High electricity bills in rented property HELP!!!!

Talldave

I read the meters weekly. It immediately flags up any inconsistencies that deviate from the seasonal trend.
The OP has some serious daytime consumption going on. Fit an energy monitor and start investigating. 

Robin9

I don't think ashmalec has a particular tariff problem (but it's always good to keep looking) - I think she needs to do some close examination of what she has got in the house in the way of heating, water heating etc - forget the phone chargers, TV, computers as they are small fry in terms of what is going on. 
Look at the storage rads - what is the input and boost set at ? have they an afternoon fan boost ?  

Fan heaters in the children's bedrooms?

What else is there at night ?  I bet there's an immersion on (and perhaps with the daytime boost selected a well )

Gerry1

Yes, some of the old favourite pitfalls may apply !

• Lower immersion heater failed or switched off, so the upper (boost) immersion heater is doing all the work, often at daytime rates.

• 24h supply used for lower immersion heater, but mechanical timer has drifted after a power cut and is switching on in the daytime.

• Dimplex Quantum or similar clever heater charging itself up in the afternoon rather than only using the fan to release stored overnight heat.  Towel rack in bathroom on 24h supply.

asmalec

Robin9 said:

I don't think ashmalec has a particular tariff problem (but it's always good to keep looking) - I think she needs to do some close examination of what she has got in the house in the way of heating, water heating etc - forget the phone chargers, TV, computers as they are small fry in terms of what is going on. 
Look at the storage rads - what is the input and boost set at ? have they an afternoon fan boost ?  

Fan heaters in the children's bedrooms?

What else is there at night ?  I bet there's an immersion on (and perhaps with the daytime boost selected a well )

We don;t use the afternoon boost for the heaters in the afternoon, as we only have E7, nothing cheaper during the day. We don;t use the immersion, for only half an hour before we have visitors!

Gerry1

As previously requested...

• Do you have an instantaneous electric shower?

• Have you checked that the meter that clocks up in the day corresponds to the day units shown on your bill?

Robin9

asmalec said:

We don;t use the afternoon boost for the heaters in the afternoon, as we only have E7, nothing cheaper during the day. We don;t use the immersion, for only half an hour before we have visitors!

Then what is using such a large amount of electricity during the day ?  

 Do your heaters actually switch off at the end of the E7 period? How do you cook - electric AGA ?

Have you started reading your meters regularly ? Switched appliances off ?  

Robin9

ashmalec - describe your house and family to us please - how many bedrooms, built of brick - when - insulation - double glazing - A couple of checks as well - stay up until your heaters kick in - then just switch off the individual heater circuits - does the meter still whizz around ?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Meter,water controller, tariff name, NSH, year NSH installed will all give the group real time knowledge clues to water/room heat and out of control cost. Best of luck to the O/P hope they get it sorted - I'm out of here.

asmalec

It is a semi detached house with three bedrooms (only 2 in use). Brick construction built 1950, no cavity wall as the landlord didn't want it. Loft insulation. Double glazed windows, old wooden front and back doors. Mostly use on room downstairs. Basic electric cooker used (No AGA) We have instantaneous electric shower, but limit them to once a week for kids, 3 times a weeks for adults. for 10 minutes a time. No water heater as the thermostat is broken and gets too hot so it stays off unless we want some hot water for guests! and then its only on for half an hour or so. We also have a dripping hot water top so any hot water soon disappears literally down the drain. We have no towel heaters on. if we need to top up heat in office, we use 700w halogen heater when needed as there is no storage heater in there. Only one storage heater in use downstairs and four upstairs. We stay up til midnight to turn the heaters on at the wall manually and turn them off again at 7am. 

Gerry1

If your E7 switching hours are 2230 - 0030 and 0230 - 0730 then you'll always be paying for two hours of expensive day rate electricity.  Have you looked at the meter to confirm exactly when it changes over?

You need to have the storage heaters switched by the meter, then you won't have to worry.  Similarly, you need to get the immersion heater fixed and connected to an E7 switched circuit (or a local timer added, one with battery backup), its thermostat adjusted and the dripping tap fixed so that you have cheap rate hot water for showering and washing up.  If you have a water meter you'll also be paying for all the wasted water.

All of these things can be easily fixed easily and cheaply.  You're just making a very expensive rod for your own back by neglecting everything.

As previously requested...

• Have you checked that the meter that clocks up in the day corresponds to the day units shown on your bill?