Average Energy Usage/Economy 7 Bill for a 1-bed Flat?

RhiRhiMajic

Hi
My boyfriend and I put in an offer for a flat earlier today. It seems perfect but we're trying to figure out all utility costs before we put any money down. The landlord said the energy is just electricity, no gas, and it's on Economy 7 with EDF energy. We're in Surbiton, just outside Kingston-Upon-Thames in Surrey if that makes a difference. Here's the flat dimensions from the identical flat next door (add a www)

foxtons.co.uk/search?property_id=681762&resource=large_floorplan&search_form=map&search_type=SS&submit_type=search

We have all the usual appliances...a small TV like you'd use in a kid's room, a ps2, a laptop, a printer, straighteners hairdryer etc. I'll be investing in some energy efficient lightbulbs and those surge protected trailing sockets with individual switches for each plug so whenever we're not using anything we'll be switching it off by the mains. There's a bath and a shower. There is also a washing machine and a cooker/hob with the usual, toaster, microwave and kettle. I doubt we'd use it to heat the rooms up much tbh, as it's a warm property (1st floor) and we have a small plug-in heater which is more than adequate.

Any ideas on what our energy useage per month would be, or on our average bill? As a sidenote, anyone know the water rates for this area? Much appreciated!

Magentasue

It's a reasonable but impossible question to answer. So many variables. Storage heaters are horrendously expensive to run in my experience and there are plenty of horror stories on here. There are a few people who like them and in a small, well insulated property, they may be OK. Search the forum for others' experiences - here's a recent one to start with:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1619761

daveb975

I agree, there are too many variables.

We pay £45 per month for gas and £25 for electricity. This is in a 800sqft 2 bed flat with GCH. Heating and cooking with electric always costs more in my experience.

Our water DD is £40.50 (over 10 months, I think?), for a bigger flat but in the same area. I have not really checked how this is calculated, though.

Magentasue

daveb975 wrote: »

I agree, there are too many variables.

We pay £45 per month for gas and £25 for electricity. This is in a 800sqft 2 bed flat with GCH. Heating and cooking with electric always costs more in my experience.

Exactly, you'd pay a lot more than that if you were using storage heaters. I'd never buy all-electric unless I could afford to put gas CH in.

Be_Happy

Cost will depend on how modern your storage heaters are and how careful you are about use.

We have 3 bedroom semi (built 1970s with cavity wall insulation and double glazing), all electric with 6 storage heaters. We updated the heaters to automatic ones 2 years ago. We are OAPs at home during the day and, although we economise with using dishwasher, washing machine, chargers, etc overnight, using low energy bulbs and switching off standby, OH is a heavy user - likes to be warm, uses TV and computers, etc frequently during day and prefers a bath to a shower. I also use tumble drier regularly during day rate.

We pay £102.50 per month and despite heavy winter use, we are still in credit. I read meter regularly and notice that usage is falling rapidly now, so will be well in credit by summer.