Electric and gas usage high after smart meter install?

spacesaver90

I currently live in a 2 bedroom flat but alone, had my meter installed about this time yesterday and then spent till about 6pm just on my desktop with lcd screen, then turned on my tv at 6pm and turned it off about 10.30 and went to bed at 11.30

Woke up at 10.30 today, put pc on and about 2pm put on heating as was feeling a little cold.

In 24 hours the electricity has used £1.80(no standing charges with my supplier) despite just using pc and tv, I havent used the kettle once, havent used cooker only microwave for 6 minutes, have my fridge freezer in use etc.

The heating I am unsure about too, used about £2.50 in 2 hours but I know from past experience the first hour uses the most as it needs to warm up, though I have it set to low and chilly with it on anyway(just takes away the bite)

matelodave

Did you know what you used before you had a smart meter or have you just become aware because you've now got one.

Unless you have got a good record of what and when you used previously (on a day to day basis) then how do you know if you are using more or less?

spacesaver90

It was hard to guess due to someone bypassing the meter before me(which after credit ran out stopped going down) going by my previous flats usage, and usage I checked here before credit ran out and meter stopped charging was about 90p a day electric getting up around lunchtime and going to bed around 1am, and £1.20 if I woke up around 9am and and went to bed around 1-3am.

The only difference is when I last checked I didnt use my freezer much(its seperate from my fridge) am having shorter showers and eating more pre made food instead of cooking(so saving electric on that)

It could just be my supplier rates are higher.

lstar337

You can't base off a previous dwelling or by-passed meter. My guess is you are just noticing how much it costs.

matelodave

Have you changed supplier? What was your previous supplier & tariff and what is your present one? Is it a prepay or credit meter? Are you paying back any arrears?

Unless you've got records of actual consumption (in kwh) and what you actually paid before then you don't know if you are using more or paying more for it.

You aren't even comparing like with like if you are using a previous flat as a comparison - did it have the same sort of heating system, are you using more or less hot water there are lots of variables that have to be factored in.

Nada666

Stop reading pounds and pence, start reading kWhs.

What tariff are you on that has no standing charge? This is unlikely to be at all cheap for an electricity only set-up. (That is if you use heating and hot water - they are usually only viable for those with gas.)

As you surmise in your first post, it is entirely possible that you only used 34p until turning on the heating.

MeterMan

Your boiler will use about 4pence per hour of Electric.

Your gas tarrif is going to be roughly 4pkwh, and your boiler is perhaps rated roughly at 22/28kwper hour. Do the math.

Swipe

If it's a brand new smart meter that'll be what you've used.