High electricity bills in rented property HELP!!!!

asmalec

Hi, I live in a rented property in a contract that started in 1983. My husband put in storage heaters about 20 years but I am aware that they are incredible inefficient. I have been trying to get the cheapest electricity deal. In 2018 I moved to Ebico on the Night Owl tariff, but in October they changed the monthly payments from £200 to £288 and switched to a different tariff without letting me know ( I had been with them a year) . I moved to the E7 fixed tariff in January after being quoted monthly payments of £180 ish.  I have just recieved notification that they want to increase my monthy direct debit to £366. I am at a loss of what to do!! Changing suppliers does not seem to make it cheaper. I don't feel that we use such a lot of electricity. HELP!!!! This is putting us in fuel poverty and we cannot afford these payments

Robin9

asmalec said:

.. I don't feel that we use such a lot of electricity. …………….

Do you know how much you actually use ? Do you read your meters? (If you don't read them no-one else will)

Please post a reading from your bills that has a letter A (for actual) against it.  And a reading from today .

asmalec

Today:                                       24755                              50600

asmalec

Today:                                       24755                              50600

asmalec

When I say I don't feel that we use a lot- I mean other than the basic, washing machine, cooker, kettle, TV, phone chargers, heating, 8 showers a week for 2 adults and 2 children. Occasional tumble dryer after midnight. and Storage heaters. I don't know what we could cut down o

Richie-from-the-Boro

asmalec said:

Hi, I live in a rented property in a contract that started in 1983. My husband put in storage heaters about 20 years but I am aware that they are incredible inefficient. I have been trying to get the cheapest electricity deal. In 2018 I moved to Ebico on the Night Owl tariff, but in October they changed the monthly payments from £200 to £288 and switched to a different tariff without letting me know ( I had been with them a year) . I moved to the E7 fixed tariff in January after being quoted monthly payments of £180 ish.  I have just received notification that they want to increase my monthly direct debit to £366. I am at a loss of what to do!! Changing suppliers does not seem to make it cheaper. I don't feel that we use such a lot of electricity. HELP!!!! This is putting us in fuel poverty and we cannot afford these payments

Learning how to use them efficiently will make them cheaper to use. Example they store cheap[er] heat. Radiation is more efficient than convective. I've used them for decades with no problems. kWh used shows usage. Annual kWh consumption not month/season counts. % cheap night charge VS % expensive day rate split is important. Boost adjustment [flap convection] should never be used. Personally reading your own meter and putting readings into your online account every six weeks is critical. Take control of costs. Pay monthly direct debit.
How many kWh do you use per year ? Best of luck.

Robin9

From your figures 5200 kWh (day) and 13,500 kWh (night)  at say 16p day and 10p night is about £2500 a year.

Day time use is rather high - in addition to the storage rads do you use fan or panel heaters ? Your electric showers are costing you over £10 a WEEK

asmalec

I have just spoken to them and with our up to date readings our outstanding balance is £1667.18
How can this have suddenly happened? Our usage has reduced in the last few weeks. 
In the day there may be a computer on and some lighting and then tv in the evening. 
   feeling very depressed right now. I can't move supplier as I can't afford to pay the old company

asmalec

When I say 8 showers a week - in total, not each person

Robin9

Find out where your 5200 kWh is going !    Read your meters regularly - every few hours - for a week, keep a diary.  5200 kWh is HIGH 

Old fridge/freezer/American fridge ?   

Gerry1

Is there no way you can get gas?  Make sure the 49225.2 reading shows on the bill at the cheaper kW/h rate.

Look at the meter and make sure it changes over at the times you expect.  Make sure the immersion heater is controlled by the meter so that it only comes on during the cheap rate periods.  If that's not the case, make sure it has a local timer that accurately shadows the meter times.  If it's a mechanical one, change it to one with battery backup so that power cuts won't make it get out of kilter.

If the immersion heater has a boost switch for emergencies, use it very sparingly and make sure it's not left on afterwards.  Don't use instantaneous electric showers, use the hot water from the tank.