Why is our electric so high?

penrhyn

Just to concur with the above comments, I regard myself as a low user my electricity consumption is approx 2000 Kwh / annum, its pretty flat month by month with a slight increase over the winter due to the central heating pump, lights being on more and more important the tumble drier gets used a little more.

macmiss

penrhyn wrote: »

Just to concur with the above comments, I regard myself as a low user my electricity consumption is approx 2000 Kwh / annum, its pretty flat month by month with a slight increase over the winter due to the central heating pump, lights being on more and more important the tumble drier gets used a little more.

I live in a 3 bed Victorian mid terraced house. 3 adults. Our annual consumption of elecricity is about 7000 - 7500 units a year. We only have the usual appliances, gas heating and hot water downstairs. We have an electric shower but no hot water upstairs as this requires the emersion heater being on. We have converted the basement and have storage heaters which we have to keep on at a very low setting in the winter as we've had burst water pipes in previous years. This kept our basement office at about 12/13C. We use the same amount of electricity in the summer as in the winter--about 20 units a day. How can this be?

caela_2

Hey guys,

Thanks for the helpful comments. I'm pretty glad that is a normal reading, but still hoping we can get our bills down (definitely going to switch!). I thought people were supposed to pay roughly £30 per bill per month, so around £100 in total for water, elec and gas. However, we're on rateable for water and it's like £50 per month, I think and the gas and elec seems to be like £100. I guess for 2 people, that kinda works out. It's just that our actual readings were literally like 1000 below what British Gas thought we would have used from our estimates. This makes me think something is afoot either way. I don't know why they'd so drastically underestimate our bill- they say it was based on our initial readings but I doubt that.

penrhyn

If there are only two of you I'd seriously look into getting a water meter, its possible you might save a bit there.

I with British Gas atm on one of their Energy-smart tariffs for the electricity, I supply a meter reading monthly and pay for what I've use by VDD.
You get a monitor but its accuracy is V poor, still if you don't use too much you get a smiley house on the display!!

macman

caela wrote: »

Hey guys,

Thanks for the helpful comments. I'm pretty glad that is a normal reading, but still hoping we can get our bills down (definitely going to switch!). I thought people were supposed to pay roughly £30 per bill per month, so around £100 in total for water, elec and gas. However, we're on rateable for water and it's like £50 per month, I think and the gas and elec seems to be like £100. I guess for 2 people, that kinda works out. It's just that our actual readings were literally like 1000 below what British Gas thought we would have used from our estimates. This makes me think something is afoot either way. I don't know why they'd so drastically underestimate our bill- they say it was based on our initial readings but I doubt that.

I'm afraid that your estimate of £720pa for gas and electricity is way under the average for the UK. More like £1250 is typical for a dual fuel account.
As above, if your water rates are £600pa then prioritise getting a meter fitted.