. Two duvets would suffice. Heating for the lounge was limited to a few hours per day from an oil filled electric radiator on low (800W). Jumpers and occasionally gloves were the order of the day. I didn't see 13c indoors during Jan/Feb but this saved me maybe 20 KWH per day.

On top of all this I started turning everything off at the wall and trying to shower in the gym as much as possible. Not sure what this saved but it will have been something!

The end result is that even through the coldest winter of modern times I have managed to average about 9 KWH per day, so saving a phenominal 25 KWH / £5 per day. Or about £450 over the course of the winter.

I expect my bill for the year to be around £450 at approx 6 KWH per day.

My rationale going into it was that some people live in caves so I can perfectly adequately live without it being 20c at all times. And that's the way it's proved to be.

Lowest indoor temperature was 5.1c and I'd regurlarly wake up to the joys of <7c!

Wholesale electricity prices are now falling and I expect energy prices to be much lower for the consumer next winter. Maybe I'll have an extra hour of heat. Maybe I'll turn the hot water on for a bath once or twice. What I won't be doing however is going back to the wasteful and nonsensical burning of my money in the form of vast electricity usage.

I've learnt a lot and I hope my experience has been interesting and useful to someone out there!

Ken68

Well done NTA, massive savings, a great example of moneysaving. Just a case of changing routine.
Another heating form is an electric blanket 'throw', adjustments 80w to 20w, at say 14pence kwh tis cheap to run.
Not sure if it's approved of by fire brigade/elf and safety though ,but as long as you take sensible precautions.

KimYeovil

Remember that the E-on representatives themselves confess that they don't like people like you and their tariff is priced to cost you. You may want to look around to check for other suppliers and tariffs that are more suited to a lower usage.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi NowThenAgain

Looks like you have really taken great strides to save electricity.

The only thing I would mention is to make sure you are on the right tariff.

There are discounts available for paying with a Fixed Direct Debit and for managing your account online.

Malc

Piggles12345

Moneysavingexpert.com says that it is dedicated to cutting down without cutting back.

If one says 'people live in caves so I can live without x, y and z', why not say 'people live in caves, so why would I waste money on a mortage when I could also live in a cave?'

1carminestocky

Brilliant, NTA! You are of course now (unofficially ) the energy industry's worst nightmare. They've piled on massive price increases and would expect a corresponding massive increase in turnover so if everyone did like you have they would be in for a shock (if you pardon the pun). Of course, the energy industry being the energy industry, they would just make it up by inceasing their tariffs but hey ho.

Now you are seriously into saving on your leccy bill, next port of call is the switching sites to see if there are cheaper alternatives to E.on (I would be surprised if there aren't, TBH).

1carminestocky

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hi NowThenAgain

Looks like you have really taken great strides to save electricity.

The only thing I would mention is to make sure you are on the right tariff/WITH THE RIGHT COMPANY.

There are discounts available for paying with a Fixed Direct Debit and for managing your account online.

Malc

I've edited your post to make it even more useful.

NowThenAgain

Piggles12345 wrote: »

Moneysavingexpert.com says that it is dedicated to cutting down without cutting back.

If one says 'people live in caves so I can live without x, y and z', why not say 'people live in caves, so why would I waste money on a mortage when I could also live in a cave?'

Because I value running water, a fridge, a computer, a TV, a postal address, shelter from the rain. etc.

Wearing jumpers around the house is hardly a hardship. In fact, that's exactly what all this has taught me. Not being able to walk around indoors wearing shorts year round makes not a bit of difference to my life.

NowThenAgain

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hi NowThenAgain

Looks like you have really taken great strides to save electricity.

The only thing I would mention is to make sure you are on the right tariff.

There are discounts available for paying with a Fixed Direct Debit and for managing your account online.

Malc

Well thanks Malc. After taking all the time I have to cut down on usage I didn't realise you could pay by direct debit. :rotfl:

And yes I will be looking at my tariff. I'm waiting till the summer when there's been a bit of a price war between all you electricity oligopolists.

Vestra

NowThenAgain wrote: »

Well thanks Malc. After taking all the time I have to cut down on usage I didn't realise you could pay by direct debit. :rotfl:

And yes I will be looking at my tariff. I'm waiting till the summer when there's been a bit of a price war between all you electricity oligopolists.

Why wait till then, you can change do a non contract one and start saving sooner rather then later.

space_rider

Rian1988 wrote: »

Why wait till then, you can change do a non contract one and start saving sooner rather then later.

You`ll get around 6% discount for paying by dd. Possibly more if there is an online tariff available to you. I`m not sure if online tariff is available if you are all electric but worth a try. Before changing tariffs I would ring Eon and ask them if there is a cheaper tariff available. You can go on that whilst you shop round for a cheaper tariff.