New house and double energy bill?!

mrsm1984

Hi,

I hope someone can help me shed some light on what's going on. We moved into our new house in December and left our previous provider to join with the existing provider at this house (Npower). Obviously we were put on a duff tariff, so I applied to switch us through uSwitch almost straightaway, and that has just happened... we're now with Co-operative Energy.

Anyway, in out old house which was a 1970s property with double glazing and loft insulation, but a traditional (non-combi) boiler, our dual-fuel bills were £98.00 per month - of which about £35 was electricity and £63.00 was gas.

Our new house is exactly the same square-footage, but is a 1930s house with double glazing only to the rear, and no loft insulation. The boiler, however, is a combi (a Worcester Highflow 400) apparently fitted in 2003. Our bills are now over £200 per month, of which electricity is still £35.00 but gas has more than doubled to over £160.00 per month.

I don't understand this as our usage is exactly the same, the house is nowhere near hot, and I've switched us to a more competitive tariff. It can't be a gas leak, because the meter sn't constantly moving, but when hot water is used, it's going like the clappers!

I've e-mailed Co-operative energy to ask for the meter to be checked, but they've said our usage is "broadly in line with what they'd expect for this time of year". Well, I don't know anyone paying as much as we are!

Any ideas as to what might be causing it? Should I get a plumber out?

Thanks in a advance for any advice.

good_advice

Gas, I think it has something to do with CH and how many radiators you have. How many hours do you have the heating on for?

We have a 1930 semi and I am paying £20 per week duel fuel. The heating is on for 4 hours a day.

JJ_Egan

Do you check your meter readings monthly ??

lstar337

mrsm1984 wrote: »

Hi,

I hope someone can help me shed some light on what's going on. We moved into our new house in December and left our previous provider to join with the existing provider at this house (Npower). Obviously we were put on a duff tariff, so I applied to switch us through uSwitch almost straightaway, and that has just happened... we're now with Co-operative Energy.

Anyway, in out old house which was a 1970s property with double glazing and loft insulation, but a traditional (non-combi) boiler, our dual-fuel bills were £98.00 per month - of which about £35 was electricity and £63.00 was gas.

Our new house is exactly the same square-footage, but is a 1930s house with double glazing only to the rear, and no loft insulation. The boiler, however, is a combi (a Worcester Highflow 400) apparently fitted in 2003. Our bills are now over £200 per month, of which electricity is still £35.00 but gas has more than doubled to over £160.00 per month.

I don't understand this as our usage is exactly the same, the house is nowhere near hot, and I've switched us to a more competitive tariff. It can't be a gas leak, because the meter sn't constantly moving, but when hot water is used, it's going like the clappers!

I've e-mailed Co-operative energy to ask for the meter to be checked, but they've said our usage is "broadly in line with what they'd expect for this time of year". Well, I don't know anyone paying as much as we are!

Any ideas as to what might be causing it? Should I get a plumber out?

Thanks in a advance for any advice.

Answered your own question. Poor insulation.

All the nice heat your are creating is flying out your roof (no insulation), half your windows (non double glazed), and your walls (probably solid or unfilled cavity). No doubt you have plenty of draughts too.

Better get all those issues addressed if you want to lower your bills.

mrsm1984 wrote: »

when hot water is used, it's going like the clappers!

They all do that. Combi's always work hard when they are supplying hot water.

matelodave

As said, you need to get your insulation up to scratch. Starting with the loft and then cavity wall (if you've got cavities). Check the Energy savings Trust website to see if there are any subsidised schemes - check also British Gas. I heard that they are offering insulation to anyone who applies (you don't have to be BG customer or on benefits). Draught proofing will also help.
What sort of controls have you got on your system, you could improve them if you haven't got TRVs or a decent thermostat/timer. A programmable stat can help optimise your times & temperatures.
Try reducing the amount of hot water you use by taking shorter showers or shallower baths or fewer of them. Don't let water run down the sink when washing or rinsing stuff - use a bowl or put the plug in. You might be able to get flow restrictors free from the water company to fit on your taps or shower to reduce the amount of water being used. Some showers use vast quantities of water, very nice but but also very costly.

sheffield_lad

currently free loft and cavity courtesy of BG


"Free loft & cavity wall insulation, plus £50 at John Lewis, etcYou DON'T need to be on benefits or have a low income"


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-cavity-loft-insulation?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=blagged&utm_term=25-Mar-14-v1&utm_campaign=utilities&utm_content=2#britishGasFormAnchor

macman

If you moved in in December, then you've gone through the whole winter (mild though it has been) without the loft insulation that could have been fitted in half a day.
Getting that sorted is the most efficient way to reduce your bills.
Also remember that you haven't told us your actual kWh usage, just your DD level-2 totally different things. As you switched suppliers in ?January, you'll have no winter credit already built with the Co-Op, so your DD will be set higher than normal. Once your usage drops heavily in the spring, supply updated readings, and the DD should be reset to a lower level.
For meaningful advice post your actual kWh usage and dates.

couponkingpeter

I would suggest getting insulation, in order to save all the heat being generated.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

couponkingpeter wrote: »

I would suggest getting insulation, in order to save all the heat being generated.

Why are you continually resurrecting 6 month old threads? People with current issues are seeing their problems relegated to the second page.

Pincher

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Why are you continually resurrecting 6 month old threads? People with current issues are seeing their problems relegated to the second page.

When I was ten, we had a race. I ran down the stairwell, and hit the lift button on every floor, the other person goes by lift.


Keeps you fit, though.
I go by lift all the time now, and am far too fat.


This looks like something like that.