HUGE increase in energy usage

Legacy_user

Hi
I am with Octopus and live in an all electric flat with my son. We are not in during the day (work/school) and usually use no more than 90 kWh of energy on the night rate. I send Octopus monthly meter readings. I just had a look at the meter to send them the readings for December and the night rate has jumped 735 kWh since last month!! I have put on the storage heaters but they are on a timer and I only have them on for 1 hour at 6 am to take the chill off the place. We wrap up when we get in at about 6.30pm. I don't understand how I have managed to use so much and am dreading what my bill will be. I have no idea what to do. Help!!

wavelets

Lulabelle18 wrote: »

Hi
I am with Octopus and live in an all electric flat with my son. We are not in during the day (work/school) and usually use no more than 90 kWh of energy on the night rate. I send Octopus monthly meter readings. I just had a look at the meter to send them the readings for December and the night rate has jumped 735 kWh since last month!! I have put on the storage heaters but they are on a timer and I only have them on for 1 hour at 6 am to take the chill off the place. We wrap up when we get in at about 6.30pm. I don't understand how I have managed to use so much and am dreading what my bill will be. I have no idea what to do. Help!!

They do not sound like storage heaters to me.

System

They are. I currently have input at 4 and output on 1. There are also wall mounted electric heaters in the bedrooms but i don't use those.

Robin9

When you say they are on a timer what form does this take - most people have the storage heaters on the suppliers time switch because of the current involved.

If you have say 2 x 2.5kw and 2 x 3.75kw then for that one hours they will be solidly on and consume 12.5 kwh - for 30 days that is 375 units. Add in your water heating and your fridge/freezer and some early morning showers then 735 units is quite possible.

What is less possible - unless in mid summer - is the 90 units.

JJ_Egan

Take meter readings now over a few days PM and again AM.

System

There is a pin timer that both the hot water and storage heaters are connected to. (so I've been told) So I have it set to come on for an hour in the morning and an hour at the about 5 so there is hot water for bathtime. I switch on the storage heaters at the mains at night and then off in the morning. This is what the landlord told me to do, but by what you are saying it sounds as though the timer doesn't affect the storage heaters at all lol

I moved in in May and did not have the heating on until the end of Oct so my 90 units are correct.I guess i underestimated how much it would cost to have on

Robin9

There's no need to switch the heaters on and off at the mains - let the main timeswitch do the work.

As regards pin timeswitch - any guesses anyone ?

wavelets

Robin9 wrote: »

....

As regards pin timeswitch - any guesses anyone ?

Presumably something thike these?

System

Yes it's one of those. I'm guessing they don't control the storage heaters then?

Andy_WSM

Lulabelle18 wrote: »

Yes it's one of those. I'm guessing they don't control the storage heaters then?

It's more likely that only controls the hot water.


The storage heaters will most likely be supplied by the meters contactor, so will be energised during the whole of the ECO7 time, which is how they are supposed to work.


700kWh at ECO7 night rates shouldn't be much more than about £30-£40 anyway.

HampshireH

Simplified storage heaters will heat up throughout the night (using energy) and release the heat during the day.

Keep your output low and increase as and when required but remember to trun it down again before the end of the evening.

Loads of useful stuff online about to to get the best out of storage heaters. The boost is expensive so managing the output as best as possible is important.

Other things like retaining heat in the room by closing the doors etc are necessary else you will just lose that heat.

I've never seen a timer linked to storage heaters. Not sure how that could work.

I had storage heaters in 2 of my older flats (both dingy and damp) and my winter quarterly bill was nearly £300. I lived alone. (10 years ago)

They aren't usually the cheapest or most efficient system. Could your son be turning the panel heaters on when you don't see?

Are you on the best rate?