£700 per year for gas+elec.. ridiculous??

~moneysavingnovice~

macman wrote: »

You need to total your consumption over a full year, as March-June will be relatively high, as you will still have had the gas CH on for most of that period.
Typical annual consumption for 2 b/r flat would be around 15,000 kWh for gas and 4,000 kWh for electricity.
Your usage and bills seem low.

Over last 12months:
14,000kWh gas
3,500kWh elec

Blimey, if this is low/typical, I don't know how I'd cope with a big bill!

Thanks for replies all.

As for changing suppliers, it's a rented flat so we haven't done that, but we're buying a house atm so will certainlylook into it in the new place.

macman

Renting doesn't prevent you pickingyour own utility supplier? If you are on the standard tariff then that is always the most expensive of all.

moonrakerz

~moneysavingnovice~ wrote: »

I vow not to use my washing machine as much if nothing else!

I am afraid that you have fallen for one of the most commonly propogated myths about washing machines.

They do not actually use a lot of electricity.......

If it is hot and cold fill the hot water is almost certainly heated by another fuel and the W/M only tops up the heat if needed.
If it is cold fill the W/M will heat the water to the required temperature, but this will only take a few minutes out of the hour or so that the machine is running to wash a load.
The rest of the time you are just paying for the motor to turn the drum - and it isn't even doing that for the whole of the cycle.

This gives a fairly balanced explanation of washing machine costs and ways to reduce them:

http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/topics/eco-energy-labels.html

retepetsir

Seriously don't worry about it, that's not much when averaged out over a year!

Our gas bill fluctuates but for a 2-bedroom flat and 2 people our electricity is around £30 a month, and gas we pay £30-£40 a month which is about the average over 12 months.

mardatha

Wish I hadn't read this thread. Just counted up our totals with coal, calor, and elect - and its just under £2000
But my stove is on 24/7 all year and the house is cosy and water is always hot.
But still...2 grand ...

undaunted

£700 for gas and electricity sounds like it's just a sign of the times I'm afraid - ie actually your bills are probably a lot less than most. Not really what you wanted to hear perhaps but you are probably running as economically as you can other than looking for a possible switch of supplier / small saving

macman

OP has never switched, so more than likely that a worthwhile saving can be made by doing so.

~moneysavingnovice~

macman wrote: »

OP has never switched, so more than likely that a worthwhile saving can be made by doing so.

We're moving out of our rented flat in ~3 weeks, so won't be doing it for this place, but as soon as we're in our new house I will be giving it a go!
And sitting in the dark... :cool:

neas

Yea 700 quid is cheap some people spend 2k on gas/elec :O