Is my Energy Bill too high?

follett

Gerry1 said:

follett said:

We have switched to Octopus on a cheaper tariff and further applied to get on an off peak/peak tariff as the boiler is supposed to heat the water automatically at off peak times? 

I believe our radiators are panel and it is one electric boiler for hot water and heating.

That will probably be a big mistake if the day rate is higher.  The increase spend on daytime electricity (which will probably have a higher rate than single rate would have) will obliterate any hot water savings on the overnight rate.  That's certainly true of conventional Economy 7 although Octopus may have some clever tariffs that aren't quite so bad.

Unfortunately you have the most expensive system it's possible to have.  The only realistic answer is to move. 

Fair enough. I appreciate the honest advice. Octopus day rate is actually still cheaper than our current tariff so should be cheaper overall. We have moved to a new area we are looking to buy in and are renting momentarily whilst we search for a house so this gives an excuse to move faster, it's just a shame that the monthly bill (if we switch heating on) is more than our bill for the entirety of last winter where we weren't particularly frugal with the heating.

Hasbeen

follett said:

Current tariff is with SSE 16p per kwh and 20p standing charge a day. We are renting. When we moved in we actually received bills to  the occupier saying they were £1000 in debt for electricity.
We have switched to Octopus on a cheaper tariff and further applied to get on an off peak/peak tariff as the boiler is supposed to heat the water automatically at off peak times? 
I believe our radiators are panel and it is one electric boiler for hot water and heating.
There are a ridiculous amount of ceiling lights  (30 in the lounge alone) so that could be another culprit, although we tend to switch on just a few

So you are in process of switching to a cheaper tariff. What will be the cost then with your daily consumption?

This is cold time of year it will be cheaper in summer.

When you say panel radiators do you mean electric or water supplied by the boiler?

Do you have a hot water tank in cupboard etc or does water come direct from boiler?

Take one of the bulbs out and see what it is, probably 50w halogen? 30 x 50w = 1500w if so change them to LEDs. 30 x 5w = 150w

Oh and it is Meter not a Length  Someone will mention it. Oh oops!!

follett

Hasbeen said:

follett said:

Current tariff is with SSE 16p per kwh and 20p standing charge a day. We are renting. When we moved in we actually received bills to  the occupier saying they were £1000 in debt for electricity.
We have switched to Octopus on a cheaper tariff and further applied to get on an off peak/peak tariff as the boiler is supposed to heat the water automatically at off peak times? 
I believe our radiators are panel and it is one electric boiler for hot water and heating.
There are a ridiculous amount of ceiling lights  (30 in the lounge alone) so that could be another culprit, although we tend to switch on just a few

So you are in process of switching to a cheaper tariff. What will be the cost then with your daily consumption?

This is cold time of year it will be cheaper in summer.

When you say panel radiators do you mean electric or water supplied by the boiler?

Do you have a hot water tank in cupboard etc or does water come direct from boiler?

Take one of the bulbs out and see what it is, probably 50w halogen? 30 x 50w = 1500w if so change them to LEDs. 30 x 5w = 150w

Oh and it is Meter not a Length  Someone will mention it. Oh oops!!

Better to correct me than allow me to go on looking like a fool haha
I would need to better monitor the night vs day usage to see the savings but just the normal tariff at Octopus we are starting on is 2p per kwh cheaper. 
We don't have a separate hot water tank the water comes from the boiler and I believe it comes from water supplied by the boiler for the radiator

Tallerdave

So if water is only being heated on demand, most of your 14-20kWh per day is going on something else? Halogen lighting?? I would suggest getting an energy monitor so you see in real-time what your consumption is.

Robin9

Don't forget the 15min long showers for the 2 of you. That's 5kWh !    and cooking  and all the things that use electric - dishwasher/washing machine/ tumble dryer. The phone chargers, TV's are minimal in comparison.

Hasbeen

Looks like a boiler with a tank? Heatrae Sadia Electromax 6Kw electric combi boiler for central heating and hot water (electricaldealsdirect.co.uk)
This one has a 170litre tank so basically an immersion?

Would not be leaving that turned on all the time unless it was baths every night.

Op states 3 hrs to heat tank,  but does all the 24 hrs hot water get used?

It does have a boost switch.

Instructions data here: Electromax_User_Instructions_-_Issue_4_-_36005919.pdf (electricaldealsdirect.co.uk)

follett

Hasbeen said:

Looks like a boiler with a tank? 
This one has a 170litre tank so basically an immersion?

Would not be leaving that turned on all the time unless it was baths every night.

Op states 3 hrs to heat tank,  but does the hot water get used?

That's the one. When we did turn it off the hot water lasted for a day and a half before running out. 

Tallerdave

A couple of hours a day should heat the water then. Is it scalding hot? Turn the thermostat down to save a bit.

Your 8kWh with no heating or hot water is still a bit high. Could be the lighting?

follett

Tallerdave said:

A couple of hours a day should heat the water then. Is it scalding hot? Turn the thermostat down to save a bit.

Your 8kWh with no heating or hot water is still a bit high. Could be the lighting?

There's no option to adjust water heat and no option to adjust time for water either so we'd have to switch it on/off manually. I think it may be worth trialling just having it on a couple of hours a day to see the metre effect and if it stays warm.  

follett

Meter*