I really need help

Gerry1

So you're paying 21.29p/kWh in the day, 9.61p/kWh at night, probably with a standing charge of 28.22p per day. That's cost you £12.88 in just under two days.

On my credit tariff I'm paying16.0083p/kWh in the day, 8.74545p/kWh at night, standing charge: 7.3731p/day. Your amounts would have cost me just £10.55; with Bulb in my area it would be £10.03.

By choosing to remain on your expensive BG pre-payment tariff you are being well and truly ripped off.

Kerry1977

and this is without using a cooker a washing machine as I’ve only moved in 2 weeks ago. I am in the middle of changing to bulb as it goes. I hadn’t used washer or cooker as weren’t wired and plumbed in. But now I’m afraid to use anything it’s crazy. Thank you for all your help. So seeings I have 6 storage heaters here and I’m only using 2 and the dimplex Apollo in the bathroom which I do have on the economy setting. Leaving the door open isn’t really heating it as the lounge is the only room that’s warm as that’s where I spend most of my time so I thought if I have that on at least where I am most days is warm. Hopefully when the switch over to bulb happens I will save a bit of money. In the mean time I think il call out my housing association’s electrician and maybe check everything is okay and there’s no other immersion switches etc as like I said I’m disabled and stuck at home all day so I do need it to be comfortable. Thanks so much again for your help

Gerry1

Have you turned off that immersion heater switch yet?

lindens

Kerry1977 wrote: »

It’s saying as I’m a new user I can’t post links. I took pics and used what was suggested on the link u sent me but says i can’t use links yet :mad:

put the links like this, and one of us can tidy it up
www. bbc. co uk

RelievedSheff

Kerry1977 wrote: »

and this is without using a cooker a washing machine as I’ve only moved in 2 weeks ago. I am in the middle of changing to bulb as it goes. I hadn’t used washer or cooker as weren’t wired and plumbed in. But now I’m afraid to use anything it’s crazy. Thank you for all your help. So seeings I have 6 storage heaters here and I’m only using 2 and the dimplex Apollo in the bathroom which I do have on the economy setting. Leaving the door open isn’t really heating it as the lounge is the only room that’s warm as that’s where I spend most of my time so I thought if I have that on at least where I am most days is warm. Hopefully when the switch over to bulb happens I will save a bit of money. In the mean time I think il call out my housing association’s electrician and maybe check everything is okay and there’s no other immersion switches etc as like I said I’m disabled and stuck at home all day so I do need it to be comfortable. Thanks so much again for your help

Leaving the bathroom heater on will be costing a pretty penny!!

D_M_E

Immersion heater - look at the switch that has HOT WATER on it, it will have a cable from the switch to the tank.

Does the cable go to the top or the bottom of the tank?

Is there a second cable coming out of the tank - if so then there is likely a second immersion in the tank.

Try turning off the switch and only turn it on for 15 minutes before a shower then turn it off again when done.

For washing up, boil some water in a kettle and use that with a bit of cold in a bowl.

Also, when the electrician turns up to check everything, ask him/her to also check that there is no debt on the meter from previous occupiers which has been added to your bill.

You did get your own key/card to top up with and are not using the one left behind when you moved in?

Gerry1

D_M_E wrote: »

Try turning off the switch and only turn it on for 15 minutes before a shower then turn it off again when done.

Nope, it would be using peak rate electricity. If the system has been set up correctly, it should be unnecessary to use the top-up heater: it should have been automatically switched on around midnight and provided sufficient hot water for the day.

D_M_E wrote: »

For washing up, boil some water in a kettle and use that with a bit of cold in a bowl.

Nope. More unnecessary use of expensive peak rate electricity.

Kerry1977

Gerry1= Have you turned off that immersion heater switch yet? I asked my housing they said no need to keep switching it on or off.

Where it says hot water there is a cable going quite near the bottom of the tank.
I didn’t get a new key. As BG are being weird they said to get one, no where has one. They said they’d send one, they haven’t. I read the meter it says no debt, they’ve told me there’s no debt and gave me a code to reset my key/meter. I’m swapping over to bulb but obviously this takes a bit of time.

I have had the bathroom heater on economy but might do what Gerry1 said and just use it when showering see if that helps.
The electrician will drop in and let me know I’m definitely using everything right.

Gerry1

Kerry1977 wrote: »

The electrician will drop in and let me know I’m definitely using everything right.

Good to hear that the electrician will be dropping in. In the meantime you need to understand the hot water system so that you can ask the right questions.

Two things are absolutely essential: (i) an overnight supply that's automatically switched (preferably by the E7 meter) and (ii) the ability to switch on an immersion heater for a short period during the day if you've run out of hot water. However, (ii) is very expensive so you should only use it occasionally, e.g. after a power cut or if the system was switched off while you were away.

Ask whether there are two immersion heaters. If they skimped, you may have just one connected to a 24-hour supply. That would be unacceptable: it would be very expensive (it would top up after a shower and after doing the washing up), so you should insist that it's rewired or that a local timer is installed. This upgrade would be worthwhile even if you have to make a contribution towards the cost.

Kerry1977

Hi Gerry1 well the electrician isn’t coming until after new year so will have to carry on like this.
Also each storage heater has 2 wall switches which I’m reading online one is off peak one is on peak I have them both on is this what could be causing a problem? One switch is fused the other isn’t. Sorry to comeback with more questions but so far you’re the only one whose made any sense to me. My housing association are rubbish as this is not an emergency... also I will ask those questions when the electrician does actually come out. Thanks.