Absurdly high electricity bill

Ghostbills

Hi guys

I moved into a two bed flat around a year ago, totally electric with storage heaters, immersion boiler with an economy seven tariff with npower. I lived with a friend. The monthly bill was £83. I was a bit lax with meter reading throughout the year. Fast forward to a year later and I get a letter saying I'm £1600+ in debt, the took a £400 payment from my account and my monthly direct debit is now £240! I've apparently used 1600 kWh in the year.

I've had my storage heaters on through winter and off through the summer. One of the heaters is really old. I would occasionally use an electric radiator as a top up. My boiler is on boost mode but heats up during the night. The boiler is old. Me and my housemate have really hectic jobs so we were only in during the evening really.

I can't see why my bill would be so high. I plan to change to a cheaper tariff but I don't think that tells the whole picture either.

Can anyone advise where I'm using this electricity? Is there a chance npower have made a mistake? Can I investigate this further cos these bills are ridiculous?!

Many thanks.

Ghostbills

Furthermore the night day split is 7kwh to 9kwh respectively.

macman

To make sense of this you need to post your annual kWh usage on each register-you have just quoted 1,600kWh in total-which is extremely low.
You don't have a boiler, you have a hot water tank with an immersion heater. The boost mode heats up outside of the cheap night rate hours, at a rate approx, 300% more than night rate, and is intended for use when the hot water runs out after being heated at night-a hot tank should last all day.
Your DD is so high because of the debt on the account, it does not reflect your actual monthly usage.
Is the mechnical clock accurate on your meter, or is it teleswitched?
Is your current billing or statement based on actual readings, not estimates?

Haylescom

I've just had a look at my electricity bill (we're electric only) and our annual usage is 7000kWh. We pay just under £60 a month and that covers it. Have they put you on an appropriate Economy 7 tariff? If they've been estimating is it accurate according to your own reading? Is it definitely 1600kWh they say you've used or is that just your own reading? I'm assuming your boost on the water tank is only on when you've run out of hot water?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

so you're £1600+ in debt and only used 1600kwh in a year?

Don't think so.

Robin9

Can you post your ACTUAL readings for the last 12 months please together with the tariff you are on.

Your figure of 1600 kWh cannot be correct.

Ghostbills

Apologies, missed a zero. Annual usage is 16391 kWh. Day 9068 kwh, night 7323kwh according to my annual statement. I'm unsure regarding the type of meter, is there a way I can check? It's an old building if that helps. The current bills are a combination of debt and projected usage.

Ghostbills

It's an npower standard sc dd economy 7 tariff. My previous monthly bill was based on estimates and about three meter readings. The boost only comes on in the day if I need more hot water.

macman

Based on your figs and using EHL's comp site with my own postcode, you are using about 45% on night rate and it will be costing you about £2,294pa, or £191 per month. So that's about right if they are adding £50pm to reduce your debt.
You could save up to £810pa by switching to a cheaper tariff, as you are currently on Standard-the most expensive.
The building age is not relevant. The older meters have a visible clockwork timeswitch, which is frequently off by many hours. Teleswitches usually have a more modern appearance and are marked as teleswitches.
If the majority of your heating and hot water is on night rate, then you are using a huge amount on day rate-the average is around 3,500kWh. You are using more than 9,000 kWh and that is charged at about 300% of the night rate, hence your massive bills. Stop heating and boosting on day rate and trace the source of what else is using it. And get off Standard.
NB: this assumes that your annual usage statement is based on actual readings and not estimates.

Haylescom

To use more electricity in the day when you have a 2 rate meter will cost you a fortune. Make sure your storage heaters are coming on at the right time as sometimes the timers can go out of sync.
Does your washing machine has a delay timer? I set mine before I go to bed to come on at about 3am. Hopefully wouldn't disturb the neighbours too much but that will definitely save you money.
I haven't used my water boost for at least 5 years. If I think I might run out I boil the kettle for washing up. It'd be cheaper to make sure your water tank is heating up for a longer time period overnight than using the boost.

Haylescom

Make sure nothing is left on when you're out, even if it's on standby or just to show the clock (i.e. microwave). That's a lot of electricity IMO for 2 people in comparison to what we use.