Huge Electricity Bill-Help

mark01926

Hi. I am with Ecotricity, I live in a two bedroom flat powered solely by electricity (gas not connected to the building). Two adults live in the flat.

My previous two bills were fairly high (around £200 and £285 respectively) so over the last 6 weeks we made a big effort to reduce our bill. This included having the heating on less, and the immersion heater switched to timer, to come on twice a day for an hour a time.

Our latest 6 week bill came through for £700!!!! I genuinely have no idea how it could be so much. I have phoned Ecotricity to ask if there was a mistake. We have none of the classic high electricity using appliances such as electric heaters or tumble driers.

I'm monitoring the usage on an hourly basis now, but can anyone offer any advice on what could have caused this 250% jump in my usage?

Wywth

mark01926 wrote: »

Hi. I am with Ecotricity, I live in a two bedroom flat powered solely by electricity (gas not connected to the building). Two adults live in the flat.

My previous two bills were fairly high (around £200 and £285 respectively) so over the last 6 weeks we made a big effort to reduce our bill. This included having the heating on less, and the immersion heater switched to timer, to come on twice a day for an hour a time.

Our latest 6 week bill came through for £700!!!! I genuinely have no idea how it could be so much. I have phoned Ecotricity to ask if there was a mistake. .We have none of the classic high electricity using appliances such as electric heaters or tumble driers

I'm monitoring the usage on an hourly basis now, but can anyone offer any advice on what could have caused this 250% jump in my usage?

Is your latest bill based on an estimated meter reading? If so, you cannot expect the supplier to know you have modified your usage.
If not, is this latest bill a 'catch up bill' because previous bills were based on (under) estimated meter readings?

Has your tariff changed? e.g. an old, cheap one has expired?
Compare usage by kWh, not cost in £


You say: "I live in a two bedroom flat powered solely by electricity (gas not connected to the building).", but also "We have none of the classic high electricity using appliances such as electric heaters or tumble driers" then how on earth do you keep warm? :huh:

Nada666

Do you still have your previous bills to hand? Do your readings have an E next to them? They were probably estimated and varied according to a guesstimate. I assume by no heaters you mean other than central heating radiators rather than no heating!

£1185 over three quarters is, unfortunately, not an unreasonable sum for a two bedroom electric only household.

Other than central heating electric showers can be an unexpectedly expensive. As you are doing, start noting your readings and usage in kWhs and get a better idea of what you are using day to day and week to week.

macman

If you are comparing the winter quarter (Dec-March), to the previous quarter (Sept-Dec) then of course your consumption will be vastly higher, because the heating will have been on for most of the latter and only part of the former ( and it's been exceptionally cold). Post your kWh figures and you will get meaningful advice. £££ bills tell us nothing about your actual usage. £233pm for an all-electric property in the winter quarter is quite feasible if you are not on E7.
How is the property heated? Are you on E7 or single rate?
Ecotricity are one of the most expensive providers, because their prices are benchmarked to the regional supplier's Standard tariff (the most expensive).

mark01926

Hi, thanks for your replies.

All of my readings were done by myself. My consumption over the 6 week period was 4716 kWh. This has increased by 250% over the previous 6 weeks, which was also a cold time.

I am on single rate, and have an electric boiler which powers the radiators and taps. I believe the shower runs from a separate unit.

Fire_Fox

Electric radiators are not cheaper to run than other forms of electric heaters. Have you tried turning everything off except one item of known wattage and seeing what the meter does? Might be faulty.

Do you really need the immersion heater on twice a day for two people when you have a separate electric shower? Surely you are only washing hands and dishes? If you run low on hot water for the small stuff just boil a kettle.

How powerful is the shower, how many minutes a day is it on? What temperature are you maintaining the flat at, are you heating every room, is the flat well or poorly insulated?

Dexters_Indignation

ValHaller

mark01926 wrote: »

I am on single rate, and have an electric boiler which powers the radiators and taps. I believe the shower runs from a separate unit.

You should be on an economy 7 type tariff ?????

macman

ValHaller wrote: »

You should be on an economy 7 type tariff ?????

Not unless the OP only wants the heating on at night for 7 hours....

ValHaller

macman wrote: »

Not unless the OP only wants the heating on at night for 7 hours....

AIUI electric boilers are storage heaters effectively. At least the only electric boiler I know is a storage device.

McKneff

You really don't need the immersion heater on to be honest.
As soon as you switch it off it is cooling and then you switch it on
it's heating the same water again.

Switch it off and only put it on when you need it.