Parents' £80 Elec. bill p.m, surely too much?Emersion heater?

buel

Ok, i have just bought an 'Owl' (Wireless Electricity Monitor) for my parents, now we will see what the big users are and aren't....... :)

buel

Ooh, this is what the description of the 'Owl' says-

Keeping an eye on your electricity has never been easier with the Owl wireless energy monitor. Owl helps in the fight against climate change and is set up to help millions of households realise just how much electricity (and money) we waste in our homes. Owl monitors the homes electricity supply and provides real time information about the households electricity use. By turning lights or appliances on or off, Owls easy to read LCD monitor reveals exactly how electricity fluctuates, how the cost of electricity changes per hour and how much harmful CO2 emissions the home is producing. By simply turning off appliances not in use or rather being used needlessly, UK consumers can actually save up to 25% of their electricity usage. A saving that translates directly to their monthly bills and households harmful emissions. Product features. Wireless electricity monitor. Cost of electricity display. Greenhouse gas emission display. Kw hours display. Temperature and humidity display. Large LCD display. Portable monitor. Wireless operation. Clip on sensor. DIY fit. Easy to read, easy to use, easy to install. Can be used with mains adaptor. (not supplied) Alarm function set your own peak usage. Unit supplied with batteries. Battery save option. Easy clean facia. Neutral colour. Water resistant transmitter for outside locations. Single phase with 3 phase capability. Monitor with integral stand.

Also, today i have found out that my parents have two chest freezers, please can anyone advise me if they are big users of electric?

Joyful

The chest freezers will depend on age and how much is in them. Also how often they are opened. It may be good to get a cheap individual monitor so that you can test appliances separately. The alternative is tp use the owl and switch the appliances off to see how much the consumption drops.

buel

Hello again!
Sorry for the late update but i've finally got my parents to go through every house aplliance with me and the brilliant 'Owl' energy monitor and i have listed everything on a piece of paper!
Basically the worst ones that my parents either did use or do use are:

Tumble Dryer: Min 1.336kwh/Max 2.399kwh(Now use a rotary washing line most on of the washing)
Pond pump+Fridge Freezer(on 1 plug): Min 0.580kwh/Max 1.320 (on all the time)
C/Heating(kerosene fueled):
Hot water: 0.193kwh
Heating: 0.097kwh
Both: 0.290kwh

Basically the constant useage from 8am to 11pm is between 0.0700kwh and 1.200kwh (i assume the variance is due to fridges/freezers coming on and off?)

They are currently with Scottish Gas electricity payment meter but plan to change to Eon direct debit paperless billing to save 40% (according to Eon)
The normal price for their Scottish Power electric is 11.22p per unit but apparently they are on the social tarriff so actually get charged 9.98p per unit.
The normal price for their Scottish Power standing charge is 17.29p per day but apparently they are on the social tarriff so actually get charged 9.98p per day.
They apparently get the difference refunded every 6 months and have had £32 in August 2009 and £39 in February 2010.

Im sorry if this information is put accross in a complicated way, i have tried my best!

I have two questions:
1, is this medium or high useage?
2, How can my parents tell if they have been charged too much in the past?

KimYeovil

So which is it? Scottish Gas or Scottish Power? You keep making things up and adding things on. 'They use a tumble drier' then later reveal 'oh, by the way, the spin cycle does not work correctly so the clothes are sopping wet'. Why did your parents simply not repair the washing machine instead of wasting hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds on the drier? Are any of the freezers in an unheated room? - that can cause chaos with rubbishy modern appliances.

JasX

buel wrote: »

1, i was under the impression that pre-payment meters/suppliers had to, by law, not over charge their customers for using a pre-payment meter? If so, then how could using the pay monthly option be so much cheaper?

My understanding is they won't be more expensive than a standard normal meter tariff however as with alot of things finding yourself on the default/standard tariff be it prepaying or normal will be nowhere near the best deal that can be gained by switching from time to time and taking advantage of the best tariff on offer for your useage, those however tend to be available only to people on normal meters.

Basically you won't be any more expensive than normal meters just because you are on pre-payment, however you'll be permanently lumped in with the dopey ones on the expensive 'normal meter' tariffs and not be able to take advantage of the best offers on the market (which often are hundreds of pounds cheaper than the standard tariff)

buel

KimYoevil, do you honestly think that accusing me of 'making things up' seem the best way to help my parents and me? Do you think it's constructive in any way?
And as for 'adding things', well if i receive information from my elderly parents after posting what i thought was the correct information, surely im not wrong for then 'adding' the new relevant information??
So rude!! This is a friendly forum, not a place to riddicule people?

Andy_WSM

buel wrote: »

So rude!! This is a friendly forum, not a place to riddicule people?

It's what she does. You learn to ignore it eventually.

Glad you're getting somewhere with your parents consumption figures anyway.

buel

Hi, thanks for that!!
How do my questions sound, anybody?
1, is this medium or high useage?
2, How can my parents tell if they have been charged too much in the past?

KimYeovil

It is high useage.

Why do you think they would have been overcharged? You (or rather your parents) can ask your supplier for all their previous bills. Do they have them at hand for you to look over?