Is our usage crazy?!

Robin9

If that's a 1KW probably having to work hard to keep the shed warm for 8 hours a day - that's 1000 KWh a month

Thrugelmir

sarahdh said:

Phlik said:

You're gas usage looks about normal but your electric use is double ours with the same appliances and also two game addicted sons.

The high use electrical items to look out for are oven/hob, dish washer, washing machine, tumble dryer, kettle, electric shower.
You've already ruled out electric heaters and under floor heating and I've no experience in keeping tropical fish so can't comment there.

You don't have one of these mythical teenagers that needs to take 3-4 showers a day or stands day dreaming in it for his on end do you? I fixed our day dreamer by knocking the breaker off after 20 minutes.

Finally you are aware that gas and electric prices have doubled over the last six months too?

Only thing I can think could be contributing is the little heater my husband has in his office (in our shed/summerhouse - it's nicer than it sounds!). Surely that wouldn't account for doubling our consumption though would it? He can freeze if that's the case 

Work out the consumption. A shed/summerhouse isn't going to retain any heat if it's uninsulated. 

Phlik

sarahdh said:

Phlik said:

You're gas usage looks about normal but your electric use is double ours with the same appliances and also two game addicted sons.

The high use electrical items to look out for are oven/hob, dish washer, washing machine, tumble dryer, kettle, electric shower.
You've already ruled out electric heaters and under floor heating and I've no experience in keeping tropical fish so can't comment there.

You don't have one of these mythical teenagers that needs to take 3-4 showers a day or stands day dreaming in it for his on end do you? I fixed our day dreamer by knocking the breaker off after 20 minutes.

Finally you are aware that gas and electric prices have doubled over the last six months too?

Yes I definitely think it's the electricity that's high.

Oven/hob we use no more than anyone else I would imagine (probably less looking at our recent takeaway consumption ). Shower is via gas combo boiler, and we have no tumble drier or dish washer.

Only thing I can think could be contributing is the little heater my husband has in his office (in our shed/summerhouse - it's nicer than it sounds!). Surely that wouldn't account for doubling our consumption though would it? He can freeze if that's the case 

I use one of these plug in meters to measure single appliance consumption

https://www.screwfix.com/p/energenie-ener007-energy-saving-power-meter-socket/3477H?tc=MC8&ds_kid=92700055281954487&ds_rl=1249401&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3Jn1xPSk9gIVjYFQBh2HRQ9_EAQYAiABEgJVK_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

You can measure each appliance in turn and leave it on for 24hrs to get an idea of daily consumption, you can then track down the culprit.

We have a 10kw shower and a dish washer in regular use and the boys computers and games consoles are used a lot and or annual usage is around 3200kwh.

Ant555

ref the heater - happy to be corrected on my rough calculations -  if its a 1Kw heater and its 'on' and heating up for 5 hours a day, 5 days per week then thats 25kWh.
25 kWh x 20 weeks usage? (do you use it for about 4 months of the year perhaps) = 625kWh

Using the April SVT - I estimate thats £180/year?  15/month.

As I said, you will probably find lots of things that add up to your 275/month that havent really been on the radar before  - I may be late to the party but I know I have been surprised at the real £ cost of switching things on these last couple of months.

double_dutchy

Just had an email and it says the new direct debit will be £289 per month! Online account says £276. I think this will go up in April again surely, when the price cap is lifted, not just October?

For the annual figures you quoted you should pay between approx £250 and £265 per month as of April 1st 2022 based on SVR set at the level of the price cap (assuming you are not paying any extra for previous underpayment). That depends on region, which one are you in?

EssexHebridean

sarahdh said:

EssexHebridean said:

Allowing you have two teenagers and a high electricity bill - do you by any chance have an electric shower? 

No, all hot water is from the gas combo boiler. They don't shower as much as I'd like to be honest 

Fair enough - I'm reliably informed that there comes a point when teenage boys go from not showering as much as you'd like, to practically living under a steady stream of hot water. Apparently both scenarios have disadvantages, but the second causes less potential embarrassment outside of the house!  

Ohfiddles

We are a family of 5 in a 3 bed semi detached , and our usage is around 8500kwh a year electric. But we have a dryer and are charging a hybrid car . I spoke with Scottish power yesterday and they went through a list with me of what we were running and it came out about normal . I'm trying to cut down though as our electric alone is going to jump from £130 a month at present to roughly £256.80 a month. Probably not worth me using the hybrid car anymore.

LADYXXMACBETH

I'd say your electricity usage is quite high. I have two teenage boys and with their pcs running all day (they never switch them off) and various other things in the house it soon adds up. You are paying approximately the same as I am for energy. I'm in a 3 bed semi too just without the husband. However I think my gas consumption might be a bit higher than yours. 
I've been keeping a good eye on things over the last few months and I'm sure you're not the first to be shocked at energy prices. I was! 
I'm just waiting for the price increase in April then I'm going to be very frugal with my electricity and gas. 

Gerry1

The electric heater in the shed and the fishtank are probably the two main culprits.

Sea_Shell

I'd missed the bit about the fish!!

How big is their tank and how warm do you have to keep them?