Energy bill impossibly high - and we have tried the basic solutions!

becky1234

Our electric bill comes to around £130 a month for a 2 bed flat with 3 occupants. We have replaced the meter and checked that there are no energy leakages in the house. We only use electric, but our water tank heats for a pre-set 2 hours a day and the bill runs just as high even in summer when the underfloor heating isn't being used - and when we are on holiday.

Does anyone know what could be causing our usage according to our meter to be so high? Any advice?

Robin9

becky1234 wrote: »

....................... underfloor heating ...................?

How is it controlled ?

Trust you've done the usual meter readings -actual or estimated - read meter at least monthly.

What tariff ?

Can you post actual reading of about a year ago and today please

becky1234

We had a new meter fit in August so the reading was zero - We are economy 7 so the day reading is now 1751 and the night is 1944. Yes we have been doing monthly readings.

Our tariff is 16.5 day and 8.9 at night.

The water is controlled using a panel on the wall and the heating is controlled via electronic thermostats on the wall in each room

Thanks for helping!

Robin9

So roughly 6 months .

Day £289; night £173 ; assume Standing Charge 25p/day £45 - all plus VAT at 5% = £532 = £1064 a year / £90 a month.

Are there lots of Estimated readings on your bills ? You do read your meter don't you ?

Carrot007

becky1234 wrote: »

Othe bill runs just as high even in summer when the underfloor heating isn't being used - and when we are on holiday.

Most people bills are the same all year round. This avoid paying quadruple the amount in Feb and 1/3 of the normal in summer.


Your usage is what matters. If you are using the same kWh each month then something is indeed wrong.

lovesgshp

Is your underfloor heating on carpeted floors , as they are like insulation and can be a problem?

Robin9

Your night time use at 52% isn't particularly high. Is there a seperate time switch for the underfloor that results in it being on during the day. I suspect there isn't and its on 24 hours merely controlled by the thermostats.

The monthly or better meter reads are really very important when it comes to sorting these sort of issues out.

lovesgshp

With your DHW water tank. Is it a large unit and what temp do you have it set at?

becky1234

The summer charge was based on a reading and was indeed still around £90. We have been doing meter readings more and more frequently - in our last monthly bill calculated using our usage we had used 511 at night and 377 at day rate.

The underfloor should only come on for a few hours and is on carpet in bedrooms and hardfloor in kitchen/living room. Which would use more energy? Does it use much energy for the hours its not on (its on a timer to go on and off)

becky1234

As for the water tank I'm really not sure what temperature but its not very big - sorry I cant be clearer on that.

I really appreciate all these suggestions!

Robin9

becky1234 wrote: »

.................. Does it use much energy for the hours its not on (its on a timer to go on and off)

It doesn't use any energy when its switched off.

The kitchen /diner is the more expensive area - I would expect that area to have a thermostat set at about 20 deg with the bedrooms at 16/17

Your hot water tank will have two heaters - the one at the bottom should be on at all times and will heat the tank 0130 - 0830 at this time of year; 0030 - 0730 during BST. The top element should be switched OFF unless you run out of hot water.