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Can someone help me understand my drastically large electricity usage?

Paul_Devine
Posts: 8 Forumite
in Energy
Hi,
Can someone offer any advice on a problem I've been having.
I live in a one bedroom flat by myself and I work Monday-Friday , 9-5/6. I have just received a letter from NPower stating that they have reviewed my electricity usage (My flat only has electric) and stating that I owe them £280 pounds and that my bills are increasing more than double.
According to their bills, I use 9 kWh per day. I simply cannot figure this out since when I go home from work all I do is make myself dinner and I use my computer for PC gaming. I rarely ever watch my TV and it is only in the past few months I have started using the heating.
Scaling up, I use 5000 kWh a year according to their stats and the average for a single occupant flat is 3000 kWH a year. I don't see the where I am using this excess.
Their advice is that I record my meter readings for a week and then to phone energy efficiency to ask what they propose after telling them my readings for a given week.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am currently one stressed out individual!!!
Thank you in advance,
Paul
Can someone offer any advice on a problem I've been having.
I live in a one bedroom flat by myself and I work Monday-Friday , 9-5/6. I have just received a letter from NPower stating that they have reviewed my electricity usage (My flat only has electric) and stating that I owe them £280 pounds and that my bills are increasing more than double.
According to their bills, I use 9 kWh per day. I simply cannot figure this out since when I go home from work all I do is make myself dinner and I use my computer for PC gaming. I rarely ever watch my TV and it is only in the past few months I have started using the heating.
Scaling up, I use 5000 kWh a year according to their stats and the average for a single occupant flat is 3000 kWH a year. I don't see the where I am using this excess.
Their advice is that I record my meter readings for a week and then to phone energy efficiency to ask what they propose after telling them my readings for a given week.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am currently one stressed out individual!!!
Thank you in advance,
Paul
0
Comments
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I don't think 9kw a day excessive. Do you have a fridge, freezer, lights, washing machine, tumble drier, Hoover, iron, you mentioned cooker, toaster"...... If you are owe money had you ever given them an actual reading?0
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Yes the flat has a fridge, freezer, washing machine etc. However on a daily basis I only use 1 set of lights, the oven and my computer. I know that obviously the fridge and freezer come into this as well.
I gave them the readings when I first moved into the property and set up a direct debit. After that I was never contacted or told anything else need be done so no other readings were given (stupidly on my behalf).
Thanks for your reply0 -
I live in a 2 bed electric only flat, have similar working hours to you and to give you some idea we use around 3-4 day kWH and 30 night kWH.
If you're in an electric only flat with storage heaters, you should be on an economy 7 type tariff where electricity is cheaper for 7 hours at night. How do you hear your hot water?
Over a period of a year I'd say that 9 kWH for an electric only flat is low usage.
Edit - I just quickly calculated and I think my yearly average is in the region of 20 kWH per day.0 -
Funny you should say that i have just added what i have used since the 23/1/14 till 24/2/14.
My all E7 1 bed flat, Night i have used 1577kw x 5.75=£90.06, Day i used is 168Kw x 12.03=£20.21 and the standing charge is £9.78. works out £120.05.
A think your day rate is ok ish do you no how many units you have used in a month, what are you using to heat your flat if storage heaters are you using them correctThis is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
Your usage seems adequate if even a little low. Are you sure you haven't take the average usage of just electricity in a dual fuel environment ? 3000 KWh seems awfully low for an electrically heated flat.
Taking your readings for simply a week isn't a brilliant way of doing things. It could be a week where it is very cold so you've the heating on regularly, or the opposite.0 -
Thanks all for your replies.
I am on Economy 7. I don't know how many units I have been using a month sorry as it is only since last week I have had all this brought to my attention. I am going to keep a keen track on the usage now however.
I believe that water is set up fine yes, I plan to go home and check on this tonight to make sure it all correct.0 -
Thanks Vuvuzela.
The 3000 average is what I have found on the internet and what was quoted over the phone by Npower. It is also them that have suggested doing this recording over the week.
I am just struggling to understand how my bills will be doubling in price to £60 a month for a single occupant compared to some colleagues who say theirs is less. Maybe I am being unrealistic and this is simply how much I should be paying, I was just surprised by the sharp increase was all.0 -
Paul_Devine wrote: »Thanks all for your replies.
I am on Economy 7. I don't know how many units I have been using a month sorry as it is only since last week I have had all this brought to my attention. I am going to keep a keen track on the usage now however.
I believe that water is set up fine yes, I plan to go home and check on this tonight to make sure it all correct.
I just mean our water heater uses approx 10 kWH per night hence the reason I was asking if the 9 kWH is for your total usage or just day time?0 -
Paul_Devine wrote: »Thanks all for your replies.
I am on Economy 7. I don't know how many units I have been using a month sorry as it is only since last week I have had all this brought to my attention. I am going to keep a keen track on the usage now however.
I believe that water is set up fine yes, I plan to go home and check on this tonight to make sure it all correct.
If you're on E7, then the company should have let you know both the day and night readings and projected / actual usage. I'd get back in touch with them asap if they haven't done this.
As for your colleagues, then some of them may well be paying less. Also, they may be paying estimated bills and storing up a HUGE shock for when they move out / have an actual meter reading. £60/month as long as it is calculated on meter readings not estimates doesn't seem unreasonably high for an electrically heated flat.0 -
Paul_Devine wrote: »I am just struggling to understand how my bills will be doubling in price to £60 a month for a single occupant compared to some colleagues who say theirs is less. Maybe I am being unrealistic and this is simply how much I should be paying, I was just surprised by the sharp increase was all.
Again there are two of us in my flat but we (I) cook our meals together, do the washing together and the same amount of water is heated and heating is used. Our bill averages £57 per month for the year so your new cost of £60 seems in line with that.0
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