Urgent help to cut my eletricty. at wits end.

ninjastriker

Hello everybody! I am seriously struggling to cope with how to use my eletrictity more effecitently. I have to decide to eat or stay warm everyday and its making my health worst. I don't know what i am doing wrong and just want to live cofortably.

I am on DLA & ESA, I rarly go out as i got agrophobia, I am highly senstive to the cold, depression, anxiety, panic attacks and other mental health issues, which i prefer not to mention. I do get breakdowns, which is why i got badly in debt, last year.

I am with eon, and have a pre payment meter, which they installed because i am in debt of around £800 now. I pay 30p a standard charge, £5.47 a week for the debt i owe, 17.50 for the day rate and 7.5 for the night rate.

I do have storage heaters on ecomony 7, but dont use them as thats partly why my bill was high. during the day i use a small heater to warm my place up or a oil heater and sometimes i try to put a blanket over me, 3 pair of socks and a jumper to stay warm. I have to have a bath just to warm my whole body up, or i just freeze. my place is freezing and it currently cost me £80 a month.

I switch everything off, if i do go out and at night time to help save money. But it seems it is still not enough, i do have a imac, which is essential for me to use as a film maker. but even then im to scared to use it too much or my heaters. i try to keep it on for up to an hour, which i think it cost 50p a time, then its freezing again, so i cant win.

Is there anything i can do to make it, that i can eat and heat my place without worrying too much. I dont have gas, as its all eletricty and its my first flat, as i was in supporting housing before. I never been good with saving money, but recently learnt how to, due to a course and im doing a bit better with budgeting now. But I dont understand where it all goes and would appreciate any help you guys can give me.

Hope it all makes sense, sorry if it doesnt, as im using the libary (30seconds from my place) and wont be able check this forum again till 2morrow.

McKneff

Have you got nice thick curtains at your windows.
Draught foam around your doors


Only put in the kettle what you need to use.
Buy a tiered steamer, you can cook a whole meal in one of these instead of having 3 or 4 rings on the cooker.


The cost of heating is the biggest money waster.


You imac will use only a very minimal amount at little cost so I wouldn't be going out and getting even colder



To be honest, 80 a month isn't over the top....

good_advice

Hello ninj. £75 a month is good and then £5.47 dept.
A lot of people are paying £120 per month for winter.

Better_Days

I feel the cold dreadfully too and getting cold makes my symptoms worse, so I can sympathise.

What makes a big difference to me is an electric blanket. They are very cheap to run and keep you toasty and warm. I use one both at night and in a duvet in the day. Wear a hat and scarf in the house - you might feel a bit daft but it will really help you to keep warm.

We recently moved into a house without a functioning oven an purchased a halogen tabletop oven. They are easy to use and economical to run. We bought an Andrew James one from Amazon. A slow cooker is also worth considering they come up on offer quite often. Both those options will reduce your electricity consumption when cooking.

I do feel for you, I know how miserable it is when you are always cold.

Nada666

You need to start by learning to use your storage heating - make sure you fathom out how to have the bedroom/hallway heaters only store a very minimal amount and have the living room on max. If you are at home a lot you will receive full benefit from them.

Go back to experimenting with the storage heating - work out how to store more heat in the living room but let it out gradually. It will cost money but that is what your DLA is for.

[Deleted User]

Try and do as much as possible when the cheap ( 7.5 p/kwhr ) rate is on. Electric shower is the highest user, followed by iron, electric cooker, electric heaters, dryers, kettle. The night rate usually starts around 12.30 to 7.30 so timer the dryer and washing machine. I am not sure myself how to ascertain when the night rate is active on prepay meters, so it may be case of seeing when the "J " screen showing night kwhr is advancing

Joyful

The problem you will have is if you are not using your storage heating but instead a small heater, you will be getting charged at the higher rate as you are on a 2 rate meter.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi ninjastriker

Already some good advice on here. As others gave said, make sure you use your storage heaters to the best effect. Also, as sacsquacco says, make sure you know when the cheaper night rate is active. Use as much electricity as possible during this period.

If you're unsure, give us a call. We can soon let you know the hours.

We'll also be able to help you cut back in other ways. Have a chat to our Energy Efficiency team. Tell them about your property and appliances. They specialise in helping people cut back and will be happy to help.

Check out our website, too. Particularly the Saving Energy Toolkit page. More good tips here to help you cut back.

Hope this is of interest.

Malc

macman

It is completely pointless to be on E7 and have NSH's, and then run a convector or oil filled rad all day instead.
The NSH's will cost maybe 4p per kWh, instead you are heating for maybe 14p per kWh on E7 peak rate (and the same higher rate for every other electrical item used in the day or evening).
If you don't want to use E7 then switch to a single rate tariff.

kelpie35

try a hot water bottle to keep warm.

A.Penny.Saved

good_advice wrote: »

Hello ninj. £75 a month is good and then £5.47 dept.
A lot of people are paying £120 per month for winter.

My total energy cost for gas and elec is currently £68 and I have been overpaying for a long time because I am over £200 in credit. I am currently on the standard package after being automagically switched to it when my fixed deal expired. I have been trying to decide on which energy company to move to next which has delayed things quite a lot. After separating my energy and going with two different suppliers I am expecting to pay about £52/month.

BTW it's very cold in my home, very cold @ about 11C. No working gas central heating ATM and I refuse to use electric heating because it is so expensive. I might try sleeping in the kitchen because it's warmer. :rotfl:

A bodywarmer and a coat helps. I would like to find some lightweight gloves which should help.