Understanding meter reading

jdsimmons3

Hi everyone I've been asked to submit my meter ready for electricity.

My last reading was 23778. (9/011)

My reading today is 24338.

After submitting a reading does it go back to zero meaning I've used 24338  since November?

What even is this number kWh? Units? 

Or do I calculate the difference between to two so I have used 550 (of somthing) roughly since November 9th.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

no, meter does not zero.

You deduct previous reading from most up to date reading, so 23778 from 24336 = 560.

To find cost multiply units used by unit price, daily standing charge by number of days, add together then add 5% vat.

Eg: 560 x 20p = £ 112.00

days 60 x 25p = £ 15.00

then £ 127.00 x 5% = £6.35, total £ 133.35

jdsimmons3

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

no, meter does not zero.

You deduct previous reading from most up to date reading, so 23778 from 24336 = 560.

To find cost multiply units used by unit price, daily standing charge by number of days, add together then add 5% vat.

Eg: 560 x 20p = £ 11.20,

days 60 x 25p = £ 15.00

then £ 26.20 x 5% = £1.31, total £ 27.51.

Great thank you for your help! Would you say this is a lot to use in that period? We're moving home and I'm stressed about how high our bills will be! Trying to work out if we need to be more savy with the amount we're using or if we don't use too much anyway!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I only used 60 days as an example, would need to know your unit price, number of days and daily standing charge.

Effician

[Deleted User] said:

Eg: 560 x 20p = £ 11.20,

560 x 20p = £112

[Deleted User]

Effician said:

[Deleted User] said:

Eg: 560 x 20p = £ 11.20,

560 x 20p = £112

Hi,

thanks though.

I've corrected the figures.

Coffeekup

jdsimmons3 said:

Would you say this is a lot to use in that period? We're moving home and I'm stressed about how high our bills will be! Trying to work out if we need to be more savy with the amount we're using or if we don't use too much anyway!

If you last reading was in end of November that'll make it roughly 53 day's /550 units = 10 or so units a day.

If the last reading was at beginning of November it'll be roughly 83 days / 550 = 6.6 units a day.

Is it alot? For me I would say yes as my electric usage is 3.5 units a day on average.
But there is many factors to consider, example I have a gas hob and boiler.
How many people live in the house? do you have an electric shower? How many rooms do you have? how many times a day you boil the kettle? What is your homes heating fuel? 
Without knowing anything about you or your situation I'd say your usage is "medium"

Note the above calculations are for electricity usage. I'd it was your gas meter reading it'll be different.

jdsimmons3

Coffeekup said:

jdsimmons3 said:

Would you say this is a lot to use in that period? We're moving home and I'm stressed about how high our bills will be! Trying to work out if we need to be more savy with the amount we're using or if we don't use too much anyway!

If you last reading was in end of November that'll make it roughly 53 day's /550 units = 10 or so units a day.

If the last reading was at beginning of November it'll be roughly 83 days / 550 = 6.6 units a day.

Is it alot? For me I would say yes as my electric usage is 3.5 units a day on average.
But there is many factors to consider, example I have a gas hob and boiler.
How many people live in the house? do you have an electric shower? How many rooms do you have? how many times a day you boil the kettle? What is your homes heating fuel? 
Without knowing anything about you or your situation I'd say your usage is "medium"

Note the above calculations are for electricity usage. I'd it was your gas meter reading it'll be different.

Thank you! We use an electric cooker! We do put the electric fire on too in the morning to heat the room quick but only for a max ten minutes. so yes probably a moderate amount.
We definitely could use less so we're going to practise being wary these last few weeks before moving. The prices for electricity are frightening!

Coffeekup

jdsimmons3 said:

Thank you! We use an electric cooker! We do put the electric fire on too in the morning to heat the room quick but only for a max ten minutes. so yes probably a moderate amount.
We definitely could use less so we're going to practise being wary these last few weeks before moving. The prices for electricity are frightening!

Yes the prices are worrying.
My average annual usage was 9,000 for gas and 1,800 for electricity...2 years ago I was paying £50 a month, last year £55 and this year which ends in September (I switched just before prices went bonkers) £70 a month.

No if I look at the current tarriff's available the cheapest ones are all roughly the same.... Taking pervious years energy usage if I went to one of these tarriff's I'll be looking at £150-160 a month.

I've cut back alot since October on my energy usage and gas usage, turning appliances off at the wall like TV, digital box, dvd player, washing machine, microwave (not that I ever used it) in the evening's before I went bed an when I left the house. I'm saving 40-50kwh's a month roughly £5-6 a month on my current tarriff, it would be £12 a month if I was on a tarriff that are offered today. To point out u do t have a tumble dryer or dishwasher these things eat electricity.

With the gas (combi boiler) I've been doing the same having it on only when I really need it and shorter shower's, washing hands with cold water and washing up less (yippee) by using same cup's for a day and rinsing suds with cold water. Remember my previous years usage for last 5 years is roughly 9,000 kWh, what I've used so far this autumn/winter andd by projecting my usage forward till the end of my tarriff I guestimate I'll come in around 6,000 units for gas. 

So a 25% drop in electricity and 33% drop in gas usage, taking into account the tarriff's available now... That'll bring my bills in at £110 a month or £90 a month.

Crunching your electricity usage 10kwh X 365 day = 3,650 kwh's....if you went on to a tarriff they offer today your annual bill for electricity would be £1,400.

QrizB

Ten units a day at this time of year isn't unreasonable.

The average household uses around eight units a day but that's averaged across the whole year; in the winter it will be a bit more, in the summer a bit less.

Coffeekup

jdsimmons3 said:

We definitely could use less so we're going to practise being wary these last few weeks before moving. 

Remember to take photos of your meters of when you move out of your old house and do the same when you move i to the new house, in case any issues arrive you have evidence to prove your numbers are correct.
Moving forward makes notes in a diary or spreadsheet on you usages boring yes but you'll know what you use per month on which month for future usage, also if the usage is higher one month than previous years you know you have left something turned on, something new or have an issue.