Is this normal?!

LadyMorticia

Hey everyone.

We're currently with British Gas and have lived in our new flat since December 2011. We live in a new-build which is environmentally friendly and economical.

I was wondering if our gas and electricity bills are "too low"? (not complaining of course but from what I've read here, our bills should be higher). =/

I'm 25 and disabled. My husband is 22 and my full-time carer. I need the heating on alot because my illness means that I have trouble regulating my temperature so putting on loads of layers by itself doesn't help. We don't have any children and we live in a one bedroom flat.

Our gas bill is approximately £35 a month and our electricity bill is £22 a month.

This seems low from what I've read here and I was wondering if anyone else's bills are that low? I was expecting them to be higher because obviously my husband and I are in all day because I cannot work and was expecting our bills to reflect this.

macman

You need to post your actual kWh consumption over x days since you moved in- £'s per week does not does not really tell us anything.
You also need to say what tariffs you are on, and how you heat and hot water your property.
The fact that your DD is set at £35+£22 does not mean that that is actually what you are using-the DD is set to average out at 1/12 of your estimated annual consumption. That amount is quite low for winter usage.

LadyMorticia

macman wrote: »

You need to post your actual kWh consumption over x days since you moved in- £'s per week does not does not really tell us anything.
You also need to say what tariffs you are on, and how you heat and hot water your property.
The fact that your DD is set at £35+£22 does not mean that that is actually what you are using-the DD is set to average out at 1/12 of your estimated annual consumption. That amount is quite low for winter usage.

Ah. Okay. I'm new to this.:o

This is going to sound stupid, but how do I work that out? Maths and numbers really isn't my strong point.:o

macman

Look at your bills, or your meter readings now against the opening readings that you took on arrival.
Tariff?
Heating and hot water systems?

victor2

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Ah. Okay. I'm new to this.:o

This is going to sound stupid, but how do I work that out? Maths and numbers really isn't my strong point.:o

It's very difficult as you've only lived there since last December, so may only have a single month's full usage. Your bills or online account should tell you what you have used in kWh over the billed period, assuming you are providing readings or your meters have been read.

If you detail how you heat the house and what provides hot water, along with what usage you have so far and what tariff you are on with your supplier, somebody may be able to give an indication of whether your monthly costs are in the right sort of area. In winter, you would expect your usage to cost a bit more than your monthly DD, but you catch up in summer and end up a bit in credit.

LadyMorticia

Okay. I hope I've done this right.:o

Opening Gas meter reading (17th Dec 2011): 00017
Meter reading as of 18th Feb: 00228
KWh: 1914.0

Opening Electricity meter reading (17th Dec 2011): 00078
Meter reading as of 18th Feb: 00432
KWh: 354.0

Tarrif is Standard and I'm doing it where I get my bill online and then pay the amount due online.

Heating is gas central heating and our water is via the boiler (when I say via the boiler, I mean that's how the water is heated) but we have a water meter (although I've been told by the water company that I can do a set DD each month of around £40 to make it easier).

HappyMJ

That sounds quite reasonable. 354kWh over 2 months is about 2,200kWh per year. Quite possible. 1,914kWh of gas is about 8,000-10,000kWh per year. Also quite possible as it's a brand new well insulated small flat and rates quite high on energy efficiency. You could cut the £££ per month by comparing and switching suppliers. However, for the moment I would use figures of 2,500kWh (elec) and 12,000kWh (gas) for comparing with until you have a full year of actual figures.

victor2

Your usage does sound reasonable.
Following my usage pattern over the past 12 months, with gas hot water and central heating, I would estimate your annual usage is likely to be 5,500kWh for gas and 1,600kWh for electricity. That allows for the last 2 months having been in winter and the resulting higher usage, particularly of gas.
Try those numbers as well as HappyMJ's into a comparison site, with your current tariff and see if the current cost figures it shows come anywhere near what you are actually paying. If they do, that might give you an idea what your supplier has estimated your annual usage to be.

macman

Why are you on Standard tariff though? Whichever supplier, that is their most expensive option. So get onto a comp site with your estimated annual kWh figures and find the best deal for you.

tim9966

I'd say your usage is slightly more than me for electric, and I paid £59 for 3 months, so just under £20 a month, so £22 could be about right, you will use less in the summer.

I think they are about right and as you have a new built it should be lower than average.

macman

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Okay. I hope I've done this right.:o

Opening Gas meter reading (17th Dec 2011): 00017
Meter reading as of 18th Feb: 00228
KWh: 1914.0

Opening Electricity meter reading (17th Dec 2011): 00078
Meter reading as of 18th Feb: 00432
KWh: 354.0

Tarrif is Standard and I'm doing it where I get my bill online and then pay the amount due online.

Heating is gas central heating and our water is via the boiler (when I say via the boiler, I mean that's how the water is heated) but we have a water meter (although I've been told by the water company that I can do a set DD each month of around £40 to make it easier).

You have used 211 cu m of gas. Not sure how you did your conversion, but that is (assuming a metric meter, it being a new build) approx 2,398kwH, not 1,914. To convert, multiply by approx 11.2.