High electricity usage, but lifestyle not changed

OnlyMe_08

Hi

My last two quarters electricity bills were quite high compared to what they were compared to same quarters last year. Just paid a bill for £360; last bill was just under £400.

We seem to be using around 3000 units per quarter, compared to like 2300 to 2500 units last year.

What may be causing this - a faulty meter? Would an engineer be able to evaluate whether this is the case?

Would it be possible for 'neighbours' to syphon electricity? If suspected, what would be the implications of an investigation?

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

duggie1982

Well is your meter outside? Have you bought or used any appliances not normally used. Unless you have good grounds then you will not normally get an 'engineer' out

KimYeovil

If your lifestyle and heating is set the same as it was last year then you would have used a lot more this winter. And your fridge/freezer and computers could easily be using more power this summer than last summer. Taking more showers?

jd87

It's highly unlikely to be faulty meter or neighbours. Far more likely to be something simple like the fact that this year's January and February were very cold and wet so maybe you spent more time at home, more heating (if electric) and more lighting.

Magentasue

OnlyMe_08 wrote: »

We seem to be using around 3000 units per quarter, compared to like 2300 to 2500 units last year.
If suspected, what would be the implications of an investigation?

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Your lowest figure of 2300 per quarter is very high, so I assume you have electric heating and an immersion heater?

As said, it is unlikely to be the meter that is faulty and your supplier will, therefore discourage you from shelling out about £70 to have it tested. If it is found to be faulty, the fee is refunded and your bills recalculated. The more likely outcome is that the meter is fine and you will be £70 lighter.

Can you post what you use in your home to use so much electricity- what sort of heating, how much hot water, dishwasher, tumble drier, electric shower etc?Also, are your figures of 2300kwh and 3000kwh based on actual readings? What dates do they cover - heating used at all in those periods?

OnlyMe_08

Thanks for the replies.

I cannot think of anything that has changed significantly, except in the last quarter, we have been using our oven more for meals. I don't think we've used more than we normally do on our washing machine & tumble dryer; don't use dish washer. We did replace a 28" tube TV with a 32" LCD in living room.

Regarding computers, there are normally two on avergaing 4 - 5 hours a day. We do use an immersion heater for our hot water.

Our readings are frequently checked, but I think the bill before last was based on estimated readings.

I'm currently on the standard tariff; would I see any benefits with another tariff?

Magentasue

I take it that you have electric heating? What kind?

How often do you have your immersion heater on?

It would be useful to know how many kwh you are using a day now with no heating on - read your meter every day at the same time for a few days. I'm assuming you don't use a tumble drier in the summer?

Scottish_Power

OnlyMe_08 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I cannot think of anything that has changed significantly, except in the last quarter, we have been using our oven more for meals. I don't think we've used more than we normally do on our washing machine & tumble dryer; don't use dish washer. We did replace a 28" tube TV with a 32" LCD in living room.

Regarding computers, there are normally two on avergaing 4 - 5 hours a day. We do use an immersion heater for our hot water.

Our readings are frequently checked, but I think the bill before last was based on estimated readings.

I'm currently on the standard tariff; would I see any benefits with another tariff?

Hi OnlyMe_08,

Based on your original quarterly usage of 2300kWhs, you would have been using an average of around 25kWhs per day. On the basis of your new figure of 3000kWhs a quarter this is nearer 33kWhs a day. So you are looking at an increase of around 8kWhs a day.

If you have electric heating it is possible you have used this a bit more during the past winter, which was more severe in January and Feburary in particular.

Your new LCD television is likely to use a bit more than the old CRT set. Many people (myself included) would assume a newer appliance should be more energy efficient, but as the technology is completely different it is not uncommon for the larger flatscreen TVs to use a bit more.

You've also suggested you may be using your oven more for meals, which I assume is also electric?

I think the combination of these factors has contributed to the increase in your usage, as opposed to a faulty meter or your supply having been tapped. Electricity meters are generally fairly reliable (obviously there can be exceptions) and supply tapping is a very rare occurance and on the basis of the info provided I don't believe this has happened in your case.

I hope this helps allay any fears you have regarding the security of your supply. It may be worth considering how to make best use of the heating and appliances in your home, in order to cut the cost of your ongoing usage.

Our energy efficiency team may be able to offer some more advice if required on 0800 33 22 33

All the best

Craig @ ScottishPower