Help Needed-Is Our G&E Useage Excessive??

Mads13

Hi All

Right, we are a small family unit of 3. 2 adults and 1 child. I am disabled with lupus, FMS and severe mental health problems. I feel the cold alot, I also need to do extra washloads as I wet the bed sometimes :mad: . My hubby is my full time carer, so we are indoors 99% of the time, so I assume we will use more G&E than say the average household. I will try and list as much as possible, so you can see what we use and whether there is potential to cut down at all.

All house is GCH, water is heated via gas in immersion tank but immersion heater has been disconnected. The GCH is normally set at 18-20c 24/7 and never goes above 20c. Upstairs always seems to be hot and downstairs colder. All lights are energy saving bulbs where possible.

In kitchen

Dishwasher-used once daily
Cooker-Electric fan assisted(plugged in 24/7 and timer on)
Hob-Gas
Kettle-Have started filling a flask for hot drinks throughout the day to save on using it evry 30 mins for hot drinks.
Slowcooker-used 1-2 times a week
Microwave-used to heat or defrost (plugged in and clock on 24/7)
Average Fridge-Low grade-I think B or C grade
Average Freezer-Low grade-I think B or C
Under Unit lights-rarely put on as I assume expensive to run(do look nice though)
Main Light-rarely used

Utility Room

Washing Machine 1400-Used 1-3 times daily on a 40-50c wash cycle
Tumble Drier Electric-Used on each occasion to dry washloads

Lounge

42" Plasma(bought as pressy from parents )on quite alot im afraid :eek:
Skybox-always on or on standy
Amp-sound goes through for tv or sky, is turned off at night
Lamp-Energy saving bulb
Main light 3x40watts-very rarely used (looks ugly with energy bulbs)
2 x lighted cabinets-has teddies in that I collect, were on a timer for 5 hours a day, but today have unplugged and will put on only to show off when we have people round
Gas fire coal effect-used if cold to top up heat in lounge
Laptop-used a few hours a day(this is being sold in next few weeks)

Bedroom 1

Main computer & LFT monitor-used all the time
Lamps-energy bulb
Portable TV-Used 2 hours a day and is left on standby
DVD Player-Used rarely but is plugged in 24/7
Hairdryer-used for 3-4 mins a day

Bedroom 2

Small tropical fish tank-small heater and filter on 24/7
Lamp-energy bulb
Main Light-sometimes daughter gets up through night and forgets to turn off

Bathroom

9kw power shower-used daily for a few minutes
Bath-used daily
Light-energy bulb

Shed

Large freezer-I think energy grade is B or C
Outside security light-goes of and on etc.

Also our home phones are plugged into the electric-dont know if this costs anything.

If ive missed anything out please ask.

At present I pay £76 a month for gas and electric combined, I have this morning entered the new meter readings and looks like there be increasing my monthly DD. I obviously want to keep my costs down, so need advice desperatly!!! Can anyone help me??? There are lots of things I would like to ask, but these 3 are what I can think of at present.

(1)How much does it cost to run a load in wash machine on a 40-50c load?
(2)How much does a load cost to dry in tumble drier?
(3)Does it cost to leave electrics on standby?

I also have to stick to a very high calorie diet. So daily I have the same food normally which is cooked fresh, bacon sarnie breaky, jacket spud for lunch-cooked 5 mins microwave and 15 mins oven(because I can only eat certain foods Im very fussy and if it dont taste right I dont eat it), so cooking say jackets for the week in one go wuldnt work as they arent crispy like i like them..if you know what i mean. I have dinner the same as daughter and hubby and other foods are not cooked etc.

Being on benefits we are on a tight budget, but I feel we manage well and have a great family who are generous. I dont want to start selling items etc to just to pay our utilities as the items we have we have worked hard for or saved. Most items are old but well loved and looked after. I have cut back on most other monthly items, food, petrol, car ins, house ins, sky, phone, internet, mobile etc, so feel Ive done pretty well, its just this that is bugging me big time.

I will welcome any comments and suggestons.

Thanks
Mads13

NigeWick

Mads13 wrote:

Skybox-always on or on standy

2 x lighted cabinets-has teddies in that I collect, were on a timer for 5 hours a day, but today have unplugged and will put on only to show off when we have people round

Gas fire coal effect-used if cold to top up heat in lounge

Bedroom 1

Main computer & LFT monitor-used all the time
Portable TV-Used 2 hours a day and is left on standby
DVD Player-Used rarely but is plugged in 24/7

Bedroom 2

Small tropical fish tank-small heater and filter on 24/7

Also our home phones are plugged into the electric-dont know if this costs anything.

Being on benefits we are on a tight budget, but I feel we manage well and have a great family who are generous. I dont want to start selling items etc to just to pay our utilities as the items we have we have worked hard for or saved

I'm a bit new at this money saving malarkey, so hopefully more experienced heads will come along with more than I offer. If *I* were really desperate to save money, I'd ditch Sky all together and get library books (free) to read, but that's my preference as I like books. I'd also get rid of all TVs apart from the main one, failing that, never leave one on standby. The lighted teddy cupboards would stay unlit until *I* wanted to view the contents. The coal effect gas fire may be used when it isn't cold enough to heat the whole house as it would then possibly be a saving rather than an addition. We only tumble dry when the weather outside won't do it for us. We haven't got a fish tank and unless it was essential for your mental health, I would try and find a good home for it elsewhere. My computer is switched off when I'm not at the keyboard. Basically get rid of every liability that you can't do without. Any phones plugged directly into the electric will probably have memories/answer facilities or similar. They won't use a lot of current, but will definitely not be free to run.

Are you concerned because you are overspending each month, or just that you have no savings/cushion? If the former, then I would consider my proposals. If the latter, perhaps there are opportunities elsewhere in your budget/banking & saving accounts?

Who do you get your electricity and gas from? There are web sites that will give you comparisons to see if you are paying more than you need to. Some people using a LOT may benefit from one of the pay monthly, use as much as you like schemes. If you have bills with units used shown, you can make the comparisons for costings.

I am an independent distributor with the Utility Warehouse Discount Club (Have a look at the Telecom Plus threads) because I find I get the best all round deal to suit *my* circumstances and I earn a bit of commission. I have seen messages from forum members who have been less than best pleased with the company, although my own experience has been good. But, you should really check the figures yourself and decide what is best for you in your circumstances.

I doubt I've helped much, but it may give you food for thought.

Nigel.

Mads13

Hi Nigel

Thanks for your quick reply.

Basically, its not that we're destitute or cant afford to pay the monthly DD, but more the principal of such high gas and electric costs. We dont go out or socialise, smoke and hubby has 4 lagers a week as a treat 88pence for 4 LOL Our sky package is our little luxury each month and we dont have the full package.

I am on a whole very good with finances and have been for many years as this was my job before becoming disabled, but this G&E useage is just bugging me :mad:


The TV in our room is there as i cant get up and downstairs easily, so when I go up stairs Im there for the night..lol.

Fishtank is in daughters room and would be devistated if i said we were getting rid off, but would be interested to know how much this roughly costs to run????

Our G&E is through Scottish Power. How do i find out about companies that do the monthly fees for use as much as you want schemes?

We do have some savings. Our debt is not major and most has been transfered to 0% cards etc, so balance is being paid not interest!! We have no loans, all debt is on CC's. The rate we're going all debt will be paid and will owe nothing by November of this year.

I do alot of reading as Im studying for my second degree through the OU, so am not a total TV addict

Hope this helps
Mads13
xxx

Robert5988

You firstly need to sort out the cost of your Gas and the cost of electricity as a proportion of the £76. I suspect that gas will be considerably higher than electricity.

You don't say if the heating is by radiators or warm air. Certainly you should shut off heating to the bedrooms when not in use. Also shut off heating downstairs when in bed. Are you sure that the temperature is only 18-20C? If you feel the cold a lot that is not very warm. How do you measure the temperature?

I assume your tank is well lagged and loft well insulated? You can get grants for this.

From what you have said, if you leave CH on 24/7 £76 a month for both Gas & elec is not excessive for the equipment you have in the house.

There are websites which give the average running costs of every domestic appliances. From what I see the only real scope for serious savings - apart from your central heating - would be your washing and dryer use. Why 40-50C? and up to 3 loads a day washed and dried does seem quite a lot for 3 people. Can you not dry outside/airing cupboard?

TV's etc on standby cost a few pence a YEAR. They are typically about 1 watt.

The schemes for unlimited use of Gas/Elec are for the elderly.

Mads13

Hi Robert

Thanks for your reply.

The heating is by radiators. We have a temperature thing and temp is always between 18-20c according to that. I always have layers on, socks etc. we do have more washing than the average household as Im disabled and do have accidents through the night I always assumed that 40c for colours is fine and 50c for whites etc will kill germs-especially on bedding etc...is this not correct..what temp do you use?? I can do a 30c min temp washload with my washer-will this save money and clean the clothes properly???

I have worked out that we have used 1177 units of gas in the last 12 weeks roughly, so over a year if we use the same amount of gas (which would be less in summer coz no heating will be needed) is about an annual useage of 5100 units. Electric has been 2819 units in the last 12 weeks, so again over the year assuming we will use the same(tumble drier will be less though hanging washing outside) gives an annual useage of 12,215 units. Does this seem excessive??

We are currently with Scottish Power, and have just used Uswitch or something similar, using the unit useage per annum rather than DD payments(as martin suggests), and if we go with powergen they guarentee a saving of around £95 per annum, so have started the switch...I hope i have done the right thing!! :T

Do you know the websites that list the running costs of each item???

Thanks again for your reply.

Mads13
xxx

Robert5988

I assume by “temperature thing” you mean a wall thermostat. If so, that is no measure of the temperature in the various rooms. They are not very accurate and of course they only detect the ambient temperature where they are situated. All they do is switch on/off the CH pump. If it is situated in the hall or in a draft it will run the pump until the temperature in that place is at the set temperature. If you feel the cold as you say I suspect that you have the rooms considerably warmer than the 18-20C you state. You can buy a room thermostat and check.

Your consumption of 1177 units of gas equates to roughly £200(depending on your tariff) over 12 weeks which is high for a 2 bedroomed house. However that is the coldest quarter and will be much less in the other quarters.

So for gas I suggest you look at room temperatures. Review if you need 24/7 CH. Check insulation and either fit thermostatic valves on the radiator or simply turn off radiators for rooms not in use.

Your electricity use of 2,819 units in 12 weeks is staggeringly high for 2 adults and a baby and, although it will be less in the summer, it will still be huge for 2 adults and a baby. Again, depending on tariff, you are looking at well over £200 for that 12 weeks.
I cannot reconcile your consumption with the appliances and useage in your original post, unless you have extremely inefficient fridge, freezer dryer, washing machine and dryer. Are you sure your immersion heater is disconnected?

In general terms it is heating devices that consume electricity. Lights and standby items as well as TVs and Computers are relatively low wattage and are not the problem.

If you look at other threads you will see that people talk of their annual electricity consumption being 3,000 – 4,000kW(units) Other than the fish tank I have all the appliances(and more) that you have and my annual consumption is 5-6000 units without trying to economise.

Some electricity supply companies have a free service for consultants on energy conservation- I suggest you contact them.

You will need to ‘do a Google’ for websites on typical appliance consumption. So much depends on the type of appliance and what setting it is used at. For instance my dryer is 3kW. So it uses 3 units an hour(say 20pence) when the heater is on.

Mads13

Hi

Our household is 2 adults and 1 child whom is 10.

Thanks
Mads13

lisyloo

Hi Mads,

I think tumble dryers are quite expensive to run.
I can see you have a lot of washing, but could you dry some of it outside especially now we're getting to spring.

I think a few washing lines would be a good investment.

You might still need to use the tumble drier if we have foul weather, but not for the majority of the time.

Thats' a lot of washing !!

I do one load a week :-)

Fran

Hi Mads,

Just looking at your list of things you use - the washing machine and tumble drier are undoubtedly the things costing you most. Perhaps you could get a larger washing machine if you have the room for it, so reducing the amount of loads you need to do? What about one of those airer things that you pull up to the ceiling, that might save you having to do so many tumble dries if it's raining or something? Also have you looked into whether you can get any help from the Government Heating Grants Schemes? Also check locally (and nationally) whether there might be some other kind of heating grant or something, perhaps a local disability group might know, if not the Citizens Advice Bureau should know local info like this. Does the bath need to be used or could the shower be used more so you're not heating a tank full of water each time?