Why do my overnight costs keep changing ?

Sea_Shell

Admittedly mine is pennies.

Sorry if I've muddied the waters, but was just throwing an idea out there.

markin

Outdoor flood light, or a sump pump?

wild666

victor2 said:

Missy78 said:

Hi All

I know we are all struggling with the energy costs right now, but I can't help but feel a little suspicious of what is going on with my overnight costs.  We have been very mindful of turning everything off every night and I have been watching my smart meter like a hawk.  When I get up everyday at 7am it is at around 50-60p, which I have come to except is the "normal" figure for us. Now I am noticing that at least once a week my figure is shooting up to between £1.25/£1.57 which it was this morning, when nothing is done any different to the cheaper "normal" days.  This seems to happen when I have saved money the day before. Just makes me sceptical. Wondered why this could be happening and wondered whether anyone else is finding the same thing ?

Thanks

When does the standing charge for the day go on? Perhaps you have been comparing costs without the standing charge to costs with it included. Check that the tariff details shown in the IHD (if you can) are correct.

Start to think in kWh, as that is what you are billed for. Then convert it to money to see what the actual cost is.

My SMETS 1 smart meter, electric gives different readings overnight when just the fridge, freezer and router are working this will be because the fridge and freezer use the electric to keep the appliances cold and the times they use the electric is not set in stone. This means that one day there will be a small spike at say 1am, 04:30am and 07:00am and the next day at 00:30am 02:30am and 05:35am. 
My usage is read in 30 minute segments and between 20:00 and 07:00 the usage is a maximum of 0:17 kWh and a minimum of 0.01 kWh, overnight the usage is around 1.01kWh and it doubles when I get a shower at around 07:05am 

Missy78

Hi All

Thank you all very much for replies to my post.. Very much appreciated 🙏 ... I will certainly take on board all your ideas and delve a little deeper... I set myself a monetary figure that I always aim to keep within as I do admit I'm not really overly tech savvy ... So £'s make better sense to my brain 😁🤯

No new appliances, no outdoor lighting, pumps or anything.. Was just finding it strange when the water is set to heat once a day in the afternoon and is off overnight. Just seemed odd that it's the same most days and you just notice a sudden hike when there didn't seem to be a reason for it... Maybe I'm getting a little to cynical these days, just find it hard to trust these companies nowadays !!

So thanks again and I'll keep digging

Alnat1

Final thought on this, it's not the night after you do your big shop? Thinking of the freezer working a bit harder that night to re-freeze the new food.

Ultrasonic

Missy78 said:

Hi All

I know we are all struggling with the energy costs right now, but I can't help but feel a little suspicious of what is going on with my overnight costs.  We have been very mindful of turning everything off every night and I have been watching my smart meter like a hawk.  When I get up everyday at 7am it is at around 50-60p, which I have come to except is the "normal" figure for us. Now I am noticing that at least once a week my figure is shooting up to between £1.25/£1.57 which it was this morning, when nothing is done any different to the cheaper "normal" days.  This seems to happen when I have saved money the day before. Just makes me sceptical. Wondered why this could be happening and wondered whether anyone else is finding the same thing ?

Thanks

Looking at my own in-home display this morning I had a thought which I don't think has been asked so far. Do you have a gas supply as well as electricity? On my display the cost total displayed can be cycled through showing just electricity, just gas, or the total. Any chance that you might be looking at the total on days you're seeing the higher total rather than just the electricity cost?

Missy78

@Ultrasonic great call as this could definitely be a possibility for others... I do only have just electricity so not in my case, but thanks you though 🙏
@Alnat1 this could be a possibility.. Going to keep a little diary of the days it's high and see if it's on shopping day !!!

Thanks for being so welcoming lovely people... Much appreciated 😊

Ultrasonic

Missy78 said:

@Ultrasonic great call as this could definitely be a possibility for others... I do only have just electricity so not in my case, but thanks you though 🙏

Just to cover off all possibilities, do you have a single rate electricity supply, or a multiple rate system like Economy 7?

Missy78

@Ultrasonic we just have a single rate..

k_man

@Missy78

As suggested previously, can you see hourly usage in your IHD?
Or installed the Bright app (which shows similar data)?

With hourly usage rather than just a today's running total it's much easier to identify the cause.