Average UK Gas Bill 2014?

MintyCyrmu

Hello all. I've just moved home and wanted to know if the bills I'm paying are average, or if something's not right, hopefully someone can steer me straight.

I moved from a small/medium mid terraced 3 bed house (no occupants on one side for years) with a back boiler and a gas cooker.
Winter months, the Heating & Hot Water would be on for an average of 6.5 hours per day, with a gas fire running at 1 bar for about 10 hours.

Average Gas = £45 per month
Average Electric = £40 per month

I have moved about 100 yards to a new home which is a large 3 bed end of terrace which has a combi and an electric oven (Gas Hob). With no fire at all.
Heating is on for a total of 5.5 hours per day and hot water is on demand.

Gas February = £85 per month
Electric February = £44 per month

...as you can see, my gas bill has doubled. How does this fare?

Thanks

Nada666

It's good news - the average bill in 2014 will be £200 cheaper than last year. The bad news - not due to a drop in price but due to Ofgem reducing the consumption figures used.

£85 for a winter's month and three bedrooms is below or about average - but since it is pretty warm just now you should look at whether you actually need it on at all.

MintyCyrmu

Well, thank you for the quick reply!

As I slowly make my way around the home, sealing off draughts etc. I hope to reduce the amount of energy we use.

But yes, at the moment my family still feel the need to don their bathrobes while lounging. We actually would prefer to have the home warmer (our bedroom at night is very cold), and we're suffering with a few spots of moldy condensation . Over December, we left the heating on constantly, but turned the heating temperature right down (on the combi) overnight. This was great, but the bill was £140 just for the gas!

The next question is of efficiency - this £85, what temperature should my home be (average) if I'm using this much energy?

Sorry, it's all a bit scientific, but that's where the answers lie! I would prefer not to spend anything on energy, but where I have no choice I would rather know it's all 'about right'.

Thanks!

oldskoo1

I went through a list of things when i moved into my new home

- Check boiler temperature setting, radiator balancing and pump speed.
- Sealed all drafts will draft seal foam and door stoppers
- Kept doors closed
- Radiators unobstructed, especially TRV heads
- Set TRVs to 3.5/4 in living rooms (roughly 21c) / 2.5 bedrooms (roughly 18-20c) / 1 or frost for unused rooms
- Check and make sure boiler timings are correct

On my boiler i adjust the thermostat. It ranges from 1 to 6. I use 4 in the summer (about 73c), 5 in an average winter and 6 when it is minus C outside.

It also ensured the system was bled, free of air and tried hard to balance the radiators which made a huge difference in comfort. I turned off all unused radiators, actually i leave them open slightly to circulate some water so the valves don't seize.

I had significant drafts through my external doors so after plugging them, keeping most of the internal doors shut and following the above i improved the comfort in my home. I might had made single digit percentage reductions in my gas costs but at least it was comfortable.

My bill for feb was £160 gas and £35 elec. This is 30% cheaper than last year but i put that down to the external milder temperature.

I do also think you need to try and reduce the condensation and mould. Try to air the house once a day open a window front and back. Keep window opening when showering, bathing, cooking etc. Ensure extractor fans run for 15 minutes after switch off (on overrun) or leave it on manually for longer if not. Make sure it is effective i.e. not clogged with dust and dirt (don't unscrew it, visually check - it is live and dangerous if you poke a screwdriver in there to dislodge dirt).

good_advice

Hello minty, I have been watching this thread to read the comments.
Seems I am doing well. The family are using just under 100 pounds of duel fuel for the winter months. Hopefully will drop below 75 pounds in the summer.
This is in a 3 bed semi.

One of my concerns is keeping all house bills low. I have saved us quite a lot in the last year. As yearly contracts end, I have canceled or cut right back.

Saving on gas/electric is something to be watched every day living with family. No cross words needed! just quietly unplug or turn off lights.
We do not heat the house in the day unless it is severe bad weather. Yes people here all day.
Tumble dryer rarely gets used, I hang clothes up to dry.

Only 48% now out of every 100 pounds is now for fuel used. 52% is for transport, green issues, profit, admin etc......

Guess what? In the Autumn, just before winter the fuel bill will rise again!

matelodave

Concentrate on the number of kwh that you use by reading the meters frequently and regularly - ideally weekly - so you can see what you are using and can then try to reduce it. If you don't measure it you cant see whether you are making a difference.
Always check your bills and make sure that any estimated ones are corrected by phoning the meter readings through to the suppliers - that way you won't get caught out by a big underspend.

MintyCyrmu

Thank you all for the taking the time to respond, all of the replies to this are interesting.

One thing I'm struggling to overcome is reducing the gas bill (how to).

our house, while we wait during the day for the heating to com on in the evening is on average about 12 degrees C. it is very 'cool' shall we say.

Unless I ramp up the heating (which is very expensive) I get condensation and mold issues in some areas.

With the heating on, it gets to around 17 degrees C.

st999

our house, while we wait during the day for the heating to com on in the evening is on average about 12 degrees C. it is very 'cool' shall we say.

Why wait, if I'm in the house and feel cold I put the heating on.

There is no way I am sitting in a house at 12 deg.

I don't even let it get that cold during the night.

Expensive is relative, I would rather spend £2 - £3 odd a day to be comfortable than sit in a house being cold and miserable.

lukieboy96

MintyCyrmu wrote: »

Thank you all for the taking the time to respond, all of the replies to this are interesting.

One thing I'm struggling to overcome is reducing the gas bill (how to).

our house, while we wait during the day for the heating to com on in the evening is on average about 12 degrees C. it is very 'cool' shall we say.

Unless I ramp up the heating (which is very expensive) I get condensation and mold issues in some areas.

With the heating on, it gets to around 17 degrees C.

Concerning the condensation, have you thought of getting the containers with the crystals that help reduce damp? I have used them in the bathroom and bedroom and it is amazing the amount of water they take! I have not had any condensation on my windows since. Also, make sure you open the windows too.

longforgotten

How I wish I had your gas bill


At home all day and paying about £50 a week for LPG gas even in this so called mild weather and being on a good price from our supplier. That's four double rads being on, and two extra on now and again


But it's nice being warm :j


As someone said to me the other day, 'there's worse ways to spend your money'

I_have_spoken

TBH, getting to just 17 degrees C and still having large consumption suggest insulation is very poor, maybe single glazed and/or no cavity wall.

My 3-bed detached, gas C/H and hob has averaged 2,550 KWh/month Nov to Jan.