Insane electricity bill

houndtang

I recently moved into a new flat (2 bed, just me living there) and was stunned by my first month's bill (split between SSE and Octopus who I was moved onto by the landlord). Basically £240 for the month. Apparently I used over 1300 units. First thought was meter was faulty. Then landlord's agent suggested it might be the immersion heater. I am used to a standard boiler which remains on all day, however the immersion heater cylinder I have has a timer on it. I was obliviously leaving this on all day. Also I have storage heaters which I am also not familiar with but apparently are best used overnight. 
Even allowing for all that and cutting down usage I am still using 24/25 units per day which will still add up to a pretty penny. This is with the immersion heater on maybe 4 hours a day and the heating in a couple of rooms for maybe a similar amount of time. Very little else other than occasional use of oven and washing machine. 
Any thoughts re this usage? I could get the meter checked but that will cost me £80 if it turns out not to be faulty.

brewerdave

25kwh per day for an all electric flat is not excessive ,particularly in the current colder weather . I use 14-15 kwh per day without hot water/heating (gas) at this time of year.

Neil_Jones

All electric flats/houses cost a fortune to run unfortunately, especially in the winter months when you need heat.

MWT

houndtang said:

Even allowing for all that and cutting down usage I am still using 24/25 units per day which will still add up to a pretty penny. This is with the immersion heater on maybe 4 hours a day and the heating in a couple of rooms for maybe a similar amount of time. Very little else other than occasional use of oven and washing machine. 
Any thoughts re this usage? I could get the meter checked but that will cost me £80 if it turns out not to be faulty.

That looks completely reasonable for all electricity use at the coldest time of the year..

rp1974

Doesn't sound that unreasonable given the usage to be fair.
Never had storage heaters,so dont know much apart from that they are normally best used on Economy 7 or similar,heating up during the cheaper night time period,not using full priced daytime electricity.
I dont know how much hot water you use 4 hours seems excessive to me.
Unless you pay your landlord or agent directly for your electricity you can switch to whoever you like.
Dont waste your time and money on the meter check.

Gerry1

Did you give an opening meter reading as soon as you took possession?  You should NEVER let anyone, least of all a landlord or letting agent make any energy or other utility decisions on your behalf.

At best you may be 'monetised', i.e. the agent gets a backhander for signing you up to a stupidly expensive tariff.  At worst, they will submit an opening reading far lower than is the case, especially if they are responsible for paying the bills between tenancies or if the last tenant did a moonlight flit.

Your storage heaters should be on an overnight-only circuit that's switched by your Economy 7 meter, otherwise it will use daytime electricity that's even more expensive than for a single rate tariff.  Before going to bed, turn the Output control to minimum, turn it up in the evening if it gets too cool.  The exception is a clever NSH such as Dimplex Quantum which can operate on a 24h supply, but check that its inbuilt timer matches your meter's cheap rate hours.  Avoid using any panel or plug in heaters during the day rate period.

Ditto the immersion heater.  There may be two immersion heaters, one at the bottom on an overnight circuit, and one halfway up on a 24h circuit.  This should only be used in emergency, e.g. if you've run out of hot water in the day or have been away.  This Boost circuit should NEVER be left on permanently.

A cheapskate installation will have a single 24h circuit with a timer switch.  It's IMPERATIVE to make sure that this never operates during the peak rate times.  Beware of simple motorised timeswitches that are thrown out of kilter by power cuts.  Check weekly if it's of this type.

How much are you paying (inc VAT) per kWh and per day?  Probably time to switch (start with Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch'), but check for any exit fee.

Also do a meter 'sanity check' for peace of mind, especially if the meter is not inside your flat.  Check that the serial number is the same as that on the bill, switch everything off at the consumer unit when it's dark and make sure the red light marked 1000 Imp/kWh (or similar) never flashes, then turn everything on (especially the kettle and the oven) and watch it flashing crazily (or the disc spinning round).

Hasbeen

Electric heating is the most expensive you can get.

Move out asap.

In the meantime look for a better tariff through tha cab site or switch with which.

You are probably paying on an expensive tariff!

Gerry1

Are you on the Electoral Register and have you claimed your 25% discount on council tax?  Did you read the water meter?  Easy to make lots of expensive mistakes if you're a newbie !  And don't forget contents insurance.

Robin9

@houndtag  Just checking - your bill was based on the readings you gave when you moved in and an ACTUAL reading given by yourself every month.  If not your supplier is guessing and may even be guessing low.

Even if this is Smart meter it may no longer be in Smart mode and the process requires you to read the meter. What letters are after the readings on the bill - A, C or E ?

houndtang

Thanks all. Yes it is actual readings and I have been monitoring the meter closely. A little more research - they are not actually storage heaters but panel heaters which I understand are both fairly crap and expensive to use. Am experimenting with the immersion heater to cut down amount of time I use it. Current cost is 15.99p per kwh and 21.57 per day.

Robin9

houndtang said:

...................... ''''''''''''''''' but panel heaters which I understand are both fairly crap and expensive to use. ............. Current cost is 15.99p per kwh and 21.57 per day.

You have just summed it up.
15.99 p is also a WOW -  you should be able to find 14.  Even if you have to pay an exit fee there's a lot of money to be saved there.