Electricity consumption excessive

Jawalk

Hi,

I am hoping for some help. I an not up on electric etc but am really concerned how much electricity we are using. 5 years ago we lived in a 5 bed detached and our gas/ electricity bill was around £150 a month.
We moved to an old farmhouse 3 bed semi with outbuildings and a static caravan which all links to our electric. We did not live in it for 2.5 years as it needed a lot of work. Other than power tools electricity seemed to be high (will have to dig out statements as have no bill records anymore due to all online and changing supplier)
Since then our consumption went stupid. Our monthly bill that I have just checked says we used 994kwh for the month (May-June). I did contact our previous supplier since the electricity consumption was high thinking I had a faulty smart meter. They informed me if it was not faulty we would pay for the check- I didn't do this.
So there are 4 adults 2 children living and using electric. I am at home most of the time but never watch TV and rarely increase the temp of heating.
The house has no loft, v little insulation, stone built and damp!
In the caravan where 2 of the adults live (retired and tv on all the time)
We have power to 3 sheds.
We have: 2 American fridge freezers, 1 normal one, 2 lots of heating (caravan -gas, house oil), 2 washing machines, 1 induction hob, 1 electric oven, 4 TV's, xbox, ipads and all those things, computer,1 tumble dryer, 2 kettles, 2 toasters what else do you need to know?

Is 994kwh per month a normal amount for a 3 bed draughty old semi and a static caravan or do we think there is a fault with the smart meter. The smart meter is Landis+Gyr E470

pochase

Was the 994KWh for two full months or less? Were you still using heating during this time?

For 6 people in two "properties" this does not sound excessive. Yes you should be able to reduce your usage if you take some steps, but I doubt the meter is broken.

Two big fridge/freezers might already be 1000KWh per year.

Alnat1

I'd say you were more likely using too much over the meter being faulty. If heating is gas/oil (and I assume not on at this time of year) and the monthly use is still 994kWh, then you need to look at what you use.

How is the water heated and for how long? Do you have electric showers? Do you tumble dry washing when you could hang out? Hairdryer/tongs/straighteners/iron, lots of use of any of those? Are light bulbs all LED?

Robin9

A few basics please.

Meter reads, dates estimated or actual

Read the meters switch off those freezers for  6 hours read meters.

Repeat tomorrow with  the freezers om

pochase

If you want to really investigate usage something like that is great

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Tapo-Wireless-Control-Required/dp/B097YBXHTW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2RXUUBSIFLIEU&keywords=tapo&qid=1655978107&sprefix=tapo,aps,60&sr=8-3&th=1

Currently at the price of a smart plug, and after you stop using it for monitoring it is a smart plug and might pay for itself over time.

Jawalk

Robin9 said:

A few basics please.

Meter reads, dates estimated or actual

Read the meters switch off those freezers for  6 hours read meters.

Repeat tomorrow with  the freezers om

open read 39832 on 2/5/22 close read 40826 on 2/6/22 used 994kwh

There is one freezer we can't access the plug. Electrician put behind freezer and we can't access as we can't get freezer out due to tight gap and stupidly heavy!


 Meter read via smart meter (they took readings remotely) Alnat1 said:

I'd say you were more likely using too much over the meter being faulty. If heating is gas/oil (and I assume not on at this time of year) and the monthly use is still 994kWh, then you need to look at what you use.

How is the water heated and for how long? Do you have electric showers? Do you tumble dry washing when you could hang out? Hairdryer/tongs/straighteners/iron, lots of use of any of those? Are light bulbs all LED?

Heating not on as set too low (for now) Rarely use hair things, au natural! Daughter may use curling tongs but not daily.
2 electric showers.
Water heated- I get confused but combi? Instant hot water when we need?
Tumble dryer only if raining (rarely at this time of yr. Just bought a new one A+++ and only use for towels and bedding if don't get them out till late afternoon .
We renovated whole house so all bulbs are energy efficient leds
I don't Iron!!!!

Jawalk

pochase- will have a look at link, thanks

Mstty

The main drain will be electric showers, then the American fridge freezers and finally the fact there is two of everything running.

Good time to get your consumption down before the next price hike as your electricity alone will be well over £5000

Coffeekup

First things first forget talking in ££££, think kWh's from now on. Remember the old mobile phone tariff's when u git charged by the minute? Same thing applies here each kWh cost you 'x amount'.

Also 1/2/3/3/5 year's ago prices were a lot cheaper so forget what happened in the old house.

What is your current tariff rates?

1 home's use can be as little as 80kwh a month and as much as your use, all depends on numerous factors. You have 2 home's you're paying for.

2 American fridge freezers 80kwh a month. + A normal one say 30kwh a month.. so that's 100-120kwh a month straight away.

All these buildings with power have any or no use? If so can you turn off the power to them?

Washings machines can use up some energy especially if they are on 3 times a week each. (50kwh a month).

All these TV 's have sky or another TV box linked up to them? One of the above will use 30+kWh's a month more if you record and play back alot.

Tumble dryers are gusslers of energy too, I know u say you don't use unless it rains but it all adds up. Clothes airer indoors will help this.

Game consoles can use alot of energy, more so if there are being used 6-8 hours a day. Is it left on when not in use? I.e. having dinner or out?

Old TV's use lots of energy, as do newer bigger ones (but not as much as the old style CRT or plasma).

Anyone sitting on a PC, listening to music with the TV on?

If you Cook everyday with the induction hobs and oven it'll soon rack up units used. 

I would say you usage is high with all the buildings band people around you I would aim to get it down 600 a month. 

When i stated turning stuff off at the wall last September it saved me 40kwh a month and I have very little to turn off at the wall, hi-fi, toaster, washing machine, TV and TV box, pc, WiFi and a kettle. For me it was very surprising as it knocked my usage down by 33%.

Jawalk

coffee up 

I never said how much I was paying. I have based everything on kwh. As you say £'s is irrelevant especially if comparing to 5 yrs ago.
Airers - can't do. We live in an old house with damp, condensation. Airing clothes would make issues worse. Plus when I had utility in house I did that and my clothes would still be damp 2 days later on airer. I have an airer in one of the outbuildings which is no the utility, again things can stay on airer for a couple of days so we do have an electric heater for colder times.

We cook yes. I also am a heavy tea drinker so kettle gets used alot. Kids and hubby leave tv's on which annoys me. Also everything gets left on stand by!! When spoke to hubby to switch off he says leaving on stand by will not make a dramatic difference? The thought of actually unplugging everything sounds a ball ache but if you saved 33% then I may broach this. Only issue is the caravan where father in law and partner live- can't very well ask them??

Shower - I am now thinking it is not electric and runs off heating.
Only issue I have with turning things off at wall- we do have sky (3 boxes) and everything we watch is not live. Things get recorded on planner all times of day and night so switching off at plug will interfere with that plus if I switch the main sky box off and wifi caravan wont get anything either- ok if they had an early night! It will upset my 17 yr old midnight owl!!!

I may try the switching things off, perhaps not the sky and wifi  just yet and see what difference it makes

Coffeekup

I never said I plugging every thing, I said turning off at the wall.

Any pond pumps, uv lights, outside lighting, hot tubs? Oil filled radiators? Immersion heater? Dishwasher/s?

You're estimated monthly energy consumption on the thing's we know about...
2* big fridge freezers and a normal one.. 100-130kwh...
3* sky boxes 100-150kwh....
That's 25% of your monthly usage accounted for.
2 washing machines 3 washes a week each - 50kwh.
Then there's the he tv's *4 all running 5 hours a day 50-60 kWh.
2* kettles 5-6 boils a day... another 50kwh used.
So we around 40% of your monthly usage with the above.