British Gas & Pre-Pay Meters

OriginalDisco

Premier wrote: »

You don't need a TV on to eat or shower

Is your computer steam powered? :rolleyes:

...and when I'm in the shower I don't have the TV on.

My Mac is only plugged in while it charges, once it's fully charged I unplug it and use battery power (however currently I'm on someone else's machine).

Since I'm looking for full-time work I kind of need my laptop to search the job sites, check my eMails, etc.

You seem to be advocating the way to control/avoid the situation is to cease using all modern appliances. Do you live in a cave by any chance?

I came onto the boards for advice, not smart-arsed comments (whether accompanied by smilies or not).

KimYeovil

You mentioned twice you have an 'energy efficient' electric heater. What on earth is that? In what way is it more efficient than any other electric heater?

OriginalDisco

KimYeovil wrote: »

You mentioned twice you have an 'energy efficient' electric heater. What on earth is that? In what way is it more efficient than any other electric heater?

How am I supposed to know?

It has the A–G rating system sticker on it, and is rated C, so more energy-efficient (if we're to believe this system) than another electric radiator.

Obviously this is my first foray onto these boards – I sincerely hope that all newcomers aren't met with what seems like disdain for seeking advice (but going on other replies I've seen that seems to be the case for some reason...)

Monitoring your energy usage might be something you've come to do normally, but for those of us who this is the first time of getting into arrears with an energy company it's all brand new.

You were all in the same boat at one point, so how about lending a little friendly advice, rather than coming across with this 'holier-than-thou' attitude.

Premier_2

Premier wrote: »

...If times are tough, you need to think about how you can reduce consumption.

OriginalDisco wrote: »

...I came onto the boards for advice, not smart-arsed comments (whether accompanied by smilies or not).

Well if you now deem the age old advice that you learn to cut your coat according to your cloth as a 'smart-arsed' comment, I'll leave you to it. :rolleyes:

Joyful

The advise to monitor your usage is good. A shower time can be cut. Some people spend 30 mins in the shower which will use more than 10 mins. You heater is not efficient if it is C rated. That should be A.
We can all help if you check how many KWH you are using each day and if it includes your heaters. Perhaps a good idea for you ia an electricity monitor so you can see where the usage is from. Remember the things you forget about like fridges/freezers,Stereos, Alarm clocks. We all have more electrical appliances than we think we don.

OriginalDisco

Premier wrote: »

Well if you now deem the age old advice that you learn to cut your coat according to your cloth as a 'smart-arsed' comment, I'll leave you to it.

No, it's comments along the lines of "is your computer powered by steam?" and that unless my energy consumption is zero it can always be reduced.

You're just one of many examples of people I've now seen on these boards with this 'holier-than-thou' attitude that I'm sure wasn't the aim of the forum when it was set up.

You seem to be insinuating that I don't want to pay for my energy usage, when in fact because of a shortage of work, I can't pay all of an outstanding bill in one go.

The bulk of the outstanding amount is from a quarterly bill that I received just after being made redundant, which I haven't been able to clear yet.

If you could just leave me to it, that'd be appreciated.

Joyful wrote: »

The advise to monitor your usage is good. A shower time can be cut. Some people spend 30 mins in the shower which will use more than 10 mins. You heater is not efficient if it is C rated. That should be A.

We can all help if you check how many KWH you are using each day and if it includes your heaters. Perhaps a good idea for you ia an electricity monitor so you can see where the usage is from. Remember the things you forget about like fridges/freezers,Stereos, Alarm clocks. We all have more electrical appliances than we think we don.

Surely the heater is more efficient at C than if it were, say, G (although obviously it would be better if it were A)?

Trust me, we do monitor our usage. We always have. We don't leave lights on, don't leave anything on standby, plugs are turned off when something isn't being used, etc.

I'm in the shower for about five minutes (if that). We don't have a bath, so the rest of the elec used to heat water just goes on water for washing up, etc. I have the timer set so that it isn't on for ages as well.

There's not really anything we can do about our fridge, freezer (which is rated and washing machine. We only have the one alarm clock, which is now rarely on, using the alarms on our phones instead. We might put the stereo on a couple of times a week, if that, and it's never plugged in or on standby unless we're going to play something on it.

It's not really that our usage has increased, more that we're having trouble paying off an outstanding bill for normal usage from the back end of last year.