Help! Why is my electricity so expensive?

adnanjanuzaj

2013yearofthehouse wrote: »

Yes, but is it on all the time or on a timer etc. do you use a lot of it?

I'll be honest, I have a shower about 3 times a week.

I need to work out how the water is heated. I can't see any timers anywhere but I'll try to work out how to turn the thing off.

adnanjanuzaj

WestonDave wrote: »

2 critical things you haven't mentioned that will be using a lot of electricity (both connected) - if you have an immersion heater running to keep a supply of hot water, and if you are using (as I suspect) an instant heat electric shower then both of those could be using a fair bit of power. You also mention a few uses of grill and oven but presumably you cook other things (apart from using a microwave) and again as its a heat source it will be power intensive.

Everything else I eat is cold or takeaway.

WestonDave

First thing to track down is the hot water tank. That should have a cable leading from a big circular attachment on it (that's the top of the heater element). Follow that cable and you'll probably find a switch - often with a light in it. That needs to be off unless you want to heat water to use - if you like the convenience of water from the tap, switch it on for an hour when you get home whilst you cook tea etc and then remember to switch it off. There may not be a timer - many (especially older) systems are a straight "dumb" on off switch.

adnanjanuzaj

There is no timer anywhere I can see but I found a diagram for all the mains switches and I just turned off the switch labelled On peak water.

So hopefully I will have enough money for beer again now. And no hot water.

wavelets

adnanjanuzaj wrote: »

This is how it breaks down:

Total Day Usage = 513
Total Night Usage = 98
Total Day Cost = £107.6787
Total Night Cost = £8.33
Total Standing Charge = £6.30
Total = £122.3087
Total + VAT = £128.424135

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

For your information, we use about 25% of the electricity you do for the same period and we live in a 3 bed semi.
We also have the benefit of heat & hot water, but that is gas powered, but still uses a small amount electricity to run the pumps, etc

No takeaways either - all good, wholesome home cooked grub

PasturesNew

You don't need hot water for much. Turn it on late at night (cheap rate) just enough so it's warm enough the next morning when you want a shower - for washing up boil a kettle or two.

WestonDave

Chances are the shower is instant heat anyway so don't even need it on for that.

adnanjanuzaj

There is no heater I can see in the bathroom. So the shower just uses the hot water from the tank I guess? Doesn't have its own heating.

Also found the on off switch for the tank so have turned that off. Wonder how much cash this will save me. Will report back in a week or so.

Thanks!

adnanjanuzaj

wavelets wrote: »

For your information, we use about 25% of the electricity you do for the same period and we live in a 3 bed semi.
We also have the benefit of heat & hot water, but that is gas powered, but still uses a small amount electricity to run the pumps, etc

No takeaways either - all good, wholesome home cooked grub

That's interesting. How does this flat eat so much electricity? I'm really hoping its the water heater I've just turned off.

wavelets

adnanjanuzaj wrote: »

That's interesting. How does this flat eat so much electricity? I'm really hoping its the water heater I've just turned off.

Try an energy monitor to see where and when you are using energy

I think you've probably missed some things out (like the hot water) or underestimated how long you use some appliances.