I think my useage seems excessive. What do you think?

mrsdumplin

Hi,

I've lived in my house for 10 years now any my useage has always been around the same...but I have allways felt it was excessive but whoever I was with told me it seemed normal. Today a guy from Npower turned up at the door trying to persuade me to move he gave me a leaflet which showed the average comsuptions based on bedrooms and people..

Averages
Gas - 13,730
Elec - 2170

My Consumption
Gas - 25364
Elec- 9745

I am in a 2 bed end terraced with 2 dogs and a baby, Gas only for central heating and hob, How the heck can i be using so much more than the average??? Double the gas and 4 times the electric!!
I've got one of those meter things and I'm going to spend tomorrow swithching things on and off....for all I know I could be powering next door..

But I was wondering is this average accurate or a sales ploy so my question is...whats your consumption??? and Does mine seem excessive....

thanks
Lisa

Cardew

The accepted UK average used by all the companies is 20,500kWh gas and 3,300kWh electricity.

Your gas consumption is high, but if you are at home most of the day and especially if you have poor insulation/old boiler etc it is understandable.

Your electricity is really high, by any standards.

mrsdumplin

thanks, I thought so...
I'm monitoring hourly till 11 then starting again at 8am, and will do it two hourly from then
Averaging about 1KWH per hour so far today? is that high?

kippen_noedel

mrsdumplin wrote: »

But I was wondering is this average accurate or a sales ploy so my question is...whats your consumption??? and Does mine seem excessive....

Yes it's a sales ploy but at the same time pretty accurate, remember though, changing companies won't change your usage, I'm stating the obvious but is a tactic used by sales people, it creates the setting for honesty.

If you want the best deal use one of the comparison sites listed just above this section of the forum. Just enter the usage figures you posted with your postcode, the comparisons will then show which is the cheapest, but make sure you read any terms and conditions attached to make sure the tariff offered meets your needs.

mrsdumplin

I only switched in Dec so I know I've pretty much the best deal on my useage....trouble is I cant believe my useage....

there is two adults, 2 dogs, 1 baby, normal size 2 bed end terrace house.

Since 10am this morning I've used 56kwh of gas and 11 of elec.

The only gas I use is a hob and GCH...my thermostat is set at 19??? and the boiler isnt that old...

Cant wait for hubby to install this monitor thing tomorrow....

macman

mrsdumplin wrote: »

I only switched in Dec so I know I've pretty much the best deal on my useage....trouble is I cant believe my useage....

there is two adults, 2 dogs, 1 baby, normal size 2 bed end terrace house.

Since 10am this morning I've used 56kwh of gas and 11 of elec.

The only gas I use is a hob and GCH...my thermostat is set at 19??? and the boiler isnt that old...

Cant wait for hubby to install this monitor thing tomorrow....

Your electricity consumption is the equivalent of more than a one bar electric fire (1,000W) on constantly, day and night. By comparison, my house has quite a lot of appliances (2 fridges and 2 freezers), but ticks over at about 300W.
How do you heat your hot water? Do you have an immersion heater as a back up that is maybe running 24 hours and has a faulty thermostat (is your hot water very hot)? I suggest you go round turning off everything in turn to see where the power is being used. We're not just talking about a few lights being left on, or a TV left on standby-something major is burning all that power.
Your monthly bills must be enormous!

markharding557

NNooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Do not talk to lying salesmen at the door they will swear blind on the popes life that the sky is pink if it got them a sale.
utility salesmen:eek::eek:npower:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

aelitaman

Halogen lighting?

mrsdumplin

Thanks everyone...

Have installed monitor and commenced operation find the dam leccy burning appliance.
Its now 11.31, only a lamp on downstairs, computer on, tv on, all usual, 2xfridge, microwave,kettle, baby monitor, alarm clock etc on standby....and we are running at 650- 700 ish...sp still quite high
Gonna turn everything off at mains tomorrow, check there is no reading and check meter..
Will also check hot water macman....hubby is a nitemare for leaving the emersion on...but the hot water is steamingly hot I did turn the thermostat down a while ago, might knock it down a few more degrees, Out of interest whats yours set at?
yes my bills are extortionate? currently around the £200 a month...
They have always been high, I was just allways told by the companies they were normal....so Mark, in his defence the Npower guy may have done me a favour, and for once, he wasnt a pushy one...
I'll keep you posted.

mrsdumplin

Yup halogen spots in living room and kitchen, gonna ask hubbly about them. See what we can so there although, until the last 6 months, no one is in during the day, and although useage has gone up in this time its not sky rocketed.

mrsdumplin

Eeek...my old fridge our drinks fridge has just kick on adn is 73W.....my god..i'd never imagned it was that high!!! thats a gonner...