Saving on electric

Cardew

MonstersMummy wrote:

the kettle for me is really irrelevant as I dont drink tea or coffee (neither do my kids!!) so is only using when we have visitors!! I'll try to remember that when we next have company though!

I have to wash and dry the bedding the same day as we all only have one set (ex used spares for dust sheets and in the garage!). Even if i get them on the airer before school they still dont dry in time for the kiddies bedtime, they only just dry on the washing line in time!! OK so buying a spare set each of bedding would prob solve that!!

My bill has 2 rates, this one states 2 units @ 15p and 41 units @ 7p then 180 @16p and 1247 @8p. I presuming this is only due to a price rise although I've had no written warning about them doing it. Do you think the cheaper rate is over night? Is 1427 units a quarter a lot??

Greengrass, we're exactly the same: 3 bed, 3 people and dont have standby functions (no normal tele, dvd, etc as everything runs through pc). Is that £60 for the duel fuel DD discount? Apparently I get a discount at some point but dont know when or how much for!

You are not on Economy 7 so it will not cost less to run any appliance overnight.

I would echo what tripled said that it is difficult to make Economy 7 pay if you have gas.

1,427 in a winter quarter is high but not excessively so. You might benefit from getting a power measuring meter to monitor what is using your electricity. In general terms it is any heating device that uses the most electricity, but even lights etc left on will add up over the weeks.

Wig

MonstersMummy wrote:

My bill has 2 rates, this one states 2 units @ 15p and 41 units @ 7p then 180 @16p and 1247 @8p. I presuming this is only due to a price rise although I've had no written warning about them doing it. Do you think the cheaper rate is over night? Is 1427 units a quarter a lot??

Hi
(post updated to be correct)

No you are not on Economy 7, no it is not cheaper at night.

1470 kwh a quarter is a lot for some people, but I don't know what average uses are for 3 bed homes with GCH.

As you say np gives you a discount after 12 months, and this is why I don't like them, you are effectively locked in for 12 months, and then if you don't switch locked in again for another 12 months. BTW the price you are quoted on the switch sites includes the discount already, so it shows over the year the final price you will pay. If other suppliers come close to np and they don't have lock in clauses you might consider you would be better off going with them instead.

I just looked at a use for 5880kwh per year in my area (not knowing what area you are in) and npower online is top of the list @ £595

But close by is Scottish power @ £613 with no lock in clause, no discounts.
If you want a little better
Scottish Power Online is £603 including a £10/year discount from the normal price (£613) so you are paying £8 more than Npower per year but you only lose £10 if you switch mid term.

Ebico BTW is not good for high electric use in this case it is £667

MonstersMummy

I know its not economy 7, well I presumed that as I thought it would mention it some where on the statement. We are all gas heating here so I'm not planning to switch it but I thought maybe the reason for the 2 different rates was due to it being cheaper at a certain time of day, ie over night.

I'll ring them at some point and find out when the cheaper rate applies and do my washing, use the pc and iron accordingly!!

Ebico for me is cheaper than the more expensive of the 2 npower rates but about the same as the cheaper one. When my next gas bill comes in I'll have a look at that as well.

espresso

MonstersMummy wrote:

I know its not economy 7..........

I'll ring them at some point and find out when the cheaper rate applies and do my washing, use the pc and iron accordingly!!

There isn't a cheaper rate! The dearer rate is presumably to make up for not paying a standing charge.

Cardew

MonstersMummy wrote:

I'll ring them at some point and find out when the cheaper rate applies and do my washing, use the pc and iron accordingly!!

There is no 'cheaper rate' time for you.

The higher price(16p) you pay on the first units you use in a quarter(normally the first 225kWh) all the rest are at the lower price(8p)

So if you had say a very low usage in a quarter, say 250kWh, you would pay for 225kWh at 16p and 25kWh at 8p.

So if you had say a very high usage in a quarter, say 5,000kWh, you would pay for 225kWh at 16p and 4,775kWh at 8p.

The increased higher rate for the first 225 units is in lieu of the standing charge that used to be paid.(some tariffs still have a standing charge and a single rate for electricity)

If you look at your gas bill you will normally find 2 rates for that. The first 1,143(usually) kWh per quarter are charged at a higher rate.

skintas_2

im with powergen my bill is £66 a month. i owed money bill was this in the summer too, £49 bill with the rest outstanding this is nearly paid off. dont have lights all left on, i have a candle at nite , no heating on , only to heat water for baths, the heat from cooking wartms up my flat. if im cold i get a duvet out or put a jumper on, i hang clothes on hangers in bathroom , as had hot water on the will dry with the warm and hot air in there from hot water from bath, or and we all share the bath

skintas_2

i mean water kids in first then adults top it up..........

glo1967

I recently changed my gas & electric to EDF energy & have noticed a higher saving in my electric. I am in a 3 bed flat, was spending approx £50 a month & now I am spending approx £30. Not a great deal of difference with the gas though, but not complaining.

Flurry

It might be worthwhile investing in spare sheets in the January sales. It really takes the stress out of it all - I couldn't believe how much easier it made life when I did it! I know it's a big cost to start with, but it will save you tumble drying costs and reduce your stress, I promise!