Electric Heating

karenburton1305

Hi All, 

Definitely need some advice! My electric bill for Dec was extortionate for less than 2 weeks in the apartment! My heating system is all electric - there's a boiler and and a water tank, both with separate switches. I don't know how to use this efficiently! Any advice?

Gerry1

Much more info needed.  Pre-payment or credit tariff?  How many kWh used?  Did you register with the supplier and give an opening reading?

What's the room heating, e.g. panel heaters, storage heaters, underfloor, wet radiators?

Are you confusing boilers, immersion heaters and storage tanks? 

Sorry for the inquisition, but all the facts have to be established to understand the situation.

Robin9

Did you read the meter on Day 1 and again at the end of the month ?   Are the readings on bill ACTAUL (A) or ESTIMATED (E)

What do you call extortionate ?  £50 , £200 ............ 

karenburton1305

Sorry for not giving more info everyone! I provided a reading when I moved in and then at the beginning of January. I was quoted £28 per month to cover bills but last month was £70 for just 2 weeks of living! It's a one bedroom flat that is similar to a studio layout as it's all open plan. 

It's a monthly direct debit fixed tariff. I can't remember the kwh - it definitely was a lot, so I don't think it's the charge that's wrong, but me using my heating inefficinetly.

I probably am confuding the different systems - I think there's an electric boiler but I'm not sure if the storage tank has an immersion heater too?

Gerry1

If it's an electric boiler with wet radiators, that's the worst possible system.  Read the meter weekly and keep records.  What is the cost per kWh and the daily charge, inc VAT?

Robin9

karenburton1305 said:

. I was quoted £28 per month to cover bills 

What consumption figure did you give to the supplier so they could guess your DD ?    An all-electric flat can easily be £70-£100  a month. £28 may be true in the summer but not winter.

What were the meter readings used for the bill - did they have the letter E for ESTIMATED or had you given the supplier your readings.  If you've never given readings read your meter NOW and give them to your supplier

macman

To state the obvious, there was very cold weather in December...
You are on the most expensive heating method available. You can't change the efficiency, which is 100%. All you can do is reduce your consumption, which means reducing the temp and/or the running hours.

McKneff

Keep the immersion heater turned off till you really, really.. need hot water. 

matelodave

can you please put up piccies of your boiler and water tank so we can determine what you've got. A piccie of a heater would also help. What controls have you got, timer, thermostats etc.  What tariff are you on, is it an economy seven or or other off peak type,

You don't have to use lots of leccy to pay silly prices. How much electricity did you use in kwh not £££'s. TBH £28 a month is too low even if you didn't have electric heating and hot water, even for a one bedroom apartment. Something like £60-£80 month would be more realistic depending on your tariff.

Have you had a bill yet, are you reading the meter are are you determining your cost from the IHD (In Home Device) associated with your smart meter. If you are in an apartment where is you actual electricity meter it may be a good idea to check that the meter you are reading is actually the one that feed your flat - quite often that meters get allocated incorrectly.

As said above electric heating and hot water is expensive and it is winter so will be more expensive at this time of the year than in the summer it is winter . You use two thirds or more of your annual energy between November and March and only a third between April and October

karenburton1305

Hi all - that's really useful thank you! I did some research and think I have an immersion heater as well as an electric boiler. As I didn't know what there were, I was turning both on whenever I wanted the heating on so was heating water doubly. Annoying that landlords don't leave guidance on the system! 

I realise it's cold in December - it's just that in December I was only in the flat for 1-2 weeks! So it just seemed extortionate for such a short time! I don't have a smart meter - it's an electric meter that is based in the basement that I've been submitting. I think I only have to submit every few months though! 

My current cost is 18.54p per kWh at the moment!

Gerry1

karenburton1305 said:

My current cost is 18.54p per kWh at the moment!

Plus VAT?  Either way, that's expensive.  And the standing charge is...?

See this thread which is very similar.