Communal heating...super expensive...

ryanm8655

Just moved into a new build where the hot water and heating (underfloor - water based) is supplied centrally by a communal supplier (Loka Energy).

As it's a smart meter you can monitor usage and cost at anytime...

It seems to be crazy expensive...the standing charge is just shy of £1/day as well as a charge of 7p/kWh but we've had the heating set to minimum so that it isn't coming on and it's still costing about £1.50 a day without the standing charge...we're looking at a bill of £70/month with the heating switched off, with electric of about £30 on top of that for a two bedroom flat with two of us.

So much for a super efficient new build flat...the EPC claims our heating and hot water should cost about £500 for three years

Are we doing something wrong, how can we maximise efficiency out of this system?

Switching supplier isn't an option...they have a monopoly over the block.

I should add that being on the 15th floor the flat is 24 degrees with the heating off...so it should be super cheap...I'm wondering if the heating is either faulty or still coming on when set to minimum temperature, how would we turn it off completely? Guidance with the property recommends leaving it on low permanently for efficiency...

Thanks.

ryanm8655

Apologies...for some reason when using apostrophes on mobile site it inserts a load of code instead...have tidied up the original post on desktop so that it's easier to read...

Cardew

7p/kWh - if 24/7 - is an excellent price.

You don't mention how much hot water you use for baths/showers/washing up etc.

ryanm8655

The two of us shower once a day, wash hands after toilet etc. But both work full time and are rarely in as go out and do things at weekends. If anything I would say our hot water usage is below average, don't have especially long showers...

We don't really wash up...stick the dishwasher on maybe twice a week (though not sure whether the hot water supply is linked to the dishwasher or that is heated by the dishwasher itself?). Likewise with washing machine, not sure that would tap into the hot water supply?

In our old flat we had super inefficient boiler and heating and the bills were less...(was also electric only). We had one of those awful immersion heaters for hot water and leaving it on for two hours early in the morning gave us enough hot water for the day to put our use into perspective.

Thanks,
Ryan

J_B

ryanm8655 wrote: »

...the standing charge is just shy of £1/day as well as a charge of 7p/kWh but we've had the heating set to minimum so that it isn't coming on and it's still costing about £1.50 a day without the standing charge...we're looking at a bill of £70/month with the heating switched off, with electric of about £30 on top of that for a two bedroom flat with two of us.

Your sums don't add up, or I misunderstand.
Standing charge of £1 per day is £30 per month
If the heating is off why is there another £1.50 a day?

If you are then spending another £1 a day on electric @ 7p per unit = 14 units per day
That's the kettle and/or water heater and/or washing machine/dishwasher on for 4½hours each and every day!!! :eek:

ryanm8655

That's what I'm asking ha...

Our hot water is charged centrally, our heating is underfloor and runs off this. With the standing charge of about 94p a day and usage at 7p per KWH we are looking at a bill of £70 for hot water per month based on usage thus far...so about £30 standing charge and an extra £40 of usage solely for hot water, per month.

It's a relatively large, new build, high spec, 2 bedroom flat with 2 occupants and wet underfloor heating throughout.

This seems nuts to me, hence trying to figure out what is going on. Have never had wet underfloor heating before or centrally provided hot water so am very shocked at the costs. The underfloor heating has been set to 15 degrees (the minimum setting).

I'm trying to figure out why we are using seemingly using so much hot water, or what we are overlooking that is making the bill so high. Never experienced these communal hot water situations before...

Our electricals are separate (i.e. kettle etc.) and about £30/month (thats with british gas standard tariff - I am switching this to cheaper).

J_B

Have you any idea what heats the water communally?

Is it electric, gas or oil?

ryanm8655

No idea...it is only described as low carbon.

https://lokaenergy.com/about-us

It is as brand new as the flat is though so I would assume it is super clean/efficient...

matelodave

I'm guessing that you've got a heat meter which measures the temperatures of the incoming and outgoing water and calculates how much heat that you are using. I have to say that £1 a day sounds a bit stiff but 7pkwh for your heat is a reasonable price for heating.

However I assume that you did sign a contract before you moved in so should have been aware of these costs. If you have to pay it then you might as well use it as even if you can find a means of shutting off the water flow (there must be isolating valves near the heat meter) you'll probably still be liable for the standing charge.

ryanm8655

We have got an HIU (Heat Interface Unit if I have got the anagram right) which sounds as though it does what you describe.

We accept the standing charge, it covers maintenance and a whole load of other stuff that we could probably argue the landlord should pay, but essentially it is an extra £15 rent each a month...

The bit that is confusing is the heating/hot water usage part of the bill as it is looking like £45 per month despite the underfloor heating being set to minimum so that it never comes on. If 7p per KWH is cheap then there must be something using hot water that we do not know about? Or somehow the underfloor heating is still coming on despite being set to minimum? I suppose the other possibility might be that there is some kind of setting whereby the system is constantly heating hot water that is not then used... Is that even possible? I am not sure how these things work...

Thanks,
Ryan