Is your heating ON or OFF?

katskorner

17.5 degrees. like it or lump it. (I have my eleccy blanket tho )

FrugalLina

I am so glad it has warmed up for all of you suffering in those extreme cold temperatures last week.

My heating has only been on a little these past couple of days, it has been nice and sunny outside which actually warms my house up in the mornings and I think it keeps warm (ish) for the rest of the day providing there isn't a strong wind or it isn't too cold out (nearly solar heating, eh?). I notice quite a difference on cloudy days, even if they are milder ones.

The forecast is predicting some cooler weather heading down from the north over the weekend, so the hotwater bottles will be put back into use, I think!

Kirri

Took my electric reading today, am still inputting the figures online monthly so I can see exactly how much I spend per month - supplier wants them every 3 months but at least doing it monthly I can make adjustments when I see my bill going up and makes me much more aware of the spend.

Since the snow I've had heating on which is all electric - for 1 month my bill was nearly £44 (last month was nearly £32). That figure is too much while I'm on JSA... especially as the heating has only been on for not even half a month. I know they talk about the elderly all the time making choices but they do get a sizeable amount towards their winter heating, whereas on standard JSA there just isn't anything extra and it literally is more of a choice over food or heat!

BitterAndTwisted

I'm with you on that one Kirri: lighting and heating is a big and barely affordable chunk of that £67 a week. Sent my meter-reading to BG and the bill is half what it was this time last year. Not unexpected as that nasty sub-zero snap was a lot shorter than last year bit welcome news all the same. It sort of made all that self-denial and wrapping up like a mummy worthwhile.

Kirri

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I'm with you on that one Kirri: lighting and heating is a big and barely affordable chunk of that £67 a week. Sent my meter-reading to BG and the bill is half what it was this time last year. Not unexpected as that nasty sub-zero snap was a lot shorter than last year bit welcome news all the same. It sort of made all that self-denial and wrapping up like a mummy worthwhile.

That's why I'm sat here in the dark lol, should go to bed really and save a bit more cash by turning off the pc I suppose.. ^^ that was worthwhile putting up with to get a result like that, must be quite satisfying. Mine, on the graph on the supplier website is well under what it was last year but just shows how costs have rocketed too, my heating was on a lot last winter yet my bills were nothing like what I am spending in a mostly cold flat this year!

BitterAndTwisted

That's because of the 20% price-increase they all imposed back in the autumn. That's a lot of usage to cut down on just to be able stay in the same place.

camNolliesMUMMY

I'd be shopping around asking for prices per kwh i did this was with bgas on pre pay meters this is through choice o have them to see my spends .... Bgas I was with average spend on gas for our 2 bed flat I was topping up £13 a week and £10 a week electric, I've gone to southern electric now and I don't pay a standing charge which helps now I'm paying .....gas £8 a week and £6 a week for electric.
I did used to work for eon before I got made redundent so this helped I always compare via unit prices to make sure I'm not getting fobbed off, as any company can say we can do it for this price which at the time they do then when youve been with them a few months up jumps your direct debit.
I've also previously entered contracts for the cheaper deals, they will tell you their is a fee to pay if you leave that company, but what I do is ring asking to go back onto a standard tariff and then a month later I leave lol not having to pay the fee.

My heating is on constant and I cantrol via thermostat day at 19c-20c and bed time 16c, I try to use slow cooker more for meals as I have a gas oven.
Sorry about spelling I'm using my phone and the buttons are small

Kirri

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

That's because of the 20% price-increase they all imposed back in the autumn. That's a lot of usage to cut down on just to be able stay in the same place.

I think the biggest help was buying a clothes horse and not using the tumble drier so much as the useage dropped straight away with that change.

It's a bit annoying having washing hanging around but it dries quite quick. Even before the washing drying I have had to run a dehumidifier the whole time in the flat so at least with that running anyway they dry quick and the humidity is still low. If I'm expecting visitors I may use the tumble drier just to get the washing out of the way as in a small flat there is nowhere to hide it otherwise!

I just wish I could use things 'normally', the way I want to instead of having to scrimp just because the charges are so high

FrugalLina

I like the idea of inputting the meter readings monthly, Kirri, I think I will do that too, it will make monitoring usage much easier.

B&T, you have done well to cut your fuel bill so drastically this year and I fully intend to do the same!

Wood.Justin

I agree with the comments regarding just how nice it is now it's warmed up a little bit. I have changed the time the heating comes off (9pm) to see what impact that has on our billing, in terms of warmth it really didn't make too much of a difference once we jumped into bed! I have to remember to change the settings for the weekend however it does say that you can set a weekend mode. I must find the instructions to have a look at this!

I also submit regular meeting readings to Eon to monitor our usage as this does put us in control of our billing.