Any recommendations for energy monitors?

Manicmum66

I'm concerned that our electricity consumption is too high. Have switched on MSE advice to the Scottish Power fixed tarrif, and the lady from EON who phoned me to ask me to stay mentioned that our electricity bill was way high. We have gas heating and hob, so I can't see an obvious reason why our electricity is so high. I therefore want to get an energy monitor, yet a quick google has produced an array of different models.

Don't really want to spend much but would like to know which are our offending electicity gizmos. Anyone got any recommendations?

Wywth

Manicmum66 wrote: »

I'm concerned that our electricity consumption is too high. Have switched on MSE advice to the Scottish Power fixed tarrif, and the lady from EON who phoned me to ask me to stay mentioned that our electricity bill was way high. We have gas heating and hob, so I can't see an obvious reason why our electricity is so high. I therefore want to get an energy monitor, yet a quick google has produced an array of different models.

Don't really want to spend much but would like to know which are our offending electicity gizmos. Anyone got any recommendations?

They are all pretty much as inaccurate as each other.
You could try your library who may lend you one for free for a few weeks if you want to play a little.

Monitoring your much more accurate meter would be a better solution (but won't indicate the consumption of a particular appliance)

flicks

I've just got a British Gas energysmart colour monitor which I purchased new off an ebay seller. Obvioulsy I can't vouch for it being 100% accurate but what I have learnt in a very short time is that most of the things which use serious amounts of power can't really be used less. We use a combined microwace/convection cooker and that's pretty hungry. The solution would be for the whole family to eat together so it only gets switched on once a day but due to varying shift patterns this is not possible. Obviously the kettle is quite power hungry as well so the statement that you should only boil as much water as you need makes much more sense to me now than it did. Things such as light bulbs, laptops, Tv's aren't really that expensive to use although they all obvioulsy mount up over time. So if you decide to get one don't think it'll help you reduce your bills without making some serious cutbacks and lifestyle changes as well.

victor2

I have a monitor which was free from e.on a few years back - it's very inaccurate, but gives a general indication of when something is using a lot of electricity.
Of much more use has been a plug-in monitor which tells you the power an appliance on a 13 amp plug is using. Seems to be pretty accurate and they only cost about a tenner on fleabay. This one is a bit over a tenner with postage, but gives you an idea of the type of thing to look for
Of course, they can't tell you how much a large appliance like a cooker or an electric shower is using, but looking at the meter itself is a pretty good guide for those.

Beckyy

I'd also be really interested in finding if theres a 'good' one too. I was looking at switching our BG tariff to include energysmart for the free meter, but had no idea if they were any good.

victor2

Beckyy wrote: »

I'd also be really interested in finding if theres a 'good' one too. I was looking at switching our BG tariff to include energysmart for the free meter, but had no idea if they were any good.

Personally, I wouldn't switch to a tariff offering a monitor on the strength of that alone, unless everything else was equal.
Having a smart meter installed is different altogether though, as that should provide more accurate billing, but I don't know if the consumer can monitor them electronically.

bondy01

I've had an efergy usb monitor for nearly 2 years now. It generally reads a couple of % high but for 2 months this summer it was spot on. I download the data every morning and take a weekly and monthly meter reading. We have had these threads before and as an electronics engineer I do wonder if it is poor installation why people say they do not read right. The software enables you to look at consumption on an hourly basis , you can see when the shower/tumble dryer/cooker are in use and what they are taking.

Manicmum66

Many thanks for the replies. Unfortunately, our library does not lend out energy monitors - shame as that would have been ideal. Have just ordered a cheapy one off Ebay to see how we get on - will pay particular notice to the installation instructions though bondy01 to get it as accurate as poss. Thanks all!