Am I using a lot of electricity?

devon_guy

I've finally taken the plunge and moved out of my parents and into a place of my own. A 1 bed flat, 1 person. I have gas combi boiler and a gas hob and electric oven.

I'm using about 7kwh per day, is that high for 1 person? The oven is on for about 90 mins a day and is just a bog standard elec oven not a fan oven. I have fridge freezer on, clock radio and stereo on standby.

I work p/t get home about 1.30 and I do have the tv on then for most of the day for company/background more than anything and my laptop. I only have one light on at night, an energy saving bulb.

I thought I'd average about 4-5kwh per day. Wondering if the oven is a big user of elec?

aelitaman

I am single and I use 9Kw of elecy a day.

beecher

I use 4Kw a day - this time last year I was using 5Kw a day. Then I was leaving my PC on all day and not bothering switching off tv etc from standby. My oven's gas and I only have my tv on for about 4 hours a day, if that. Cook a meal on the hob one night and see what difference that makes.

Fire_Fox

beecher wrote: »

I use 4Kw a day - this time last year I was using 5Kw a day. Then I was leaving my PC on all day and not bothering switching off tv etc from standby. My oven's gas and I only have my tv on for about 4 hours a day, if that. Cook a meal on the hob one night and see what difference that makes.

Is your hot water gas too?

Fire_Fox

devon_guy wrote: »

I've finally taken the plunge and moved out of my parents and into a place of my own. A 1 bed flat, 1 person. I have gas combi boiler and a gas hob and electric oven.

I'm using about 7kwh per day, is that high for 1 person? The oven is on for about 90 mins a day and is just a bog standard elec oven not a fan oven. I have fridge freezer on, clock radio and stereo on standby.

I work p/t get home about 1.30 and I do have the tv on then for most of the day for company/background more than anything and my laptop. I only have one light on at night, an energy saving bulb.

I thought I'd average about 4-5kwh per day. Wondering if the oven is a big user of elec?

Washing machine? Tumble dryer? Immersion heater? Electric shower? Ninety minutes using the oven each day is quite a lot, what are you cooking? If you want to reduce your energy consumption during cooking purchase a slow cooker, compact electric 'health' grill and/ or tabletop induction hob. Which you choose depends on what type of food you prefer to eat really!

devon_guy

I have a washing machine I use on the quickwash (30 mins) twice a week, no tumble drier and no electric shower, it works of the combi boiler.

beecher

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Is your hot water gas too?

Yes, I have a combi same as the OP. Probably do 3 washes a week, which take an hour, and also don't use tumble dryer or electric shower, so my usage should be fairly similar to the OPs I think. With the extra usage of tv and PC, he should probably be using about what I used last year - 5Kw a day. Definitely sounds like the oven is the culprit.

Barneysmom

Hello, devon_guy, hope you don't mind me sticking my tupenny worth in.

Turn your stereo off at the wall if you're not using it, you're giving your elec company money for nothing there.
I even turn my clock of during the day when I'm at work.

It might be worth investing in a slow cooker? You could do a big meal in there and freeze in smaller portions, then microwave from frozen for 7 or 8 minutes. Or do big pans of stew or chilli and freeze them?
I have a sneaky suspicion that you're using the oven for ready meals ?
I usually get the very cheapest microwave - I used to buy expensive ones but they don't last any longer.
I think if you got your meal planning sorted out you'd begin to see some savings?

devon_guy

I don't have ready meals actually. I made some chicken pies today, and yes made my own shortcrust pastry! I made a casserole in my slow cooker on Weds. I think it is the oven, especially as it's a non fan assisted. Plus I do have the telly on a lot only working p/t as company which won't help.

staffie1

Even though having telly on a lot and leaving things like stereo and computer on standby is wasteful, they consume very small amounts of electricity. The oven will be to blame. Have a look at your elec meter when the oven is off, then look again when it's on to see how fast the disc spins/numbers clock up (if digital).

Barneysmom

Good point staffie1, I'd be looking at the meter with everything switched off too?