Empty Apartment Electricity Usage

IYKYK

MWT said:

IYKYK said:

Sorry, I wasn't aware of the full process. That's on me for not contacting SSE and checking. I was contacted in advance by "Tenant Shop" (who supposedly assist with all these matters) and when I explained to them my intentions, they stated it would be fine

This is one of those rare occasions where using a service like 'Tenant Shop' has saved you from a problem

They seem to have handled the switch for you and as long as someone has paid that 'final bill' you should be in the clear.

Where have you been switch to though? ... and what tariff are you on?

Do make sure that you have not inadvertently given Tenant Shop the right to switch you in the future as their interests are not aligned with yours and it could prove expensive, if it has not already done so...

I actually switched to Neon Reef. Alas, they've ceased trading and it was their request for a meter reading that prompted this. I believe we're now being moved to British Gas so I'm hoping to get this all checked out in readiness. If there's genuine high usage because I've left something on inadvertently, I'd rather pay at Neon Reef's cheaper rate, and know better for the future whilst on British Gas' standard.

I'm actually not sure if Tenant Shop did anything for me (although they most likely have for the management company), as Neon Reef wasn't on their "approved supplier list", so they didn't take any of my details and I had to contact Neon Reef and set things up manually. 

MWT

IYKYK said:

I'm actually not sure if Tenant Shop did anything for me (although they most likely have for the management company), as Neon Reef wasn't on their "approved supplier list", so they didn't take any of my details and I had to contact Neon Reef and set things up manually.

Then I would just contact the management company or perhaps 'Tenant Shop' and check that someone has dealt with the 'final bill' that you saw addressed to them, presumably you did give it to them and didn't just dispose of it?

IYKYK

Just thought I'd pop along with an update...

I can confirm there was no issue with the metering and billing side of things. 

It turns out what I was told about the property by the agent wasn't correct. I've moved back to the U.K. and needed to urgently sort accommodation - so hadn't viewed in person.

It transpires the property has an ASHP, MVHR, full underfloor heating and an immersion heater - in addition to the electric panel radiators. I was under the impression the immersion heater had been turned off. It was actually being controlled by some bespoke system linked to the ASHP set to 65c. A main large window had been left open to get rid of some construction smells - but this had been triggering the sensors and with the freezing temps, had been kicking all the "eco" heating systems into overdrive. So, evidently, I was paying to heat to the max an empty property 24/7.

Without prompting, thankfully, the agent has offered to cover the electric costs until today (only got around to visiting today).

worrywart_3

Well that is a remarkably good result. Glad it’s sorted 

lohr500

I suspect the 65c setting will be a periodic boost to raise the temperature in the tank to protect against Legionella bacteria. ASHP systems typically run with lower tank temperatures and there is a risk of Legionnaires disease if the water isn't heated to a higher temperature periodically. The GSHP system at our sailing club uses immersion heaters to boost the tank to 65C once per week.

matelodave

Probably a good idea to check all the settings of your heatpump to make sure that it's set to run at around 35-45 degrees for the heating and less than 55 degrees for the hot water with a one hour boost to around 60 for once a week.

We only heat our hot water for about 1.5 hours a day to 45 degrees so it's hot for morning ablutions and there's still enough hot water for washing up in the evening and for evening ablutions. It gets a boost on Saturdays to 60 degrees for sterilisation.

Heapumps are a bit of a "black art" and so you need to get to grips on how it operates and optimising the settings so ensure that you get the best out of it. Most people who don't, usually end up with high energy bills and are cold as well.

Heatpumps in conjunction with underfloor heating can be a good combination but they have a very slow response times so not really suited to na hour in the morning when you get up and couple of hours in the evening when you get home from work. They operate more like storage heaters insofar as they can take several hours to warm up and several hours to cool down.

Heatpumps with correctly sized radiators are a lot more responsive but the cooler you can run them then, the more efficient and cheaper they are to run.

However they do have the advantage that for every kw of leccy that goes in you should get around 2.5-3kwh of heat out which you wont get with a panel heater where it's 1kwh in to 1kwh out.