High Electricity Usage

sorby

Hi,

I've been reviewing my bills trying to cut down, and am a little concerned with my electricity usage. I've used 2,400 kWh in the last three months, and annual actual is 7,509 kWh. Actual readings, i'm on British Gas Standard.

It may not be too bad in reality, but i live alone in a small two bed bungalow and I'm quite good with lights off, turning off appliances etc. I'm out the house 7-6 Monday to Friday with no heating left on. I have a fairly new gas combi boiler, gas fire, so i'm not sure how i'm actually using so much electricity.

Any help or comparisons would be appreciated.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.


For someone with gas CH and hot water it is difficult to see how, living alone, you can use that much electricity, well over double the UK average.(3,300kWh)


The first suspect would be incorrect meter readings.


You need to buy a electricity monitor like an Owl. Firstly to see if there is a huge discrepancy between the consumption on the Owl and your meter. Normally a meter is far more accurate, and they very rarely go wrong; but it does happen!


If both roughly agree, then you are in the business of tracking down individually what is using the electricity. Switch everything off(including fridge/freezer) and switch items on one at a time.


You can also get a plug-in monitor that will monitor the consumption of individual plug in appliances; but not wired in appliances like a cooker.

CashStrapped

In addition to the points Cardew mentions above I would also start taking daily meter readings. Take them at the same time each day. That will at least (assuming your meter is correct) indicate what you are using each day.

If you want us to check things further, you could also post your actual confirmed meter readings and the dates you took them for the last year or more. Ignore estimated ones. Then we can double check your measurements.

sorby

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. I'll look to order a monitor now and I'll check my readings for a few days, look for trends.

Just been talking to my mam who lives six doors down, and her neighbour. Their meters were both replaced to digitals about 15 years ago, the estate was built in 1969. My meter is still the original one so at 45 it could be a potential culprit.

HappyMJ

sorby wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. I'll look to order a monitor now and I'll check my readings for a few days, look for trends.

Just been talking to my mam who lives six doors down, and her neighbour. Their meters were both replaced to digitals about 15 years ago, the estate was built in 1969. My meter is still the original one so at 45 it could be a potential culprit.

Living alone I would expect usage around 2,500kWh or lower.

Do you have an immersion heater that is heating your water instead of the gas boiler?

Cardew

HappyMJ wrote: »

Do you have an immersion heater that is heating your water instead of the gas boiler?

OP has a gas combi!

I have a fairly new gas combi boiler,

Cardew

Another thought and a long shot!


Is it a semi-detached bungalow? Could your meter be supplying next door? or the street lights? - It has happened!!

[Deleted User]

How is your cannabis crop doing ! you must be reading the meter wrong.Have you an electric "dial " meter ? 6 little rotating dials.Either that or something is burning your electricity..check the immersion heater is nt on 24 hrs a day

victor2

Did you provide the readings or a meter reader? It's easy to make a mistake, especially if you have the old style dial meters.
Take a reading now and compare it to the last reading used on your bill, then calculate your daily use. With no electric heating, consumption only varies slightly over the year, particularly if you have energy saving bulbs.
Your daily average at 7,509 kWh per year is over 20 kWh, which is high for your stated use.
Also look at switching to a better tariff, even if with BG, as their standard tariff is going to be their most expensive.

matelodave

We are all electric - heating& hot water as well and used less than 6500 kwh last year so I'd guess you've got a meter misread or there are some estimates in your readings.

Do you own readings, every day for a couple of weeks to check your daily consumption. I'd struggle to use 10kwh a day without the heating and we are at home all day.

sorby

Thanks for the replies. I'm definitely going to switch, it was just the usage numbers that shocked me first. I'll pop the power off again, check the meter stops spinning and pop outside check the street lights and neighbours.

It's all based from actual readings, not estimated so the bill is correct sadly. The meter itself is a dial meter, Sangamo Weston S200.31, which a Google search has shown its now a collectors item for people who like that sort of thing. I've had the house 6 years so I'll dig out all the old bills for comparison and check the home buying pack see if I can find when it was last calibrated.