help with high electricity bill

snowsuit

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice.

I had some arrears on my dual fuel bill last year and in November I arranged a DD to take care of them. I told the person I spoke to that I didn't want any more 'surprises' of massive bills so she set me up with a DD for 190 per month that she told me would take care of my arrears (which were around £300) and my monthly usage through the winter.

I've now made 5 payments of £190 and called EON today, thinking that I might be able to reduce the payments a bit. I wasn't able to get the gas meter open to take a reading, but gave them the electric reading, and was told I owe them an ADDITIONAL £700 just on electric, on top of what I've been paying. I actually cried on the phone. I can't see how this can be possible. I was expecting to get hit with a bit more to pay on gas when I gave them the reading, but I am truly at a loss to see how the electric can be that high! She told me that my electric bill alone is working out to be around £200 per month and that we are using 24 units per day on average. She looked back at last year's bill and said that last winter we used 11 units of electric per day on average, and last summer (august) it was 9 per day. I just cannot comprehend how that can have almost quadrupled when our behaviour hasn't changed!

We live in a 2-bed terraced house with GCH, no immersion heater. I work from home so I have the heating on (but even then I am careful - have it on for an hour in the morning then an hour in the afternoon, then probably about 3 hours in evening - but like I said it's GCH, no electric at all). I work on my laptop, my husband is usually working on his desktop. We have a fridge/freezer. Run the washing machine 3 x per week, tumble dryer on average 2-3 times per week in winter. Hair dryer, kettle, TV. We have underfloor heating in the kitchen but the kitchen is tiny, it is set very low and is on all year round so wouldn't explain why there is such a big difference between last year and this year.

Does anyone have any ideas on what could be causing this? Is it worth looking into a faulty meter? Has anyone had success in challenging this sort of bill? The lady I spoke to said that at current levels I would be looking at paying over £4000 per year for gas and elec. For two adults and a child in a 2 bedroom house that seems so wrong. HELP!

dogshome

Tumle Drier 3 times a week is going to cost, but underfloor heating ! ?

If it's running off the Gas CH system OK, but if it's Electric then the Sky's the Limit for the bills - Turn it OFF and compare the Elec meter advance rate to when it's on

Couln't read the Gas meter? - Sounds like you do not have a key yo the meter box, every DIY store sells these for less than a £

snowsuit

thanks for your answer. i am going to monitor the meter for a couple of days keeping things the way they are, then i will start turning things on and off. we ran the underfloor heating all last year and didn't see meter readings anything like this, but it's something i'll test. i did a quick, unscientific series of readings this afternoon and yes, it does look like we are using 1 kw/h per hour. that was with a light on in hallway and kitchen, tv on in front room, and radio on in kitchen - so no big appliances on (as far as i know!). it seems like a really high baseline so there must be something in the background that's using a lot of power.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi snowsuit

That does seem a lot of electricity for the type of property described.

You're doing the right thing in taking regular meter readings. This will help build up a picture of the ongoing usage.

I agree with dogshome, under floor heating can be particularly thirsty. If you're able to manage without it on for a time, this might help pinpoint where some of the electricity is being used.

Once you've a record of meter readings, talk to our Consumption Team. They specialise in helping people understand their usage.

Hope this helps.

Malc

dogshome

One light, a radio and a TV, even if it's a Plasma model don't add up to 1 Kwh being used an hour.

Turn off everything and check the meter to see if it's still moving - If it is pull fuses/circuit breakers one at a time till it stops, then investigate whatever appliances are being powered by that fuse