Cost of heating water

annscullamus

Please could anyone tell me if it is cheaper to heat the water by electricity ( I am with Scottish Hydro) of Calor Gas, we have no mains gas on the island so those are the only 2 options. Both have timers and can be set for very defined times.
In anticipation many thanks
Annscullamus

Cardew

It depends on what electricity tariff you are on, and what you pay for Calor gas.

In general terms if you are on an Economy 7 electricity tariff it is cheaper to heat water on the 7 hour night rate, but more expensive on the daytime rate.

If you are on a standard tariff then Calor is cheaper.

lowbrim

I am not sure this is correct. Calor gas prices have shot through the roof in line with oil prices (but not dropped back as much) whilst electricity prices have gone up they have not gone up as much as calor gas. My neighbour has just taken out his calor gas tank and converted to oil and he says it is significantly cheaper. The only true way is to take meter readings before and after a boost on gas and then on electricity and then multiply by the price you are paying per unit which should be on your bills. If you go to economy 7 (which you can do for free) you need to use at least as much power overnight as you do in the day otherwise you will lose out as the day time units are more expensive than normal day units. You can achieve this by putting your washing machine etc on overnight, but unless you have electric heating I would not have thought it worthwhile.

Cardew

lowbrim wrote:

If you go to economy 7 (which you can do for free) you need to use at least as much power overnight as you do in the day otherwise you will lose out as the day time units are more expensive than normal day units. You can achieve this by putting your washing machine etc on overnight, but unless you have electric heating I would not have thought it worthwhile.

The 'break even' point for using economy 7 electricity varies a great deal depending on where in the country you live, and the company you use.

To further complicate matters this 'break even' point often varies when companies have price rises e.g. they make E7 a better or a worse proposition.

The normal range to break even(last time I checked) was between 20-40% of the total to be used at night and would be surprised if it was 50% anywhere. For me in the Midlands with BG it used to be about 30% and, as you indicate, I found this difficult to achieve without storage heating - so reverted to a normal tariff.

However if you have Calor gas, or even oil, CH the extra savings by using electricity to heat your water might just tip the balance in favour of E7.

annscullamus

Thankyou for all the information. I have standard electricity not economy 7 and LPG Calor central heating. I think the Calor is cheaper, but never seems to heat the water quite as hot as the electricity, but I will keep a watch and post when I know for definite. Calor is 27.9p a unit - no options that I can see, unless someone out there knows an LPG supplier who comes to the Isle of Skye!

Many thanks,
annscullamus

peat

here's an interesting comparison table,
http://nep.gngateway.org.uk/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-technologies/energy-costs-comparison

Cardew

peat wrote:

here's an interesting comparison table,
http://nep.gngateway.org.uk/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-technologies/energy-costs-comparison

Nice to get an up to date table.

The figures given for the Ground source heat pump is misleading though; it doesn't give the output.

annscullamus

That is very interesting, and VERY useful. As far as I can see am I right in thinking that Calor is marginally cheaper than electricity? Actually I had a Solartwin hot water solar panel fitted in Feb 2005, and Calor calculated that it had saved me approx 32% of my gas in the summer from May - September of the first year! It is fantastic, and sadly I sit in the kitchen on a bright day and watch the temp gauge fixed to the water tank, going up and up and all FREEEEEEE! (Well after the pay back cost! But it still is brilliant for the environment.)

Cardew

annscullamus wrote:

As far as I can see am I right in thinking that Calor is marginally cheaper than electricity?

Not marginally cheaper - less than half the price acording to the table in the link above.

harryhound

My bill is 4.437 + 5% tax per kWh for now expensive Scottish Power.
(thinks must switch)