Help with electricity bills?

magicstrawberry

Hi most bills I can find a way to reduce and make a savings on but electric always gets me.

This is my situation, I am a disabled student on a limited income and I suffer with extreme pain with my arthritis as a result I need the house to be warm enough as in previous years it has got so bad that it results in me violently shaking.

I live in a rented property and I’m having a lot of problems currently with the landlord and I’m in the process of trying to sort them.

Its a old 1900 house, with no loft insulation (I really know how bad that is one of the things I’m trying to sort as its in bags in the loft ... typical)

I have electric throughout and convector heaters which I don’t like and they go of really quickly so i have a free standing oil heater in the living room which is on most of the time.

I have draft excluders and a slanket (massive blanket you wear that I highly recommend) and huge slippers.

My electricity is NSC Standard Electricity from eon, units are

Normal primary units - 23.87p
Normal secondary units - 9p

My quarterly bill over winter is £312.63 and on average £180 for the rent of the years quarters but they do vary dependant on weather

Any help or advise you could give me id highly appreciate and any information I’ve missed please let me know and il add it just in pain atm

Magicstrawberry

savemoney

I believe landlords have to have insulation in properties now and sometimes there are grants for it, it can make a huge difference just lagging the loft to keep heat in.

If you are disabled I assume you are getting some help with Disability living allowance. Some energy suppliers have give free insulation and or help and put you on a special tariff like British gas do a essential traffic for low incomes but I believe it can to be a normal meter and there arent always available anyway

You do seem to be paying a lot

I pay

Electric tariff Tier 1(up to 225 kWh) 16.120p kWh
Electric tariff Tier 2(above 225 kWh) 10.329p kWh

savemoney

http://www.riky.co.uk/page/537/Landlord-Grants.htm

The Landlords Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) The LESA allows both private and corporate landlords to claim back up to £1500 per property for the installation of energy saving measures, including loft, cavity wall & floor insulation, upgraded heating systems and draft proofing.
To claim the relief you must include the expenditure as a deduction in your self assessment tax return. For more information you should visit www.hmrc.gov.uk

magicstrawberry

I know he should and im looking into it

I recently got awarded DLA due to how bad my condition has been getting and im on other benifits too.

Ive been using my DLA for extra help adapting small things around the house, getting extra help and to pay for electric but i thought theres no need me paying more than i have to and then what i save i can use for other things to help me

Could i ask what your on? is that British Gas? i dont paticualary want to move but i need to save

magicstrawberry

Oh thanks for that may poke him in that direction

savemoney

Yes I use British gas. If you can get gas its cheaper to heat your home than electric. I think you can also get free safety checks if you register with BG or Scottish Power

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi Magicstrawberry,

Savememmoney has already given you some great advice; hopefully your landlord can proactively make some changes to the property that will benefit you. :T

Have you spoken to E.ON about the possibility of changing to a cheaper tariff? Or a social tariff? E.ON has the WarmAssist tariff available and a team dedicated to discussing the ins and outs of the tariff with our customers it’s definitely worth a call to see if you are eligible.

If you’d like the contact details just ask, however the details are available on our website as well. See the link on my profile to get to our website.

Aside from the changing the tariff I recommend talking with our energy efficiency team for assistance on reducing your energy consumption, they maybe able to highlight anything that can be cut back and help you use appliances in a much more energy conscious manner.

It sounds as though you are very energy conscious already which is great, hopefully having a chat with us will help highlight other areas/issues that can be improved. Getting a more suitable/cheaper tariff is also very important.

Brian

magicstrawberry

As far as my knowleadge is you can only get warm assist if your a pensioner which im not.

I dont particulary want to move but ive looked at other companies that have tariffs that are not this just for people of pensionable age.

I am trying to save money where ever can but as you can see i need a level of heat to lessen my pain due to my arthritis

I will be ringing Eon at some point today as i need sort out these issues asap

Thank Magicstrawberry

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi magicstrawberry,

Your right WarmAssist is only available to those over 60 years of age.

Good luck with the call I hope we can find something to help reduce the amout you are spending, definitely ask about alternative tariffs.

Brian

Mynewt

E.on like all providers offer cheaper tarriffs for customer's paying by direct and who have use of the internet if these are available to you enquire into their fixonline or saveonline tarriffs. These undoubtedly would help reduce the value of your bills in addition speak to their caring energy and energy efficiency teams benefits checks, news and availableity of any grants and funding for EE measures etc.

magicstrawberry

Yer il see but i may have to switch as the savings last time i checked werent a great deal

thanks for your help