Expensive energy, clueless student, 4 bed Edinburgh flat SOS.

ajmc

Hello there,

First post here, really hopeful that someone can help me out.
As per the title, I'm a student recently moved into a shared 1st floor four bed flat here in Edinburgh's New Town. I have recently received an energy bill from British Gas that read as follows:

(over 61 days)
Gas total: 3334.21 kWh
Electricity total: 881 kWh
Total Cost: £295.49. (Electricity debit: £119.29 Gas debit: £176.20)

Does this seem steep/potentially erroneous in any way to any of you? I've no idea what to look for in this instance. We only have the CH/HW on for strictly 2 hours per day, and try to be quite frugal in our general electricity usage. Perhaps the price per unit is high, or indeed the meter could be faulty (it is nearly as old as I am, after all!). Then again, it could be neither; as I say I've no idea!

My only point of comparison so far has been with my parents house, which is around five times the size of the apartment, has the CH/HW on for four hours per day, and employs various power sapping devices e.g. 3x gas fires, an aquarium, garden water features, multi TVs etc. Despite all this it yields a nigh-on identical energy bill. Perhaps this is down to that house having a relatively new boiler? Equally it's much better insulated than the somewhat draughty flat.

Thank you so much in advance for your advice, sorry for my general cluelessness!

energyworker

If you are on the fully flexible tariff then the bill will be hire, that will be the companies most expensive tariff. Is the bill you've received based on a readings you have provided or is it based off estimates?

ajmc

Hi energyworker,

Thanks for getting back... think it is on the flexible one, as you say. Bill is based on readings, was originally calculated on estimate which was higher at £331.

Cheers,

A

Nada666

Did you check the opening reads on the bill are the opening reads from when you moved in?

Cardew

The gas consumption depends to a certain extent on the insulation properties of the flat and the amount of hot water used for showers/baths. 3334kWh in 9 weeks is certainly high, but not excessively so.

Your electricity consumption not that high; you look like heading for about 5,000kWh pa.

Often in student properties the students use their bedrooms as study/sitting rooms.

Usually the radiators in bedrooms are sized so that they are not as warm as reception rooms; e.g. when the reception rooms are at, say, 20C the bedrooms are at, say 17C. The temptation is to then switch on a electrical heater in the room.

SwanJon

As above - but I'll add that if you are in a Georgian flat with high ceilings it takes even more to heat them so that you feel comfortable.

Take (& give) regular readings to make sure you are only paying for what you are using.
Have a look around at comparison sites. You could extrapolate usage from the last 61 days as a guess. Keep an eye out for exit/cancellation fees as this will only ever be a rough estimate - especially for the gas which will probably be lower in summer.

ajmc

Nada666 wrote: »

Did you check the opening reads on the bill are the opening reads from when you moved in?

Hello there, yes I did, this is our second bill (the first one for August through the end of September was circa £130.

Cardew wrote: »

The gas consumption depends to a certain extent on the insulation properties of the flat and the amount of hot water used for showers/baths. 3334kWh in 9 weeks is certainly high, but not excessively so.

Your electricity consumption not that high; you look like heading for about 5,000kWh pa.

Often in student properties the students use their bedrooms as study/sitting rooms.

Usually the radiators in bedrooms are sized so that they are not as warm as reception rooms; e.g. when the reception rooms are at, say, 20C the bedrooms are at, say 17C. The temptation is to then switch on a electrical heater in the room.

This is interesting, as we only ever really use an electric MIRA shower. Yup, happy with the electricity bill in isolation. Interesting point about radiator sizes/rooms... it is true that there are more radiators in the living room, and yet it remains cold as it is a relatively large room facing downwind! None of us have electric heaters sadly, although this is set to change if the weather gets any worse!

SwanJon wrote: »

As above - but I'll add that if you are in a Georgian flat with high ceilings it takes even more to heat them so that you feel comfortable.

Take (& give) regular readings to make sure you are only paying for what you are using.
Have a look around at comparison sites. You could extrapolate usage from the last 61 days as a guess. Keep an eye out for exit/cancellation fees as this will only ever be a rough estimate - especially for the gas which will probably be lower in summer.

It is indeed a Georgian flat with absurdly high ceilings (circa 12ft?!)... so that could well be a factor. Thanks for the advice re: readings + comparison sites, wasn't even aware that energy comparison sites were a thing!!

ajmc

Really appreciate the advice everyone, thankyou!

aggypanthus

An electric cooker and oven can use lots of power, do you all cook separately, in oven ?
If so try to microwave more.

ajmc

Hi there, we cook on Gas, but do actually cook together so this is only on max 1x per day... I'm still trying to convert the others to the power of the microwave! Cheers A

SwanJon

ajmc wrote: »

None of us have electric heaters sadly, although this is set to change if the weather gets any worse!

Just remember that a kWh of heat from electricity is at least twice as expensive as one from gas - although if you are directing it it might be more effective.

Electric balnkets/throws can be really effective too.