How can I monitor our electricity usage...

RandyRos

Gerry1 wrote: »

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).

thanks, most of them I've done/checked already.
I always shop the entire market when changing suppliers and work out what a potential supplier would have charged me for my last year's usage. It's a bit of a headache working out the unit prices etc, but it's showed me that most company's quotes are not accurate, even though I tell them my actual usage.

RandyRos

I will just say that we have to use the wall mounted fan heater in the bathroom in the winter because our bathroom gets so cold the toilet actually freezes. and to bathe/shower without it on means the condensation turns to icicles on the walls and window. It's not like we're being !!!!!!s or anything...

RelievedSheff

15 minutes in the shower is far too long.

There is no way you will cut your Bill's if you allow that to continue.

If you want to spend less on energy then you have to find ways to cut your consumption drastically.

Why does the dog need it's own freezer for example?

Gerry1

rstmart wrote: »

my d/d has gone up to £145 a month !!

That doesn't mean that you're using £145 per month. Some of that will be clawing back arrears. Just watch the actual usage from actual meter readings. Do the sums yourself if you want to know the costs.

Uxb1

rstmart wrote: »

Could you expand on what your home automation system is please that logs your usage , sounds interesting ! Thanks.

Or you can do it with an OWL+usb monitor
Up to 1 month's usage is stored in device
You can then download via their software (windows only) and graphically display.
http://www.theowl.com/index.php/energy-monitors/standalone-monitors/owl-usb/

FreeBear

rstmart wrote: »

Could you expand on what your home automation system is please that logs your usage , sounds interesting !

Home Assistant - Got it running on a first generation Raspberry Pi. Does everything I need of it, and if I need it to do more, it is easy to throw a bit of Python script at it.

Robin9

rstmart wrote: »

Have regular readings too and taken screenshot showing increase but unable to post in message as it says not allowed to being new user !:eek:

Use imgur or similar but make an obvious error in the link you post.

A copy of your bill please- blank out the personal info

Give us your actual meter readings please

RandyRos

FreeBear wrote: »

If you want one now, try - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peacefair-PZEM-022-AC-Digital-Display-Power-Monitor-Voltmeter-Ammeter-Multimeter/153627469456
You could order one from China and have to wait 6-8 weeks if you want to save a few quid. Personally, I'd go for a UK seller. Get hubby to fit it in a nice little box, and you are all set to go.

Have just bought one, thank you

Gerry1

rstmart wrote: »

https://imgur.com/a/6fwclVQ

Those aren't meter readings, only indicative usage amounts. The clip-on monitor may help you to see what's using the most energy, but it can't be fully accurate because it doesn't measure the voltage.

Similarly, it won't know the exact switching times if you have E7, and presumably the tariff information and standing charges rely on input from the user.

Robin9

I see you switched from Octopus to SP. Exactly when and what did you give SP as your actual annual consumption so that the DD could be guessed ?

I suspect that SP are playing catch up.