Moving house - Advice Please

lauragreenland

Hello all,

I live down in South East Cornwall in a ground floor 1 bedroom flat with my other half. On March 1st, we're into a 2 bedroom maisonette which is situated above a local shop. I'm just trying to guage the utility bills for the new place.

Now, at the moment, we probably get a water bill of approximately £100 every three months (metered bill). In the new place, the water is included in the rental, so that's a major bonus.

We currently have a pay as you go electric meter and gas central heating (also pay as you go). We probably put about £20 in total on gas/electric per week at the moment. We use the central heating quite a bit and have a gas cooker too.

In the new place, there is no gas central heating, only individual electric heaters. We are looking into getting some 'energy efficient as possible' heaters, any suggestions? There is a gas point in the living room where an electric heater is currently installed, would it be worth investing in a gas heater? The landlord has been away and the house has been empty for three months, and yet it has never felt cold when we've visited. Not even in mid-January! So I don't imagine we'll be huddled around the heaters with wolly socks on!

The only gas use will be the gas cooker. The bill will be a variable direct debit. How much can I anticipate as a monthly bill? I cook most evenings.

Also, the water is heated via an immersion heater. We will have an electric power shower (so instant hot water there), and will only really need hot water if we decide to have a bath (rare occasion!). Obviously, from time to time, I expect we will use the immersion heater to heat the water, particularly if we have guests. Do you think our electric bill will soar?

Many thanks for reading and I would appreciate any feedback

macman

All electric heaters have exactly the same efficiency, i.e 100%. All heaters of the same rating will therefore have the same output and cost the same to run, so buy the cheapest of the type that you prefer. There are no 'energy-efficent' designs-don't be fooled by the marketing hype.
If you can get a gas fire installed, then that is a far better option, even with the one-off cost, as standard rate electricity is about 3 times the cost of gas per kWh. So yes, if you use electric heating, your bills will be much higher.