New flat, high electricity bill, confused newbie...

docflipper

Hi MSEs,
As a MSnewbie, I was hoping to get some of your wonderful advice...

I'm a new home owner, I live in a small 1 bed flat that is a fairly new build, with only one outside wall and double glazing (so we very rarely need to use heating).

It is electricity only, and I've just received my first bill from southern electric - quarterly amount = 377.74 _pale_ This is based on a meter reading, and I did check the meter to make sure it was the right one, which it was.

This seems pretty high for a tiny place like mine, any opinions?

I have had a quick look into switching suppliers, but its all very confusing - am i best using comparison sites? quidco seem to have some good cashback deals too..
also, do i have to pay a cancellation fee to change suppliers?

thanks in advance!

Cardew

All electric flats are very expensive to run.

Without heating and hot water, you might reasonably expect to pay £120 or more. Fridge freezer, washing machine, dryer tv lights etc.

So £250 for heating and hot water whilst high is not excessive.

It depends on your present tariff if you have to pay exit fees. However most new occupants are placed on the most expensive standard tariff which doesn't have an exit fee.

It isn't confusing to get the best tariff. Just go to a comparison website like energyhelpline.com and enter in 10,000kWh, then 15,000kWh and variations and the cheapest tariff will emerge.

Make sure you look at the conditions of the tariff. e.g. exit fees, discounts only paid after 12 months etc

Cazza

Bear in mind that this is a winter bill too, summer bills will be lower as you won't be using the heating, lights tumble drier etc so much. I never realised why my parents were so obsessed with turning off lights and plug sockets until I started to pay my own electric bills

Fire_Fox

I use about 1000KWH of electricity a quarter including water but very very little heating, how does that compare with your bill?

PasturesNew

What equipment do you have? How many hours per day/week/month are you using it?

I am in an all electric place and my lifestyle is:

- I have economy 7 storage heaters, but never use them. Not had the heating on yet this winter.
- I have an electric oven, but don't bother using it as it's a waste of electricity to spend 30 minutes heating up a whole oven, just to heat up one item for one person
- there is an electric immersion heater for the water, I've never used it. For washing up I boil two kettlefulls, for showering it's an instant electric shower, there's no bath.
- washing machine, I ensure it's absolutely full of clothes before turning it on. I wear sloppy gear around the house, minimising the amount of good clothes that need washing.
- I have no drier
- I have a small fridge (no freezer), I have the temperature turned down to low, but not full low. I am careful not to leave the door open if I ever open it.
- I use my hairdrier/straightners about twice a year, max.
I am at home 24/7 and the following items are on virtually 24/7: portable TV, freeview box, PC, monitor, cordless telephone.

My bill is probably 1/3rd of yours.

tori.k

The first thing you should check is turn everything off at the mains and check your power is off. as there has been a few threads on here where people have found there wiring is switched and have been paying there neighbours bill.

On the other end of the scale, there is 5 of us in a all electric 3 bed house.
we run everyday
4 TV's
2 X box 360
1 laptop
1 desktop
washer & dryer
fridge freezer
Immersion water tank
Plus iron, lights, phone's on charge, sky box etc .
and we come in just over £300 a quarter.
If you have night storage heater's you are more than likely on a E7 meter if you are then do check you are using the best of the night time electric, also check the settings on the immersion tank. as i would say that is a bit on the high side even for winter months