Should I ditch night units?

chirpchirp

I have recently begun moving my electricty and gas supplier. I was hoping to be able to pay the gas defecit with my electricity credit from direct debits but today what I regard as a rather large electricty bill has arrived. During the six month period from oct to apr it says I have used the following
Day - 2393
night -827
I know lots of areas where I should be cutting down and will start to try and implement these soon although I do like my tumble dryer! However, it's only myself and 2 children so I think we should be able to manage on far less.
What I'm wondering is whether it is worth stayin with Night units (economy seven) for the proportion of units that I 'm using. Also, does this appear to be a rather high usuage?

Many Thanks for any help.

Cardew

You are only using 25% of your total electricity at night, so it is pretty certain that you would be better of ditching Economy 7. Few people can make Economy 7 pay unless they have storage heaters.

Yes 3220 units(kWhs) in 6 months is high. Whilst you should use a little less in the next 6 months, as you will use less lighting, you are still using almost double the UK average of 3,300 units pa

macman

Tumble drier is bound to be the main culprit, they use 2 or 3Kw. That's like running a 2 or 3 bar electric fire, or continually boiling a kettle. You could set your tumbler on a timer to run at night maybe, if the noise isn't an issue.
If you have an immersion heater, make sure this is insulated fully, working properly and not turned up too high on the 'stat.

chirpchirp

Thanks Macman. The tumble dryer is definitely one of the main culprits. The other culprits are the children leaving the bathroom lights on ( 4 halogen bulbs - probably 50W) with fan. 2 Computers which are normally left on 24 7. However, I have decided we don't really need either to be switched on but as they are very old each time they are turned off, it's a risk as to whether they will ever come back to life.

Also Halogen lights in dining room/lounge which are normally on most nights so will learn to live without them. Outside lights are also halogen which during the winter months were on for about 4hrs a night. Well as of tonight they have gone back to manual!

Dishwasher probably also eats electricty, but is only about 3 years old so maybe quite efficient. However, I have noticed I can have low temp washes which take longer than high temp washes so guessing they average out about the same as far as consumption is concerened.

No immersion heater here - all gas - which is also costing an arm and a leg and probably 5 years on the mortgage

macman

Your PC's don't use much power, but it is still pointless leaving them on 24/7. Switch them on in the morning and off at night.
Halogens are more efficient than incandescent bulbs but I find that people tend to use too high a rating on them-they are much brighter.
Sounds like you're on the right lines. Top up your loft insulation, insulate your cavity walls, turn down your room 'stat a degree or so?

catenorfolk

Cardew wrote: »

You are only using 25% of your total electricity at night, so it is pretty certain that you would be better of ditching Economy 7. Few people can make Economy 7 pay unless they have storage heaters.

If your consumption on the night rate is over 20% of your total consumption, then you should stay on the E7 tariff as you will be making a saving. Tumble driers do use a lot of electric and yes you should turn everything off that you dont need as altho each item doesnt use very much per hour, over a period of time it all adds up. When tumble drying, put a dry towel in with your wet stuff and this helps the clothes dry quicker

Cardew

catenorfolk wrote: »

If your consumption on the night rate is over 20% of your total consumption, then you should stay on the E7 tariff as you will be making a saving.

Can you please give examples of tariffs where using 20% on an E7 will be cheaper than getting all electricity on a normal(24/7) tariff.

Company, area, and total consumption please.

Mike_by_the_Sea

Cardew wrote: »

Can you please give examples of tariffs where using 20% on an E7 will be cheaper than getting all electricity on a normal(24/7) tariff.

Company, area, and total consumption please.

Scottish Power (probably any tariff, any region) - Southern - 3300 kWh

Cardew

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote: »

Scottish Power (probably any tariff, any region) - Southern - 3300 kWh

Mike,
According to Energyhelpline for 3,300kWh with 20% of that total (660kWh) - Souther Region - on Economy 7, Scottish Power would inded be the cheapest supplier at £397.

However for 3300kWh on a 24/7 tariff the cheapest available(Npower) would cost £349. with EDF, EON, BG all cheaper than £397

So having Scottish power Economy 7 Tariff would cost 13.8% more.

It is obviously impossible to go through all the permutations of areas and levels of consumption. However I would be surprised if there is a tariff (using any combination of area/level of consumption) where using just 20% on Economy 7 is cheaper than can be obtained on other 24/7 tariffs.

Mike_by_the_Sea

Cardew wrote: »

Mike,

It is obviously impossible to go through all the permutations of areas and levels of consumption. However I would be surprised if there is a tariff (using any combination of area/level of consumption) where using just 20% on Economy 7 is cheaper than can be obtained on other 24/7 tariffs.

Absolutely agree, very unlikely.

catenorfolk

Cardew wrote: »

Can you please give examples of tariffs where using 20% on an E7 will be cheaper than getting all electricity on a normal(24/7) tariff.

'Company, area, and total consumption please'.

Blimey that comment is a bit like being on an army parade ground, left right left right!!!!
I
ts quite easy to work out, take a certain amount of units, calculate 20% at the night rate, 80% at the day rate and then add the two together. this give you a total on e7. then also calculate separately the same total amount of units for a single rate meter at the single rate. then compare them. again it depends on the prices of different companies.but when i get quotes from most companies, i work it out and it usually is cheaper to stay on E7 if you are using more than 20% at night!!