bills gas and electric

Cardew

mililly wrote: »

I realky just want to know if I have a valid query on my usage or if there are other families out there who use much the same

For someone with a gas combi boiler, At over 13,000kWh pa you have(iirc) the highest electrical consumption of anybody who has posted on MSE. That is approx 36kWh a day.

It should be an easy task to find out what is using that electricity by getting a electricity monitor like an Owl.

There have been cases of the street lights somehow being wired through the meter of a house - your consumption is in that category!!!

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

mililly wrote: »

...would appreciate any help or suggestions to help.

If you are willing to spend some time investigating, you could try switching off every electrical item in the house and making sure that the meter stops counting. If it carries on, it means that there is something consuming power that you are unaware of.

Then plug in, say, a 1 kilowatt heater for an hour and make sure that the meter actually increments by 1 kilowatt hour. This will give you a rough and ready indication that your meter is OK.

macman

Since you are currently (no pun intended) wasting in excess of £100pm, I suggest that if you can't immediately identify the source of the power drain, then you get a sparky in to do it for you. Even if it costs you say, £100, you'll save it back in just one month.
I find it hard to believe that you have been using this amount for years and paying the huge resulting bills without taking action.

mililly

Cardew..funny enough I as just looking at monitors. Think im going to get one to see wherecits going every day. Think its the only way to find out. Although my monthly payments did cover my electric I gave used. Also I think the gas was probably mire due to the heating and a long winter

Wickedkitten

mililly wrote: »

Well this has been going on for years..I have taken the usage from my bills from last june to this june. All bills had read meter readings not estimates. Yes tumble dryer on most days as there are 5 of us. But I suppose we dont have or use anything that the average 2 adult 2 children families have, as I presume thats what they have based the average on. Last august they removed the old meter and installed a new digital one..they said I should see a difference but looking at the bills I cant see it.

How old are your tumble dryer and washing machine?

Notjustamum_2

Why are using your tumble drier so often? I think your high bills are down to more than just the tumble drier but as a family of four I use my drier about half a dozen times a year - the rest if the time washing is dried outdoors or on clothes horses indoors.

We are a 4 bedroom house, family of four with dual fuel bill last year of just under £1100.

mililly

Your lucky four times a year. With 5 of us and always washing to do its on most days. I do hang out in the summer given the chance but then its catch 22 if I hang out I need iron more so cant win. I'll get a monitor to check how much things are using

insanegloss

While its worth realising that your bills will never be 'cheap', there is still a lot you can do to understand and therefore reduce your consumption. Regular reads provided to the supplier, this ensures your DD's are as accurate as possible.

Xbox's/computers/washing machines/tumble dryers/ dishwashers/ any form of electric heating (underfloor too!)/ immersion heaters - all use significant amounts of electricity. Be very clued up on their use in the home.

Heating should be set between 18-21c during winter, unless you have anyone with medical requirements. Anything more is costing you a fair bit!

Insulation if you don't have any/enough will pay for itself by installing it, and be a damn sight more comfortable to live in.

insanegloss

Oh, and switch to an online tariff if you can.

mililly

Always had online tariffs, and have also had all the insullation done cavity walls energy bulbs. You name it ive done it. Think things just need be turned off more often..