Cheapest way to stay warm using electricity

paceinternet

Using the SP document you get:
Single rate quarterly: £433.74
Two rate quarterly: £395.56

Less the £50 annual saving for prompt payment:
Single rate quarterly: £383.74
Two rate quarterly: £345.56

Are there any other deductions from these numbers?

SP may be offering their E7 at lower cost than their standard single rate paying quarterly promptly, but it is not the lowest cost for Eastern region electricity users (at the moment).

Premier_2

paceinternet wrote: »

Using the SP document you get:
Single rate quarterly: £433.74
Two rate quarterly: £395.56

Less the £50 annual saving for prompt payment:
Single rate quarterly: £383.74
Two rate quarterly: £345.56

Are there any other deductions from these numbers?

...

No, you've got it!

You've proved E7 is cheaper than non E7 for these comparative tariffs

lyndorset

We had same set up as you when we moved into our semi. The electic use was awful. We had an old gas filed radiator and that is on the bathroom and on all the time when needed and bought a couple of decent quality panel heaters (from Littlewoods) The difference in the elctric usage was incredible! Huge saving. We have been given a calor gas heater that we use in the evenings in the winter. But otherwise the above heating kept on 24 hours per day colder months of year seems to be VERY cost effective.

Lesley_Gaye

lyndorset wrote: »

We had same set up as you when we moved into our semi. The electic use was awful. We had an old gas filed radiator and that is on the bathroom and on all the time when needed and bought a couple of decent quality panel heaters (from Littlewoods) The difference in the elctric usage was incredible! Huge saving. We have been given a calor gas heater that we use in the evenings in the winter. But otherwise the above heating kept on 24 hours per day colder months of year seems to be VERY cost effective.

I was thinking of maybe using panel heaters and as they are quite expensive to buy, I was trying to work out if they were worth it, so this is interesting thanks

paceinternet

As the original poster asked "Cheapest way to stay warm using electricity", you have to consider the supplier and tariff for your situation, and not just if E7 is right or wrong on your existing tariff.
The discussion here was also about 3000kwh per year. This may be low for many users, and an all electric property may well be in excess of 10000 kwh per year.
The %age to benefit from E7 is not fixed, but very fluid depending on supplier, tariff and annual kwh. But 20% is not enough, and 50% is starting to make the savings worthwhile. In between, do your sums and check the switching sites carefully.

Premier_2

paceinternet wrote: »

As the original poster asked "Cheapest way to stay warm using electricity", you have to consider the supplier and tariff for your situation, and not just if E7 is right or wrong on your existing tariff.
The discussion here was also about 3000kwh per year. This may be low for many users, and an all electric property may well be in excess of 10000 kwh per year.
The %age to benefit from E7 is not fixed, but very fluid depending on supplier, tariff and annual kwh. But 20% is not enough, and 50% is starting to make the savings worthwhile. In between, do your sums and check the switching sites carefully.

I chose 3000kwh as an example as that is a low, but easily achievable, consumption level for someone who does not have electric heating.
As you have proven, in the example given, it would be cheaper even with this low usage to be on E7 rather than not be on E7.

If the customer has to rely on electric heating, then yes the consumption will rise considerably, but then the arguement for E7 becomes even more intense.
Heating @ about 6p per unit or heating at 12-18p per unit or more?
As you said, electric heaters are virtually 100% efficient

paceinternet

Premier, I think you missed something. In the example given 3000 kwh at 80/20 split, one of the E7 tariffs is cheaper than one of the standard tariffs, but it is clear that the lowest cost is NOT E7.
You could save 10% (£304 std v £334 E7) using the very lowest offerings.
Save 12% (£304 std v £345 SP E7)

amtrakuk

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

I have a small flat with old storage heaters. The main room and hallway have a storage heater, the kitchen and bathroom have wall mounted fan heaters. There is no gas supply available in the building

I am thinking of getting an oil filled radiator, or a panel heater as a cheaper and more efficient way to heat the flat but I can't seem to find anywhere that allows a comparison on how much it costs to run these type of appliances. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

My father stayed in a house with storage heaters and was astonished in how uncontrollable they were. He didn't say how old they were, I understand newer storage heaters don't leak heat during the night or when not needed.

I did some research into storage heaters and they use some serious electricity when charging overnight, it made me wonder if they were as economical as initially intended.

I use standard rate and run 4 convector heaters. If you want control, IE, you can turn them on and feel the benefit immediately I would consider convector heaters, they produce heat instantly and come in different configurations, some with a timer. I would strongly recommend one with a thermostat as it regulates the electricity used without overheating the room.

Premier_2

paceinternet wrote: »

Premier, I think you missed something. In the example given 3000 kwh at 80/20 split, one of the E7 tariffs is cheaper than one of the standard tariffs, but it is clear that the lowest cost is NOT E7.
You could save 10% (£304 std v £334 E7) using the very lowest offerings.
Save 12% (£304 std v £345 SP E7)

... but that means the customer must accept monthly direct debits (as well as opertaing the account online).

I, for one, do not like monthly direct debits as although it may save a few quid in the long run, I have found in the past that the supplier often takes more than the amount consumed (as a huge number of posts by others here also find) and in my experience, getting that money back was a nightmare - in fact it was only achieved when I ended up closing the account.

So for those of us who prefer the old fashioned ways of being billed for what we have used and only paying for what we have used, (even if it is slightly more expensive) then in the example given, the SP E7 tariff is cheaper no matter how much electricity is used.

Edit: Be aware also that with nPower, to get that annual price you must agree to remain with them 12 months, as the final price appears to include a discount payable only after 12 months. That means you will also pay more during the year (to fund the discount).

With BG, there is a 6% discount that only appears top apply until August 2010.
If you cancel before 1st December 2009, there is a £30 early exit fee payable per supply
The agreement to payment monthly by DD attracts a discount of £35.73 p.a.

Mapson_2

lyndorset wrote: »

... and bought a couple of decent quality panel heaters (from Littlewoods)

Hi lyndorset, forgive me for asking but what make/model panel heaters did you buy? - thanks.