gas, electric and water comparison?

hanb

Hi all,


I was looking to see whether I could find the average cost of the basic utilities because I'm sure my costs are quite high but when looking to switch gas and electric and/or get a water meter, the internet's telling me I couldn't save anything..


I currently pay:
£40 - electric (Npower)
£30 - gas (Npower)
£44.42 - water (Wessex water)


I live in Bristol, in a 2 bed flat and it's just 2 of us there. Both working full time so only really around in evenings and weekends. The flat is newly renovated so boiler and appliances are all new.


Npower - I'm just on standard tariff which they inform me is their cheapest option.

We have a dishwasher but it is very rarely used (once every 2-3 months after a gathering with lots of glasses ), we only shower and don't and probably do 2-3 loads of washing a week. Definitely nothing out of the ordinary as far as I know. Also pretty money conscious so don't have heating on unless necessary and don't leave lights or appliances on unless being used.


Does this seem high or am I just wishfully thinking I could save money here?


Thanks in advance

footyguy

hanb wrote: »

Hi all,


I was looking to see whether I could find the average cost of the basic utilities because I'm sure my costs are quite high but when looking to switch gas and electric and/or get a water meter, the internet's telling me I couldn't save anything..


I currently pay:
£40 - electric (Npower)
£30 - gas (Npower)
£44.42 - water (Wessex water)


I live in Bristol, in a 2 bed flat and it's just 2 of us there. Both working full time so only really around in evenings and weekends. The flat is newly renovated so boiler and appliances are all new.


Npower - I'm just on standard tariff which they inform me is their cheapest option.

We have a dishwasher but it is very rarely used (once every 2-3 months after a gathering with lots of glasses ), we only shower and don't and probably do 2-3 loads of washing a week. Definitely nothing out of the ordinary as far as I know. Also pretty money conscious so don't have heating on unless necessary and don't leave lights or appliances on unless being used.


Does this seem high or am I just wishfully thinking I could save money here?


Thanks in advance

For electricity & gas, consult a couple of comparison sites, but don't input your anticipated annual consumption in kWh, but use the generic info you have given here (usually available to those that don't know their anticipated annual consumption)

It will also give you a price for npower standard variable tariff, so you'll be able to compare for yourself how much it's costing compared to the average couple in your situation.

Then do a comparison using anticipated annual consumption in kWh to find the best deal for you.

For water, look on the Wessex water website - I feel sure it will have the prices for metered and unmetered supply, with an indication of how much water on average a couple will use.
I'd be surprised if you didn't save money on a meter based on the info you have supplied.

Bigphil1474

Hanb - in my house there are 2 of us, but it's an old 3 bed mid terrace, boiler is over 20 years old, but still going strong. We pay around £85 per month for gas and electric combined, with EDF. Heating goes off in April and not on until October at the earliest. Your costs don't seem particularly high, although I'd guess you could shave a bit off. Your only choice is to do some comparisons - if you have usage figures it's easier, but you can start looking at unit price etc. and compare - MSE also has the energy club which I've used and is good (IMO)..


In terms of water - we pay £38 p/m to Yorkshire Water, but it's only over 8 months - is yours 12 months? If so, sounds high. I've avoided a meter for water cos I'm not sure I want to worry about variable bills, but if I was paying over £500 a year I wouldn't hesitate - depending on the unit costs of course.

hanb

Thanks both. I have done the comparisons (with my last months billed usage) and it implied I could only save a few pence a month and again, water rates came up as costing the same I just felt, especially water, seemed high. Wishful thinking it was!

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Energy is below average. That said, I'm very surprised you can't make a decent saving by moving away from Standard Tariff. Doing a comparison based on 1 months summer usage is incorrect - you need to use annual figures, as you'll use the vast majority during winter.


Your water charge is high - I'm also in Bristol and pay £28 a month - are you in Clifton?! That said, they won't change the rateable value of a property so there's nothing you can do about it.

Nada666

hanb wrote: »

Thanks both. I have done the comparisons (with my last months billed usage) and it implied I could only save a few pence a month and again, water rates came up as costing the same I just felt, especially water, seemed high. Wishful thinking it was!

??? In my region, with that spend on gas and electric on npower's standard tariff paying quarterly, you could save £25 per month switching to a cheaper alternative. That's £25 off a £70 spend!

footyguy

hanb wrote: »

Thanks both. I have done the comparisons (with my last months billed usage) and it implied I could only save a few pence a month and again, water rates came up as costing the same I just felt, especially water, seemed high. Wishful thinking it was!

Sorry, I thought you were asking about how your usage (gas & electric) compares to the average for a couple in your situation. :huh:

Presumably you did the comparison based on the anticipated yearly consumption as stated on last month's bill.
If you have switched supplier /tariff recently (say within the last 12 months) then assuming you chose the cheapest for your usage then, it could well be you are still on the cheapest (give or take a few pennies)
If you've not switched recently, then I think you have done something wrong if you only think you can save a few pennies based on current anticipated consumption.

Regarding water, I thought you were asking about metered Vs unmetered.
If you done the calculations correctly and there is no difference based on average consumption, at least if you have a meter, if you use less you'll pay less. :money:
(You'll have no chance to save if you don't get a meter)

Edit: Could you show us all your workings as I think you would save about 10% based on average usage of 2 people with a meter.

SteelerGemma

Your water bill seems high, i'm on a water meter and pay £24 per month - Anglian Water
Im electric only and on an Economy 7 tarrif, I pay £50 per month but i'm overpaying by about £12 per month at present so acommadate for winter althought i'm sure i'll need to add a little more once the heating comes on! Electric with E-on.

I live in a two bedroom house in a rural area with my partner and we both work full time.

Andypandyboy

We pay £78 pcm for water over 12 months. Now that our family is moving out and becoming indpendent leaving only the two of us at home, I think we may look at switching to a meter.

Is there a long term goal of getting every house on a water meter?