single person daily electric usage is this too high?

ceridwen

Re someone's comment earlier about buying a gadget to measure electric usage - there may not be a need to do that - some libraries let members borrow them free for a week or so. Its always worth asking elsewhere too for a free loan of one - maybe your local Council/maybe your fuel company??

As another single person here - during the course of a discussion with my fuel company yesterday they commented that I use an average of just 4 units per day of electric - of which he said that 2 is my fridge/freezer (dont know if that element would be correct - as my fridge/freezer is A+ rated?). He commented that my fuel usage is VERY low - even by single person standards.

So - there's A+ rated fridge/freezer
A rated cooker
My washing machine has a load on average once or twice a week - and I dry things naturally (rather than using the tumbledryer function)
I use halogen heaters basically (instead of fanheaters)
Gas central heating and waterheating
Electric shower
I DONT use "energy-saving" lightbulbs - MERCURY in the vast majority of them:eek:
My computer is only on when I'm actually using it (cant understand why someone would want to leave one on constantly) - and its a reasonably modern computer (ie about 2 years old) - I gather older computers use a lot more electric than the more modern ones.

My fuel bill - for both gas and electric together - is £50 per month direct debit.

Chrysalis

aelitaman wrote: »

Chrysalis,

My usage went from 15 to 9 so a total drop of 6 units. My pc was resonsible for about 4 of that I think (it is not a small PC, plus I used to have the laptop on as well). The other 2 reduction was achieved by turning all tvs, microwaves, chargers off when not in use not using standby.

As to your friends that are using such low energy I just do not believe it. I am very careful of turning all things off when not is use and low power bulbs and I just can not get below 9 units a day and I am at work for 10 hours. To be less than 9 they must not watch TV, cook or have fridge.

9 units a day if I am correct is an average consumption of about 325 watts/hour, that is a lot for someone who is at work 10 hours, and then I assume asleep for about 8 hours as well and turning everything off when not in use.

However I do see your point actually, with the length of time my stuff is in use perhaps I wouldnt be that much below 12 units a day, but I do remain suspicous when I used 4 units in half a day with everything turned off. My tv is normally only ever on at weekends.

£764.26 for 3 months which was for 5612 units, average 62 units a day? so is defenitly whacked. I cannot believe that first lady I spoke to tried to pass it off as normal. Then 21 units a day between march and june further £244.

If I am using 4 units a day on security lights (since my day usage is 4 and night is 8), that would take me down to perhaps about 8 units a day which seems more sane. Perhaps the 21 units a day between march and june could be accounted for by shorter sunlight hours and the security light been on more?

lot of questions and no answers but I will test if the security lights are on my meter tonight.

incidently reading 18511 29 june
18806 5pm 10 august so 295 units for a near 6 week period, defenitly a lot more normal. If atlantic were to recalculate my 3 months between dec and march at that usage the money I would owe them would go from about £1000 to about £400 I think for a 6 month period.

Dreamnine

As a single person living in a 3-bedroomed house I use 4kwh a day or an average of 1400 units a year.

I use slightly more in summer as I elect to use the electric shower rather than turning on the gas to heat water for a bath.

I guess I'm thrifty. But that's with cooking 1 hot meal a day, perhaps 2 hours of TV, 3-4 hours of PC on, electric blanket. I only boil water I need and have CFLs everywhere. I only charge devices until they are full and switch everything off at the wall.

My electricity bill is under £60 most quarters and slightly over for the summer.

Swipe

I'm single, at work all day, live in a 3 bed bungalow, electric immersion heater put on for an hour before a bath. In the summer I use an average of 5 kwh per day.

Fire_Fox

Have you got a lot of halogen lamps? They use more energy than you think. I live in a two bedroom all electric flat and the lowest ever daily average was 7.5KWH per day - that was with me showering at work/ gym so immersion off, boiling kettle to wash up, laundry at 40C, and using no heating or tumble dryer. I don't have gadgets, just a bit rubbish at leaving lights on.

Mark_Hewitt

ceridwen wrote: »

My washing machine has a load on average once or twice a week - and I dry things naturally (rather than using the tumbledryer function)

Shouldn't be that much really.

I use halogen heaters basically (instead of fanheaters)

What's a halogen heater? And why do you need to use it?

I DONT use "energy-saving" lightbulbs - MERCURY in the vast majority of them:eek:

It will affect your consumption somewhat, but not by a massive amount.

My computer is only on when I'm actually using it (cant understand why someone would want to leave one on constantly) - and its a reasonably modern computer (ie about 2 years old) - I gather older computers use a lot more electric than the more modern ones.
.

Nah, modern ones tend to use just as much, Sure the power consumption per unit of work is less, however.

dogshome

Hi Crysalis - In your place I would buy a watt meter, (mine cost £9.99 from Robt. Dyas). This plugs into the wall socket and the appliance plugs into it - It shows how many Kw each appliance is using, and with everything else turned off, also give a good indication of the meter running fast or slow. Use it on the mains plug that your computer kit is plugged into and you will be amazed at the power it is drawn when the computer, printer and monitor are have been swithched off - mine shows 9watts with the biggest culprit being the Broadband box at 5watts - after each session I switch off the wall socket

Charco_2

What's a halogen heater? And why do you need to use it?

A halogen heater is one that lights up all bright and lovely and i think they're supposed to be ok on the electric however it is only just better than completely useless at heating a room. It's the physics of it: doesn't heat the air! You'll feel it sitting in front of it directed straight at you, or it'll warm up the wall it's shining on, on the opposite side of the room but you wouldn't want one on in the corner for three people in the room

Katie-Kat-Kins

ceridwen wrote: »

So - there's A+ rated fridge/freezer
A rated cooker
My washing machine has a load on average once or twice a week - and I dry things naturally (rather than using the tumbledryer function)
I use halogen heaters basically (instead of fanheaters)
Gas central heating and waterheating
Electric shower
.

Why on earth would you use halogen heaters when you have gas central heating??? They are no more efficient than a fan heater (and as they are very directional you may actually find them less effective for your money). Can I suggest that you use your central heating when you are cold (if putting a jumper on won't do) rather than using the halogen heater. Electric heating is always expensive!

Chrysalis

dogshome wrote: »

Hi Crysalis - In your place I would buy a watt meter, (mine cost £9.99 from Robt. Dyas). This plugs into the wall socket and the appliance plugs into it - It shows how many Kw each appliance is using, and with everything else turned off, also give a good indication of the meter running fast or slow. Use it on the mains plug that your computer kit is plugged into and you will be amazed at the power it is drawn when the computer, printer and monitor are have been swithched off - mine shows 9watts with the biggest culprit being the Broadband box at 5watts - after each session I switch off the wall socket

yep going to do this, some more updates guys.

1 - another person came to visit, we turned everything off and ran a 1kwh device for 1 hour, 2 units used on meter. Whilst we were talking outside next to the meter it then moved up to a 3rd unit whilst nothing on in the flat.
2 - the security lights were disconnected for 2 days and my usage went down to around 6 units, this may seem low but those 2 days I wasnt even at home and the only thing turned on was cordless phone base and fridge. I was actually away for 4 days altogether, the other 2 days the usage was about 9 units.

I am still awaiting a revised bill.

oh and to add my landlord did get the lights outside disconnected but wouldnt answer my question if they on my meter or not, I was not here when they got discconected, but my sister who came to check my meter came at night to check if they on or not.