Electricity too expensive

teajug

I live on my own in a small one bedroom flat in a block that is always warm. I am not working and on state pension. I rarely use the lights in my flat as it has big windows. I have to all the low saving energy bulbs also I rarely use the washing machine but it very old, I do keep the TV on a lot but it is a flat screen one. I mostly use microwave oven for cooking. My electricity has just gone up to £41 a month. Why is electricity so high nowadays. My gas is £40 a month and that is for heating and hot water and I expect it will go up in April as it always does. :eek:

penrhyn

Do you know your annual gas and electricity consumption figures in Kilowatt Hours?

Its impossible to say why you seem to be paying so much for your electricity without knowing this.
Do you for example have an immersion heater or room heater on a lot?

teajug

penrhyn wrote: »

Do you know your annual gas and electricity consumption figures in Kilowatt Hours?

Its impossible to say why you seem to be paying so much for your electricity without knowing this.
Do you for example have an immersion heater or room heater on a lot?

The gas is through the council although all the flats have their own individual meters buthte council will let us use them. I have written to them for my gas to be independent and they said that the meters installed are not safe to use for the block.!!! However I know that there are a few flats in the block that the occupiers have purchased a long lease from the council many years ago under the RTB and they use their gas meters, why not the rest of the tenants.

The gas is estimated by the council each year for their tenants ion the building and that is why it is a rate of £40 a month but it goes up every April just like the rents. We all have our own new combination gas boilers in the block for water and central heating.

The electricy is independent and we can use any company we like but I am wondering if there is a problem with the wiring up to everyone flat. Is there a gismo that would let me know how much electricity that I am using that would at least give me something to go on and probably get the council to check wiring up to people flats. :eek:

penrhyn

You can buy an Owl monitor, however the sensor must be fitted to the live feed to your electricity meter, can you read this meter, how are you billed for the electricity?

teajug

penrhyn wrote: »

You can buy an Owl monitor, however the sensor must be fitted to the live feed to your electricity meter, can you read this meter, how are you billed for the electricity?

Thanks penrhyn for information do you know how much the monitor costs and where can I purchase one. The meter can be read and I pay by direct debit.

KxMx

Direct Debit's are always what the company can get away with charging you, not a great refelction of true usage costs.
Switch to a quarterly bill and get a Post Office Budget Card which you can load money onto and pay the bill with once it comes.
We are 2 people in a 3 bed semi, gas is heating only so electric is for lights, appliances, cooking etc. Although our latest bill hasn't yet arrived I do not see it being over £80, and this is the most expensive quarter for us as it is many.

Lokolo

KxMx wrote: »

Direct Debit's are always what the company can get away with charging you, not a great refelction of true usage costs.
Switch to a quarterly bill and get a Post Office Budget Card which you can load money onto and pay the bill with once it comes.
We are 2 people in a 3 bed semi, gas is heating only so electric is for lights, appliances, cooking etc. Although our latest bill hasn't yet arrived I do not see it being over £80, and this is the most expensive quarter for us as it is many.

All you have to do is submit meter readings every now and again and they will change the DD.

HappyMJ

Yuk sharing a gas bill....What if you are trying to save energy and living with someone else in the block who doesn't care. Me personally I would not live in this flat and find somewhere else to live. £41 is fairly normal but you should be able to reduce it further. Things that use energy are anything that creates heat. Dryers, kettles, heaters, immersions. Anything. Turn everything off at wall and only turn things on when you need to use them.

KxMx

Lokolo wrote: »

All you have to do is submit meter readings every now and again and they will change the DD.

Ah thanks I didn't realise that. Still don't believe in them though lol, the amounts people put up with paying, like close to £100 a month for both :eek:
When out quarterly gas & electric for the winter should come in under £150 combined :beer:

dogshome

Hi teajug - £41 a month works out to a consumption of around 4800 Kwh a year, which is quite a lot for a 1 bed gas heated flat - Is it possible that your supplier is collecting debt that built up because your previous D/D payments were too low?

To get a handle on this you need to know how many Kwh you are actually using a year - phone your supplier and ask them. Post the answer and details of your tariff for positive advice.

I've some concern over the billing of your gas use - £40 a month would equal useage of around 12,000 kwh a year - Which again is on the high side.
The council cannot add profit to the rates they pay the gas supplier, (though they can add a fee for sorting out the bills), but you are entitled to see the Original Bills from the gas supplier. If there is a Tenants Association it would be worth taking it up with them

Premier_2

KxMx wrote: »

...We are 2 people in a 3 bed semi, gas is heating only so electric is for lights, appliances, cooking etc. Although our latest bill hasn't yet arrived I do not see it being over £80, and this is the most expensive quarter for us as it is many.

£80 total for gas & electric for the quarter over this coldest winter since anyone can remember???

I wish... :cool: