Tracking energy usage over providers

rctneil

Hello,

This is my first time considering switching to a new provider for my energy. What i'd like to know is, is there a way I can track my energy consumption and usage over all the different providers I may switch to in the future. I like being able to see my usage from the provider when I am with them but when I move away to someone else, I have to start all over again and lose the history. Everything sounds like it's going to get rather fragmented.

Basically I am looking for a service, method or some sort of solution to track everything no matter what provider I am with.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Neil

[Deleted User]

A spreadsheet and then you just enter your meter readings when ever you want.

AndyPK

If you have been at the place for 12 months or more, you or the bill should know how much KWH you use in a year.

Put these values into a tool

e.g

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub
This give you accurate cost figures

or

https://www.uswitch.com
This has a more reliable email notification system, then go check on the one above!

And turn on email notifications for a saving over £50 or whatever

Merlin139

Some may see it as sad but I have a spreadsheet that shows my Energy usage since I moved into this New Build in 2002.

Read my meters a minimum of once a month so have a nearly 16 year history. I have switched providers 9 times now in that time and can see my usage over year and also with each supplier. Get into the habit of reading meters each month or week. Do it at a set time of the day only takes a few minutes. You can spend more time looking at the figures when you want.

Also have a Macro that fills another spreadsheet so I can see what my outstanding bill is at anytime based on the rate of cost for kWh's and standing charges.

If your bills are over the internet download the bills and keep them backed up. This will also give you a history to use.

I use to keep all my paper bills! Had them from 1985 through to 2010. Only to refer back to if I had a problem.

Made the decision that I did not need to keep them anymore and got rid of them. Thought about scanning them, but could not see the point.

rctneil

@Merlin,

Is there any chance you'd be happy to put up an empty version of that spreadsheet for me to start using?

Thanks,
Neil

matelodave

I dont think it's sad, I do the same although my spreadsheets only go back around eight years. I read the meters every week around 08:00 on Monday mornings.

I also keep one with running totals for my current energy provider so I can track my costs within a few pence a week and can check bills/statements when they are issued.

Bills or statements are downloaded as PDFs and saved in a file on my computer and on DropBox. All ready for the day when it all goes wrong and I can't get into my online account, the energy company goes bust (GB Energy) or they decide that a final bill from years ago hasn't been paid. I've just chucked out the paper bills from our previous house although I have saved the final one (just in case)

I may be paranoid, but I seldom have any queries and if I do I've got better records than the energy companies so I can challenge them with confidence.

I do the same with my water bills and meter readings (only once a month though). My regular meter readings identified a sudden big leak in the underground pipe a couple of years ago. Which meant I could get it sorted out before we'd lost too much water and saving the drive and house foundations from being undermined.

System

Your present supplier has access to the EAC (estimated annual consumption) for electricity and AQ (annual quantity) for gas for your property going back 2 years. They use this data to assess/revise your projected consumption going forward. That said, I have use a spreadsheet and, more recently, Meters for IOS to maintain a record of historical usage data.

AndyPK

What is Meters for IOS ?

An iPhone app that does what ?? ??