Electricity Usuage?

Lesley_Allan

Hi All,

Pretty new to this forum and have just moved into my first house, I am still getting to grips with everything, for my gas/elec I am with e-on and pay a monthly direct debit, they told me to update my actual reading on the 1st of every month.

As I used to stay at home I suppose i took a lot of things for granted, leaving lights switched on all the time etc.

I don't know if you can tell me if the usuage is high, low or just about right.

I took a ready when I moved in on 1st October and Elec was 58 860
I took another reading this morning and it is 58 881.

I'm not sure how it all works really, i know i will have prices for eon for both gas and elec, I just wondered if the usuage looked ok for the 14 days i have been in the property.

any advice is much appreciated.

Thank you.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

so you've used 21 units in 14 days, wow, that's really low, 1.5 units a day. Are you using gas for heating, hot water, cooking?

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi Lesley_Allan

It’s great to see you taking an active interest in your energy consumption! :beer:

An average of 1.5 per day is not bad going at all, but it does depend on what you’re using the electricity for.

As frugalmacdugal says, do you have gas and what is that used for?

It would be a good practice to make note of what appliances you are using, we will then have a better idea to whether or not the usage looks accurate.

Providing E.ON with a monthly read is a great idea, it helps you know what you are using and helps us build up accurate consumption information for your account.

To find out your particular prices, you can call or email E.ON; alternatively if you have registered you account for online management your product information is shown on the online account.

You can use the website to find your unit rates even if you are not registered, all you need to know is the name of the tariff you are on, do you have this information?

When we set the account up for you a letter confirming the tariff and your Direct Debit details should have been sent to you, this will contain all the information you need.

If you have any other questions about your electricity or gas give me a shout, always here to help.

Brian

Lesley_Allan

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

so you've used 21 units in 14 days, wow, that's really low, 1.5 units a day. Are you using gas for heating, hot water, cooking?

my heating is not on yet as it is not cold enough yet for that, I have a surveyour coming to the house this friday to quote me for cavity wall insulation as this was recommended on my survey I had done when buying the house.

I am out of the house Monday - Friday 7am until 5pm.

I use the washing machine twice a week, fridge/freezer is always on, electric shower in the mornings, house phone always on 24/7 and usually my tv and broadband are on from about 5pm until 9/10pm at night.
Alternate nights for cooking, sometimes microwave and sometimes gas cooker/oven.

With me being new to everything, I am just trying to keep my eye on things.

Brian - Thanks, I manage my account online and submit both gas and elec meter readings on the 1st of the month. I am on the Fixonline 3 tariff.

My next bill is not due until around about the 10th Dec, I was just trying to keep on top of things because obviously I have joined at not a great time as I have no credit built up for the winter months so I am sure my usuage will get considerably higher when the colder weather comes in and of course when i am home at the weekends.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi Lesley_allan,

You sound very organised, good work! :T

So now you’re online the unit rates will be displayed when you log in, nice and easy.

When the Direct Debit was set up did E.ON suggest the amount?

If so the amount should be set to take into account the winter period, come the spring the Direct Debit will be reviewed and I think you’ll probably find that the Direct Debit is reduced.

If you’re concerned about the Direct Debit not being enough you can always make extra payments towards your bills to help, alternatively put some money aside especially for any arrears after the winter.

There’s loads of advice on these boards on how best to efficiently use your appliances and heat your home, good thing to look into before the heating goes on! Many people ask questions about this type of thing on the forum, there is a wealth of information around here. :cool:

E.ON can provide you with free energy efficiency advice, you can call us for a chat about this or even have a look around the website, and you may find the interactive house a useful tool. :money:

As I say feel free to come to me if you have any questions, I’m more than happy to help.

Brian

Lesley_Allan

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the quick reply, Yes when I joined Eon they set up my direct debit by saying that they had a look at the previous usuage and thought they amount they had set me up for per month would cover this.

Although the neighbour upstairs did say she thought the people there before me rarely had the heating on!

I'm not overly concerned at the moment, I will keep an eye on things and just wait and see what happens when my next bill comes in around mid december and take things from there.
I don't think that my heating will be on until November as it is still quite mild here but you just never know but i'll watch what i am doing and if i feel i need to overpay I will contact E-on and discuss my concerns.


One thing I did want to ask was, I think the people before may have a little problem with dampness in the bedroom before under the window, the surveyour seemed to think it was maybe because the didnt heat the house and ventilate it properly.

do you think by me getting cavity wall insulation that this should help me prevent dampness in the future? Whilst I know it should always help my bills a bit.

Thanks
Lesley

Premier_2

Lesley_Allan wrote: »

...
I use the washing machine twice a week, fridge/freezer is always on, electric shower in the mornings, house phone always on 24/7 and usually my tv and broadband are on from about 5pm until 9/10pm at night.
Alternate nights for cooking, sometimes microwave and sometimes gas cooker/oven....

Well done on your apprent low usage, but I really wonder if there has been some kind of mistake.

You see, you are suggesting 1.5kWh per day, yet an average fridge/freezer would use almost 1.0 kWh per day.

Add to that an electric shower every day and the 4 hours of TV (and presumably some kind of lighting) then you either have an extremely quick shower (less than 2 mins) or something seems amiss.

... or perhaps as this is the first property of your own, you didn't have the fridge/freezer from day 1?

Lesley_Allan

Premier wrote: »

Well done on your apprent low usage, but I really wonder if there has been some kind of mistake.

You see, you are suggesting 1.5kWh per day, yet an average fridge/freezer would use almost 1.0 kWh per day.

Add to that an electric shower every day and the 4 hours of TV (and presumably some kind of lighting) then you either have an extremely quick shower (less than 2 mins) or something seems amiss.

... or perhaps as this is the first property of your own, you didn't have the fridge/freezer from day 1?

The fridge freezer was a few days later in arriving so it has only been on for around 10 days.

savemoney

Seems very low 1.5kw a day though. Your shower will probably consume 7-10 kwh so say 10 minutes on a day will take at least 1kw possible 2kw each time

LittleMissAspie

I would say it is oddly low too. We use around 7-8kwh per day. Washing machine 4-5 times a week, fridgefreezer on all day, 2 electric showers per day and a computer on for about 5 hours each evening. Gas heating and cooker. Going by that yours should be at least 3.5kwh per day.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi Lesley,

The average maybe right, due to you just moving in, it may be that for the first week you were using next to nothing and now you are getting to normal your daily amount is higher, therefore creating a low average for the first two weeks. :think:

For example, you may have started in the first week only using around 0.5 – 1 kWh a day, maybe not using washing machine, laptop and as mentioned the fridge/freezer, but in the second week you are up to 2.5 – 3 kWh, as you are using these appliances.

Try taking a read each day, around the same time to get an idea of what you use in kWh against the appliances you know you used that day. With this more defined information you will be able to look into the accuracy of your consumption. :cool:

Brian