Typical energy costs for a 4 bed detached house

haras_nosirrah

Hi All

Know the answer is probably how long is a piece of string but moved into our house in feb. British gas have set out direct debit at 350 a month for dual fuel on their fixed 2015 plan. We are two adults 1 child with one person home most of time time (work part time)

Our old house was a 3 bed terrace and we paid £88 a month so the above seems mad to me.

Any ideas what we should probably be looking at. We did a 1 month test and according to British has we used £35 energy in May but as summer will obviously not be representative and they wouldn't reduce the direct debit

laurahester

We're with scottish power and pay £105/month duel fuel. We're also a family of two adults and one baby and ive been at home for the past year on maternity leave.

House is 4-bed detached with double glazing. Had a new Wocester boiler fitted last year and thermostatic valves put on all radiators so can adjust temperatures in rooms not being used. Also had new loft insulation done at the same time. Thermostat is set to 19 degrees and during winter heating was on between 6am-8am, 12pm-1pm and 5pm-10pm. We're economy 7 so use timers so that the dishwasher and washing machine come on after 11pm. We're quite thrifty which is why I think our dd is low (currently still in credit).

2013yearofthehouse

Unless you've changed a lot of your appliances or your habits (or the built in appliances and/or lighting in your new house are using a lot more electric) then your electric usage shouldn't be that much different from before. It'll probably be (presumably an increase in) the gas that will make the difference. A couple I know live in a 4 bed detached and pay £95 a month, one of them is home all day (and their house is always toasty in the winter), but they don't have a child.

haras_nosirrah

They are basing the usage on the previous family who lived here but they were a couple with 5 teenagers and a 4 yr old. Have pointed this out to them but they aren't willing to reduce dd.

2013yearofthehouse

haras_nosirrah wrote: »

They are basing the usage on the previous family who lived here but they were a couple with 5 teenagers and a 4 yr old. Have pointed this out to them but they aren't willing to reduce dd.

That's strange - I've asked many suppliers (npower, eon, edf, sse) to reduce my monthly payments as they've set them too high when I've first switched to them (like you say, based on previous occupants usage) and it's never been a problem.

Maysie

Our dual fuel is £105 with cooperative energy. Thats 3 adults and 2 kids. I know we are in an exspensive area for energy.

Robin9

My costs are similar to the other posters at £95 a month - two pensioner household. With Eon/Age UK who adjusted DD downward automatically - it was set at £125 when I switched in January.

Ask BG to revise DD

dogshome

At the moment, both BG and yourself are in a guessing game as to how many Gas & Elec Kwh you will use a year - But although BG do have guidance from the previous occupiers bills, they seem intent on useing those figures as fact.

Rather than face BG's excessive D/Debit demands until Spring next year when a true figure of your annual consumption is proven, it would be worth Switching to a different supplier who at that time will accept whatever annual Gas & Elec consumption figures you give them.
You must be realistic with these figures to avoid building up a big debt.
Ask BG for a breakdown of the Elec & Gas useage making up the £350 demand

As already posted, if you have transferred the same appliances and live the same lifestyle, your Elec consumption should be roughly the same as before, say + 10% for the extra lighting

The Gas is difficult and largly depends on the insulation levels of the house, but the previous occupiers bills will have been made up of 2 parts
1) Heating the house and your use will be about the same
2) Hot water and I reckon that with 5 teen agers, a baby and 2 adults in the house, you can cut this by 25%

zaax

Robin9 wrote: »

My costs are similar to the other posters at £95 a month - two pensioner household. With Eon/Age UK who adjusted DD downward automatically - it was set at £125 when I switched in January.

Ask BG to revise DD

Thats way too high. You need to check your insulation etc. it should be about £60

lstar337

haras_nosirrah wrote: »

They are basing the usage on the previous family who lived here but they were a couple with 5 teenagers and a 4 yr old. Have pointed this out to them but they aren't willing to reduce dd.

Really?

I'm with BG and I can change my DD any time I like using either my smartphone or by logging in to my account on line. I don't even need to speak to anybody.

matelodave

For a start you should be reading your meters at least monthy and giving the info to BG monthly. That way you will establish a pattern for what you are using and it will give both you a BG an opportunity to make the estimates more realistic. £350 a month is ridiculous as it equates to over £4000 a year. £120-140 (£1400-1600 per annum) is much more realistic. You should be telling BG what you think you'll use not letting them guess silly numbers.
Try using a comparison site and use 4000kwh for leccy and 15000kwh for gas to give you a very rough idea of what you should be paying. If BG don't adjust it to something more sensible then move away from them.