Crazy Southern Electric Bills

Clueless1972

I have been fortunate to have earned good money for too long to shamefully not notice how much I have been paying for my electricity. I am horriried and ashamed. My ex-partner used to deal with bills and for the last year I have paid no attention. I have no gas to the property - only electric. The heating is ceiling heating. The property 5 bed detached. My southern electricity bill is £349 per month! I am at a loss as to where to start in reviewing this. As soon as I get home I will dig out the bills (as my ex set up DD and have now been transfered into my name - I have not been paying attention). So I have nothing with me just now to be able to look into, but I hope there is someone who can point me in the right direction. I am clueless when it comes to the house maintenance and have been ashamed to ask for help. All my other bills seem to be well under control. I have just been a fool to myself on this. Please - anyone - help!

Premier_2

Well there are 2 things to look at to possibly reduce the cost:

1. Consume less.
Here's a good starting point seeing as you are already with SSE
http://www.southernenergytips.co.uk/energy-saving-tips.aspx

2. Try and get a better deal.
Use the comparison sites in the resource bar above to check you are on the best deal for your circumstances.
Remember to check again if you successfully reduce usage as the best deal may change depending on consumption.

Clueless1972

Thank you. I am going to monitor and review. I may be back to pick your brains again. Many thanks again.

Mrs_Thrify

Hello Clueless, you have come to the right place to learn how to cut the electric bill. Check to see if you are on the cheepest taraff by giving your supplier a ring.
Buy a Owl energy moniter and watch how the pennies go up and down as you turn things on or off.

Julie.

Antispam

Improve insulation in property, draft proof etc and where a nice thick warm woolly which can keep you warm and have heating on less

Clueless1972

Hi Julie,

Thank you. Owl energy monitor... hmmm... i shall google now. Sounds good. Ive bene on hold for ages for Southern Electric - had to give up - i will keep hounding!

Thanks
x

Clueless1972

Antispam, Draft proofing is a must. Lots of big windows. Off to the DIY store for me at the weekend then. I have a few windows that i still dont have curtians for - that'll help too.
Thanks
x

markharding557

I suspect ceiling heaters are the biggest culprit,it might pay in the long run to invest in storage heating on e7

Clueless1972

Mark, I have a suspicion that you are very very right. I may cost a lot to change it but save int eh long run. :think:
Ta
x

Antispam

Heating and showering will be biggest energy users

So anything to cut down especially heating will save you lots

Its nice feeling saving money then you can always reward yourself later with a nice dvd etc if money isnt that tight

Clueless1972 wrote: »

Hi Julie,

Thank you. Owl energy monitor... hmmm... i shall google now. Sounds good. Ive bene on hold for ages for Southern Electric - had to give up - i will keep hounding!

Thanks
x

glider3560

Do you use (or need to use) all the rooms in your property? If not, then turn the heating down in these rooms - no point heating an empty room!

Another thing to check are that your bills are using actual readings and not estimates.