How can I monitor our electricity usage...

Robin9

RandyRos wrote: »

I don't think so. It's a double tank (has two parts to it, so 2 elements). Both elements heat the water up at night (E7) and if we need more hot water during the day (rarely) then we can turn a dial to heat up one part of the tank.

However, the control box in the airing cupboard has power going to it all the time, as it has a 24 hour clock/timer device on it

Double check that the Immersion times at night tie in with your E7 times even better if your meter switches over first).

Can you describe a bit more the insulation on the hot water tank - is this a series of floppy segments (in which case buy a further kit) or a solid resin type tank.

If the immersion E7 is the only big night time use (as you have the storage rads switched off) then it might not be the right tariff for you. Post your actual annual readings please

RelievedSheff

You have three fridge/freezers running washing machine and dryer running every day and an hours worth of electric shower every day. And that's before you start with anything else!

There is nothing wrong with your meter you are just using an obscene amount of power.

Ditching one of the freezers, limiting showers to 5 minutes and using the washer and dryer every other day will cut down your Bill's drastically!

Sea_Shell

"Shower is a 2kw one and is used 20-60mins a day."

How many people is that for? *Edit That seems an extraordinary amount of time to spend in the shower, is that right, or do you mean 2-6 mins per day?

* Edit, just seen that you're 4 with two adult children. Let me guess, they are spending FOREVER in the shower at your expense!!?? They need to learn to wash quicker.

Are they old enough to be working, do they pay you any housekeeping?

Uxb1

I'd be amazed if the shower really was only 2Kw
Most are usually 8Kw or higher.
OK let's assume 8KW and it is used for 1 hour - that's 8KWhr per usage
Now assume its used every day of the year for that duration. This amounts to 2920KWhr per year.

Add to that the 2KW fan heater in the bathroom, OK only used during winter
Let us assume that is also used for 1 hour so that is 2KWhr per usage.
Assume used each day but only during Dec, Jan,Feb so around 90 days - that gives us a further 180KWhr annual usage.

Add together gives us 3100KWhr per year which is 31% of your entire 10000KWhr annual electric bill just on the shower/fan usage.

Robin9

Uxb1 wrote: »

I'd be amazed if the shower really was only 2Kw
Most are usually 8Kw or higher.
OK let's assume 8KW and it is used for 1 hour - that's 8KWhr per usage
Now assume its used every day of the year for that duration. This amounts to 2920KWhr per year..

Agree - and that's £500 a year

Gerry1

RandyRos wrote: »

The washer is 3 years old and used once or twice a day. The drier is used once a day and is just over a year old. barely use it in summer.

If the shower is 10kW then at 60 minutes per day its 3650kWh per year. Assume the washer uses 1kWh per cycle and it's used 1.5 times per day, that's another 548kWh p.a. Dryer, say 3kW for 40 weeks (280 cycles) for 40 minutes each time, that's another 560kWh p.a. Fan heater: 30 weeks, 2kW, 20mins/day, add 140kWh

Running total is 4898kWh so far and that's without the immersion heater, freezers, fridge, lighting, cooker, sewerage system etc so 9000+ kWh p.a. is more than likely.

To summarise:-

• Ensure the immersion heater is fed by an off-peak supply that's controlled by the meter.
• Make sure any 24 hour supply to a boost immersion heater has a neon indicator and it's always left switched off.
• Get rid of the instantaneous shower. A pumped shower is relatively OK if it's immersion fed, although it'll use more hot water.
• Make sure you know the exact off peak times, check the meter itself and see just when it switches over. It could have drifted if it's clockwork, and if you have a radio teleswitch the times are +/- 15 minutes. There could be a 2-hour peak rate gap in the middle of the night.
• Make sure the day and night readings aren't swapped over: check that the day reading that ends up on the bill really is from the register that increments during the day.
• Check that sewerage meter is a property certified one and that it's recording correctly.

Basically, electricity is expensive so all you can do is to switch away from peak rate water heating, use less, make sure everything is correctly recorded and that you're really on the best tariff (which may not be Bulb, make sure you're seeing the full market when you compare).

RandyRos

Robin9 wrote: »

Double check that the Immersion times at night tie in with your E7 times even better if your meter switches over first).

Can you describe a bit more the insulation on the hot water tank - is this a series of floppy segments (in which case buy a further kit) or a solid resin type tank.

If the immersion E7 is the only big night time use (as you have the storage rads switched off) then it might not be the right tariff for you. Post your actual annual readings please

Yes, it ties in. There's a click under the stairs when the E7 turns off and on.

Tank has a solid blue cover permanently attached to the copper tank. (took pic but can't see how to add it in this reply)

Not been with Bulb an entire year yet, but Feb 2019 was 95586 day, 74437 night. Meter Reading today is 00685 day and 77857 night.

We turned the leccy off for an hour and the meter didn't move.

RandyRos

RelievedSheff wrote: »

You have three fridge/freezers running washing machine and dryer running every day and an hours worth of electric shower every day. And that's before you start with anything else!

There is nothing wrong with your meter you are just using an obscene amount of power.

Ditching one of the freezers, limiting showers to 5 minutes and using the washer and dryer every other day will cut down your Bill's drastically!

At some point the dog freezer will be replaced, it's just a temporary thing till we can afford a new, more efficient one. Not happening while hubby is off sick

Re; the washer/dryer. I WISH I could do less, I hate laundry, but with the family in dirty professions that isn't possible. I always set the washer and dryer to run at night, but invariably there will always be more that has to be done during the day

I've found up a timer with a bell on it and we'll limit showers to 15 mins to start with (I'm disabled and no way can I shower in 5 mins, so I feel it's unfair to make others do it, unless absolutely necessary).

RandyRos

Sea_Shell wrote: »

"Shower is a 2kw one and is used 20-60mins a day."

How many people is that for? *Edit That seems an extraordinary amount of time to spend in the shower, is that right, or do you mean 2-6 mins per day?

* Edit, just seen that you're 4 with two adult children. Let me guess, they are spending FOREVER in the shower at your expense!!?? They need to learn to wash quicker.

Are they old enough to be working, do they pay you any housekeeping?

I estimated the shower at 20-60 minutes a day, but it depends on who needs to shower. Some days the shower doesn't get used, but it's rare. My daughter prefers baths, son is worst for long showers, but they've both been told 15 mins max in the shower from now on.

Son is 23 and pays £150 a month. Daughter is 18 and currently an apprentice, so she only pays £50 atm. Son wants to move out, but a flat round here is almost the same rent as our house!

RandyRos

Uxb1 wrote: »

I'd be amazed if the shower really was only 2Kw
Most are usually 8Kw or higher.
OK let's assume 8KW and it is used for 1 hour - that's 8KWhr per usage
Now assume its used every day of the year for that duration. This amounts to 2920KWhr per year.

Add to that the 2KW fan heater in the bathroom, OK only used during winter
Let us assume that is also used for 1 hour so that is 2KWhr per usage.
Assume used each day but only during Dec, Jan,Feb so around 90 days - that gives us a further 180KWhr annual usage.

Add together gives us 3100KWhr per year which is 31% of your entire 10000KWhr annual electric bill just on the shower/fan usage.

Yes, you're quite right. Why I thought 2kw I have no idea. Brain fart The shower is an 8.5kw model and a few years old. So that is using quite a lot. Limits have been placed now, so hopefully we'll see a change on the bill. Didn't realise it could be THAT MUCH! :eek: