Eon "saving energy toolkit"

deshepherd

One of the best features I found from using EOn was that at the start of each month after I sent in a meter reading I could immediately go to the "energy tracker" and see how the previous month's usage compared to the month before and the same month in the previous couple of years. This was brilliant and was a factor in my not looking to switch suppliers.

However, its all changed and there's now the "energy saving toolkit" ... gives a graph of current usage but this seems to take some time before it gets updated and only allows you to compare 1 year back (and then only by remembering figure from current year graph then flicking to previous year and seeing what the figure is there). Also according to it my gas usage went up by almsot 3x in November compared to October with a comment that the November usage is "estimated" - but, I sent in meter readings and they show a 20% increase in gas usage (a bit different from 270% Eon have "estimated")

Is this meant to be an improvement?

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi deshepherd

I'm sorry you don't like the new Saving Energy Toolkit on our website.

If you've an iphone or android phone, the old Energy Tracker is still available through these.

With the new toolkit, you'll only be able to see your usage and costs back to January 2012, provided we've supplied you continuously since then.

Through the 'My Energy' tab, you can see how your usage changes over the year, month by month. This can be done for both usage in kWh and in terms of money spent.

The 'Compare Monthly Costs' tab lets you see how much you've spent this month compared with the previous month. This updates after each bill or, if you've a Monthly Direct Debit, after the next review.

Sorry again you don't like the changes. I'll pass your comments on to our digital guys. We're always looking for ways to improve the tools on our website and feedback like this is important.

Malc

Connie

I have been an EOn customer for several years; on comparison sites, one or other of their tariffs always comes out as among the three cheapest for my pattern of usage; and generally I like their website.

However!
I completely agree with deshepherd. I liked the Energy Tracker for the same reasons as he/she did.

I hate (not too strong a word) the Saving Energy Toolkit. It tells me I'm using 79% more electricity than "similar" homes in the area. This can't possibly be true, as I'm very energy conscious.

In the Saving Energy FAQ's there is this question and answer:
"How do efficient similar homes manage to use so much less energy than me?
Efficient households may take a variety of steps to be more energy efficient, including using the thermostat to manage heating costs, turning off lights and devices when not in use and always running full loads in the dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer. While these homes use less energy than you, it might not be because their homes are more efficient – they may not be at home as often as you, or you may have life or health circumstances that mean you use more."

As EOn admit they are not really comparing like with like, and admit that these "efficient" homes are not necessarily more efficient than mine, what's the point of telling me mine is so inefficient?

I'm not interested in other people's usage. Like deshepherd, I liked being able to compare at a glance my usage in one month with my usage in the same month the previous year.

The average weather/temperature information doesn't necessarily bear any relation to the weather in my, or any other, particular area, and therefore has little relevance to anyone's usage.

I have the same quibble about supposedly estimated readings, when I always send in a reading myself when requested. What's the point if EOn aren't taking any notice of my readings?

The response options offered re any of the suggested energy-saving measures are too limited:
"I'll do it", "Already do it", or "No, thanks".
If I click "No thanks" it shows up on my record as a supercilious "Not interested". What about "not relevant", or "can't afford it"? "No thanks" doesn't have to mean I'm not interested.

I could go on!

I don't have an iphone nor android phone. If Energy Tracker's available as an app, why can't it still be available online, as an option?
Please?


EDIT: Have just found this excellent idea on another thread:
"We use the EON energy tracker graph to show [the children] how much we have saved over last year. We are about to leave EON and so I will get my daughter to create one on excel to show us use in the future."
Think I'll copy the Excel idea! It will be easier to compare usage year by year than with Energy Saving Toolkit.

dlmcr

As a data analyst / report designer by profession I never bother looking at these types of tools because I know they are generally not useful, this was no exception.
The key issue with this tool is that too little data seems to fuel too much output and much therefore much estimating and averaging takes place.
I had a look at my stats in a moment of boredom and can say that the toolkit as it stands doesn't provide any meaningful outputs and in fact at best it is inaccurate, at worst it is misleading.
2 main things jumped out from my stats, 1st the usage graphs not representative of my actual usage, for example 2 months when I was out of the property are not represented, some of the figures very low eg almost zero in some months when I know usage was very high. 2nd averaging things where they shouldn't eg looking at the average of 100 "similar homes" in my area, creates outputs that are useless since properties are so diverse in my postcode area and in general there can be no "typical" properties in terms of usage insulation etc etc.
For me with a traditional ie not smart meter I do not see how eon can obtain regular data sets that mean anything as the sole means they would have to collect this would from meter readings or estimates, I submit readings quarterly so in my case how can 4 numbers for gas and 4 numbers for electricity be translated into meaningful outputs that allow users to make decisions?
I would second the idea of taking readings at regular time periods eg every week record the data in an excel worksheet and then graph and analyse usage from that.

matelodave

I've been using my own Excel spreadsheet to monitor my consumption and you can get out of it what you want.
Another one to try is iMeasure (free to use on-line energy tool) - this allows you to input your gas & electricity meter readings (ideally weekly) and it will keep an ongoing record of your consumption and does work out how your energy use corresponds with the outside temperature (based on local info).
I've found it helped me tweak my heating controls (heat-pump) which are very sensitive to outside temperature variations. Using it and some other energy saving measures (LED lamps, turning stuff off) we managed to reduce our energy consumption by 9.2% over last year - mind you, this winter has, so far, been warmer than last years.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Morning all

Just to let you know. I've passed all of the above comments on to the people who designed, tested and are responsible for our Saving Energy Toolkit.

Thank you for the feedback. This is a new tool and it's always good to hear how it's going down with customers.

Thanks again.

Malc

sydneybean

have to agree with the other posters on here, I loved the tracker, but really not liking the new toolkit on there, parts of it are interesting yes, but i just really want to see what i used to be able to, how i am doing month on month or yoy.

nwc389

I have set up my own excel spreadsheet and read the meters on the first of the month.
What I can't understand is how (according to eon) we use over 50% more energy than similar homes . I don't care about people in similar homes _ I'm only bothered about MY home !!! and while I don't like to waste money I can't help but wonder what sort of utterly scrooge like life I would have to be leading to save 50% on my fuel bills :beer:

twiglet98

I'm another E-on customer who hates the new 'Toolkit'.

The silliest part of all is the alleged comparison with other homes, irrelevant and almost comical for those of us in small villages with virtually no identical house/family combinations, inaccurate and gimmicky for the rest. Other families may choose to afford different energy saving measures. Other families may be in social housing where a whole street, for example, is 'upgraded' with new insulation or glazing. And if they all have 2.4 children of similar ages, and are in or out at the same times of day, they could be interested in comparing their bills. The toolkit is more about what the consumer should be buying to make their home more 'efficient'. I'm not in a position to find £3000 to change my 28 year old boiler for a 'better' one which will need replacing in 5 years - why would I?

Make it relevant or leave it out. The energy tracker wasn't totally accurate but much better than this.

twiglet98

nwc389 wrote: »

I have set up my own excel spreadsheet and read the meters on the first of the month.
What I can't understand is how (according to eon) we use over 50% more energy than similar homes . I don't care about people in similar homes _ I'm only bothered about MY home !!! and while I don't like to waste money I can't help but wonder what sort of utterly scrooge like life I would have to be leading to save 50% on my fuel bills :beer:

I'm not very good with Excel - I wonder if you'd be kind enough to share how you lay out your spreadsheet, please?

nwc389

A very simple one , read the meters around the first of the month , have a column each and each month i work out how many of the units I have used .
I think it will be useful as I build up over 12 months of readings as I can start to compare one year to the next and perhaps when my two adult children are no longer running baths full to the brim and leaving out enough washing to keep a small laundry going !!
I do agree about that stupid 'similar houses ' thing - it depends so much on house size , insulation , hours people are out during the day etc etc - you just can't compare .