Massive gas bill jump...correct??

victor2

vigman wrote: »

My original posting was really to find out what was a reasonable increase on standard tariff on a 12 month period to expect from British Gas with similar use in each period, from other users here, given the 'large' energy cost rises quoted.

However, for facts, from my current bill:

2 Dec 11 actual reading 00239
27th Feb 12 actual reading 01034 [confirmed, as now slightly higher reading]

= 795 metric units used over 88 days (actual)
gas units converted = 8830.07 over 88 days

First 646.00KwH x 8.429p = 54.45
Next 8184.07 kWh x 3.935 = 322.04

Gas units are converted to Kilowatt hours using the following formula:

795 metric units used x 39.1 calorific value x 1.0226400 volume correction divided by 3.6 to convert to kWh = 8830.07 gas used in kWh

There is then a 'your consumption' graph of the two periods twelve months apart and they are nearly identical (certainly within 100 kWhs) and this was confirmed on the phone by BG.

Do the calculations above use the correct figures in the formula?

TIA

Vigman

The calculations look right and not an outrageous usage for winter.
You are on an expensive tariff though, so put your annual kWh figures into a comparison site and consider changing supplier.

notbritishgas

As others have just said your bill looks to be OK, actual readings and converted correctly. The only possible problem then is a faulty meter but that is extremely rare, if you are convinced then get it checked but be prepared to pay the fee if it is proved to be OK.

Can you get hold of the tariff rates you were on last winter, if so use them to calculate what this bill would have been at last years rates, you may be surprised.

vigman

ARRRRGH....I just wrote a long reply thanking everyone and then lost it!! (I have just retired on ill health grounds as an IT manager and I see why now!)

Anyway, in a condensed version, the basics were: between 27/2 and 5/3 I have already used:

50 MU 555.35KWh 0.08429p (1st 646) 46.81GBP

on an Ideal Mexican boiler running daily 4.30pm to 9.30pm running 9 rads on valve stats set to 3/5 points and hot water tank. Presume that the boiler is firing at most times as no central control stat.

I am currently doing heat saving assessments but 1680's cottages are hard to draft proof etc etc.

I will get everything checked out, but a 20% rise on last year's 261gbp would have been only an additional 52gbp ??

My final question was: when heating season is over is it cheaper on standard tariffs to heat the hot water for two hours by immersion or gas boiler, please??

TIA

Vigman

victor2

vigman wrote: »

My final question was: when heating season is over is it cheaper on standard tariffs to heat the hot water for two hours by immersion or gas boiler, please??

TIA

Vigman

I have a similar sounding setup, but in a more modern and better insulated house, also Ideal Mexico boiler.
When you don't need the heating, just set the boiler to heat the water for something like an hour a day. I have put a double layer of insulation around my hot water tank and that method gives us all the hot water we'll need for a day. We do have an electric shower though. If OH decides to have a bath, she'll probably run out of hot water as I also turn the boiler temperature down to 2 (out of 5) in summer.

jalexa

vigman wrote: »

= 795 metric units used over 88 days (actual)
gas units converted = 8830.07 over 88 days

Edit: I wrote this before I noticed your last post. Don't you bother with any heating in the morning? Does the hot water circuit have independent timed control?

The consumption is almost exactly what could be predicted for the winter quarter for "average" annual consumption of 16,500kWhrs. I realise you may think you are using less by being out during the day, but I mention that so that you realise that to the supplier it will seem to be in order.

Like a previous poster I would not give much weight to the graphical illustration of previous usage, however if you are certain the equivalent quarter last year was also actual consumption then there may be an issue. Especially as this year has been significantly less cold, I estimate by at least 20% consumption. However if meter accuracy is your suspicion then its equally (or more) likely that the issue lay with the old meter.

Unfortunately if you are not convinced by the new meter accuracy its up to you to initiate action. Before that get a handle on your consumption by taking daily readings for a week.

vigman

victor2 wrote: »

I have a similar sounding setup, but in a more modern and better insulated house, also Ideal Mexico boiler.
When you don't need the heating, just set the boiler to heat the water for something like an hour a day. I have put a double layer of insulation around my hot water tank and that method gives us all the hot water we'll need for a day. We do have an electric shower though. If OH decides to have a bath, she'll probably run out of hot water as I also turn the boiler temperature down to 2 (out of 5) in summer.

Many thanks for the advice. What do you think your cost of running your Mexico for heating and water would cost for 5 hour period per day use, please? Mine seems to be averaging 4.40gbp per day (591gbp / 88 days)!!

Vigman

jalexa

vigman wrote: »

Presume that the boiler is firing at most times as no central control stat.

If you update you boiler you will need to pay for modern controls anyway. I suggest that while you are thinking about that you install a programmable thermostat.

victor2

vigman wrote: »

Many thanks for the advice. What do you think your cost of running your Mexico for heating and water would cost for 5 hour period per day use, please? Mine seems to be averaging 4.40gbp per day (591gbp / 88 days)!!

Vigman

During February, my boiler used 3229kWh or 111kWh/day. That is with the heating on from 5am to 8am and 5pm to 11pm on weekdays, and 6am to 10am, 2pm to 11pm on weekends, so an average of 10 hours/day over a week. February did have a particularly cold snap in it, which will have affected gas usage.
Your boiler setup may well be the same as mine, with gravity fed heating and hot water, so the hot water is on whenever the heating is on. A central thermostat controls the heating pump and I set it at 19C - it's not programmable.
I'm on a fixed tariff, which I started in May last year, so before the price increases and I pay significantly less than you.

vigman

........so on my Ideal Mexico, I've used 555 kWh in the last 6 days on only 5 hours per day heating and hot water!! Time for a complete check.

One BIG problem is that I built a large, flat roofed, kitchen 20' x 15' which has a door to the garden (recently replaced with a double glazed unit) and a door to a hallway (half 18th c glazing!). The plumber only put a small radiator in the kitchen and none in the hallway.

I'm getting this assessed now for a large kitchen radiator and a hall radiator, but another question is , if folks just want to heat a single large area quickly, like our kitchen, without heating the whole house, what is the best way to do this, please? eg Calor heater, ceiling heaters, fan heaters, mobile electric oil filled heaters....????

TIA again

Vigman

HappyMJ

vigman wrote: »

........so on my Ideal Mexico, I've used 555 kWh in the last 6 days on only 5 hours per day heating and hot water!! Time for a complete check.

One BIG problem is that I built a large, flat roofed, kitchen 20' x 15' which has a door to the garden (recently replaced with a double glazed unit) and a door to a hallway (half 18th c glazing!). The plumber only put a small radiator in the kitchen and none in the hallway.

I'm getting this assessed now for a large kitchen radiator and a hall radiator, but another question is , if folks just want to heat a single large area quickly, like our kitchen, without heating the whole house, what is the best way to do this, please? eg Calor heater, ceiling heaters, fan heaters, mobile electric oil filled heaters....????

TIA again

Vigman

None of the above. Gas central heating is by far the cheapest and the best. But...It must be appropriately sized. You cannot heat a large space with a small radiator. You may need to consider adding an extra radiator into the space. You can also add zoning to a system to only heat the kitchen when required rather than the rest of the house.

Why heat the hall? You are only going to be walking through it for a minute or two every now and again. Just concentrate on heating the living spaces.