British Gas overcharging?

Biggus_Dickus

Hengus wrote: »

An immersion heater alone will not account for very high electrical usage. Leaving an immersion heater on 24/7 does not mean that it is heating constantly at 3kWs per hour as the cylinder temperature is thermostatically controlled. Clearly, a poorly insulated cylinder will lose more heat than one which is well lagged.

OP, has now just posted that immersion heater is never switched on.:(

System

Biggus_Dickus wrote: »

OP, has now just posted that immersion heater is never switched on.:(

Fair enough.

Janeybo

Biggus_Dickus wrote: »

In line with others, there appears to be something inordinate about mums leccy bills.

Even if the immersion heater is left switched on 24/7 it wouldn’t (or shouldn’t!) account for mums high electricity usage.

If mums hot water tank is very well lagged/insulated the immersion heater won’t use too much energy as it switches off once the water in the hot-water tank is up to temperature and a well insulated hot-water tank will keep the water at a sufficiently high temperature for a surprising amount of time.

However, if mums water tank is unlagged and in a very cold part of the house then the copper water tank will act as a very expensive radiator and will no doubt consume an alarming amount of electricity.:eek:

It’s definitely worth checking out mums immersion heater/tank,... and also ensure the immersion heater thermostat is set to the recommended (safe!) temperature level.

The elderly can be at higher risk of injury because they may be less sensitive and slower to react to very hot water.

Thanks for your reply. I think the immesrsion heater is well lagged, and in a warm part of the house. She has a lot of radiators though. I'll check the themostat - good idea, the water when it's hot is way too hot!

I'm also wondering if the meter is at fault? It was installed about 2/3 years ago by BG. My friend just said that she had a lot of issues with their new meter, and they came out to rectify.

Sorry, I meant to ask, what is considered a safe temparature please?

Janeybo

Robin9 wrote: »

Some of these modern meters can be very difficult to read; some will need a button press. There will often be a decimal point involved. Is she reading from the IHD?

Don't forget that now she has switched the meter will be in dumb mode .

Sorry I meant to ask what is IHD please?

System

Janeybo wrote: »

Sorry I meant to ask what is IHD please?

IHD - In House Display. They come in various shapes and sizes but they are designed to show usage and tariff information in various ways - usually, with a large £ sign.

https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/in-home-displays

System

Hengus wrote: »

IHD - In House Display. They come in various shapes and sizes but they are designed to show usage and tariff information in various ways - usually, with a large £ sign.

https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/in-home-displays

Some graphics here:

https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/in-home-display-troubleshooting#how-do-i-switch-on-my-in-home-display

Janeybo

Hengus wrote: »

Some graphics here:

https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/in-home-display-troubleshooting#how-do-i-switch-on-my-in-home-display

Thanks. She no longer has the smart meter, just the actual meter, in the box in the hall which the meter man used to come an read.

Biggus_Dickus

Janeybo wrote: »

Thanks. She no longer has the smart meter, just the actual meter, in the box in the hall which the meter man used to come an read.

Janeybo, please don’t take this as a personal criticism but I think you are probably struggling with the technicalities of your mothers billing/usage issues and also assimilating the advice that’s been offered on this forum.

I fully appreciate that even low-level ‘technical stuff/jargon’ can be difficult to get your head around if it’s not your thing so to speak, but you really need to understand just what is causing your mums inordinate electricity usage.

Just a suggestion;...do you have a friend, neighbour or relative who could perhaps lend a hand? ....two heads are better than one as they say.:)

Robin9

Janeybo - just picking up on some of the recent points raised.

Thermostat - there are going to be at least two. One on the boiler itself - if set too high then the water from the tap will be very hot. A second wall mounted thermostat usually on the hall which controls the room temperatures. What is hot ? A matter of personal judgement - my MIL's is at 23 as she is bedridden; my own at 19 because I like to be warm.

Turning both thermostats down will only reduce your gas - not the electric (well only a little bit as the electric pump will be working less)

The Smart Meter is the one in the cupboard not the IHD (which many treat as a novelty and bin after a few days) .it is the meter in he cupboard which you need to read.

You do need to look at your mums bills. Look back a few years before the meter got changed and find 2 actual readings at least 12 months apart and do your sums to find out the cost then. Now look at more recent bills and do the same exercise again. Are they significantly different ?

High uses of electric - immersion (you don't use it). storage heaters (you don't have any). Does she have an electric shower ?

Janeybo

Biggus_Dickus wrote: »

Janeybo, please don’t take this as a personal criticism but I think you are probably struggling with the technicalities of your mothers billing/usage issues and also assimilating the advice that’s been offered on this forum.

I fully appreciate that even low-level ‘technical stuff/jargon’ can be difficult to get your head around if it’s not your thing so to speak, but you really need to understand just what is causing your mums inordinate electricity usage.

Just a suggestion;...do you have a friend, neighbour or relative who could perhaps lend a hand? ....two heads are better than one as they say.:)

BiggusDickus, are you sure you haven't just stated the obvious re. struggling. Isn't that why people come on forums, to learn and understand from people who know more! I only found out yesterday, so I'm doing pretty well. Much of this is technical, which can be learnt. A good phrase for you would be - you cannot know what you don't know.

Having said that you are wrong, I'm not having trouble assimilating the advice here, I know exactly the next steps, more like I'm collecting info. and of course I have other people - brother, husband, sister on board.

I have noticed on forums - any for that matter, at some point someone does start to make personal comments or like previous people who get upset by the mention of oap's or use language such as libel.

When people say - don't take this personal, they know that they are crossing a boundary, that perhaps doesn't need crossing. It's a bit risky - a bit of advice - don't go there, you are making assumption. I wonder why this occurs?! I have my theories, I'm a psychoterapist - but lets not go there!