Renting and just recieved my first electricity bill...

Hodge123

Hi, I moved into a flat on a farm Dec 1st 2012. Been told as the meter is on a submitter from the main farm I will give them readings from my meter and they will bill me separately.
I've got the first bill for Decmeber and it is billed as 1136 units at 0.1117p per unit with tax = £152.27.
There is no central heating, only two storage heaters. The flat is basically two rooms. The kitchen/living and the bedroom ensuite shower.
Now this seems rediculously high. I've had a look at the meter, and sorry if this seems like a silly thing, but I always thought the last number was .0 and so wasn't inlcuded in the calculations? £15 is much more what I was expecting!
I have no TV I have wireless ipad and fridge as well as lights being the only things on so I can't see how I've made a £150 bill in one month. Is it the storage heaters?? Or have I been incorrectly billed??
Any advice appreciated!

rogerblack

Haha.
Sorry. But 15 pounds a month is basically ludicrous if you've got any heat or cooking whatsoever in the mix.
fridge+lights may use perhaps £3/month - if they are energy saving lights, otherwise £7 or more easily. Add another £3-5 for electric hot water.

Two storage heaters will easily use 50kWh/night at max charge - this would be 25 nights or so.
11p/unit is a good price in addition.

Hodge123

Thanks, slightly harsher than necessary but maybe I was being naive!! I literally am just using lights n fridge, and assumed it would be much less! Am only staying here two nights a week. Time to turn off the heaters I would think!

Wywth

Hodge123 wrote: »

Hi, I moved into a flat on a farm Dec 1st 2012. Been told as the meter is on a submitter from the main farm I will give them readings from my meter and they will bill me separately.
I've got the first bill for Decmeber and it is billed as 1136 units at 0.1117p per unit with tax = £152.27.
There is no central heating, only two storage heaters. The flat is basically two rooms. The kitchen/living and the bedroom ensuite shower.
Now this seems rediculously high. I've had a look at the meter, and sorry if this seems like a silly thing, but I always thought the last number was .0 and so wasn't inlcuded in the calculations? £15 is much more what I was expecting!
I have no TV I have wireless ipad and fridge as well as lights being the only things on so I can't see how I've made a £150 bill in one month. Is it the storage heaters?? Or have I been incorrectly billed??
Any advice appreciated!

Hodge123 wrote: »

Thanks, slightly harsher than necessary but maybe I was being naive!! I literally am just using lights n fridge, and assumed it would be much less! Am only staying here two nights a week. Time to turn off the heaters I would think!

Can't be if you don't use them

So how's the computer powered? by steam?

What about hot water?

No cooking facilities?

:cool:

Hodge123

If you must know, it's iPad I mainly charge at my boyfriends, where I'm staying the majority of the time. Hot water is from the main houses boiler which I pay a set amount a month for and Aside from boiling a kettle have used the cooker maybe once or twice.
I'm sorry if you think for some reason I'm misleading you, just asked if the bill seemed reasonable!

Fire_Fox

Hodge123 wrote: »

Hi, I moved into a flat on a farm Dec 1st 2012. Been told as the meter is on a submitter from the main farm I will give them readings from my meter and they will bill me separately.
I've got the first bill for Decmeber and it is billed as 1136 units at 0.1117p per unit with tax = £152.27.
There is no central heating, only two storage heaters. The flat is basically two rooms. The kitchen/living and the bedroom ensuite shower.
Now this seems rediculously high. I've had a look at the meter, and sorry if this seems like a silly thing, but I always thought the last number was .0 and so wasn't inlcuded in the calculations? £15 is much more what I was expecting!
I have no TV I have wireless ipad and fridge as well as lights being the only things on so I can't see how I've made a £150 bill in one month. Is it the storage heaters?? Or have I been incorrectly billed??
Any advice appreciated!

Did you supply a meter reading for this or is it an estimated bill?

Energy guzzlers: heating, power showers, hot water, washing machine, tumble dryer. If it makes heat it costs: all your media gadgets are minimal.

It's not how often you are home, it's how often you use everything - is your heating and immersion on even when you are not home? When you are home are you doing laundry at moderate to high temperatures or having long showers?

With economy 7 day rate energy is super expensive so if you shower, have the immersion on, boost the heating or do laundry during the day or evening it will cost you. The worse the insulation the more you will spend on heating.

macman

Hodge123 wrote: »

If you must know, it's iPad I mainly charge at my boyfriends, where I'm staying the majority of the time. Hot water is from the main houses boiler which I pay a set amount a month for and Aside from boiling a kettle have used the cooker maybe once or twice.
I'm sorry if you think for some reason I'm misleading you, just asked if the bill seemed reasonable!

Forget iPads and kettles, fridges and lights. The vast majority of your usage will be on heating and hot water.
Is your bill based on actual or estimated readings? If the latter, it may be very much higher than your actual usage.
Since you are on E7, you can easily see how much of your bill is for the storage heaters, as they will all be charged at the lower E7 night rate.
We can't tell you what is 'reasonable', because you haven't told us how many kWh's you've used on each register, as shown on your bill.
If you've left the NSH's on all the time, it's not going to make any difference if you are there one night a month or every night.

Hodge123

It is an actual reading, so I'm guessing it must be correct.
I have the storage heaters but I assumed they weren't on E7 as I only have one meter, hence no reading for night time usage? Assuming my landlord got them on the cheap or doesn't understand the reasonigly behind them.

I don't know know many kWh have been previously used, I don't get a bill from electric company as my electric is from a submeter from the main house, my landlord reads my meter, then x the rate, adds 20%VAT and takes the cash from me. All I get told is units used (1136 for Dec).

Washing once a week at 60 no dryer and no boost on the heaters. They are on full time, I read that they store heat at night, meant to be cheaper, however, no evidence I'm on the E7 tarrif, and give off during the day. Makes it a logistical nightmare to turn off/on so have left on.
I get it wasn't going to be cheap but for two rooms, 30 days £150, just more than I expected.

Nada666

I am not sure but I do not think you can be charged 20% VAT for a domestic supply. It should be 5%. There may be an exception if the landlord is in a business premises and you are on a sub-meter but I doubt it. That shoudl be checked as well.

Nada666

Hang on - you are only staying there two nights a week but have left storage heaters on? Sorry, but you have to get your head round how to use the heaters - search for manuals of the models online and make sure you switch them to minimum when you are away.

Fire_Fox

Hodge123 wrote: »

It is an actual reading, so I'm guessing it must be correct.
I have the storage heaters but I assumed they weren't on E7 as I only have one meter, hence no reading for night time usage? Assuming my landlord got them on the cheap or doesn't understand the reasonigly behind them.

I don't know know many kWh have been previously used, I don't get a bill from electric company as my electric is from a submeter from the main house, my landlord reads my meter, then x the rate, adds 20%VAT and takes the cash from me. All I get told is units used (1136 for Dec).

Washing once a week at 60 no dryer and no boost on the heaters. They are on full time, I read that they store heat at night, meant to be cheaper, however, no evidence I'm on the E7 tarrif, and give off during the day. Makes it a logistical nightmare to turn off/on so have left on.
I get it wasn't going to be cheap but for two rooms, 30 days £150, just more than I expected.

Woah!!!! :eek: No bill? Why don't you know the old reading, that is not on your tenancy agreement or other paperwork? You didn't agree that when you moved in? Are you literally paying cash as in notes and coins?

If they are storage heaters they have 'input' which draws energy overnight and 'output' which releases heat day and evening. Those are what you adjust, if you are not home you set input and output to 0. They will remain 'on' but not necessarily drawing energy all the time.

Do not guess, do not assume, do not trust. Submeter, are you SURE or are you being scammed because you are naive (no offence)? That is NOT the norm, if that is happening they have to change you the exact amount no profiteering. I don't think you should be paying business VAT, you are not a business customer! If there is really a numbered meter dedicated to your flat the supply should be in your name, you should be able to choose the domestic tariff and supplier, you should be able to access your own meter to read it by arrangement.

Reread you tenancy agreement, post the EXACT wording of any and ALL clauses on the 'House Buying Renting and Selling' board, a copy of the bill you received from your landlord too. Ideally scan it in, remove all your person information, load it onto a photo site and post the link. What you are saying now I don't like at all, alarm bells.

Is your flat registered for council tax? If it's self contained (own kitchen and bathroom, not communal) it should be by law.