My mother's energy bills

sevenhills

Not sure why she would need the heating on, it's summer.
I pay £175 and I am £350 in credit, but my app won't let my decrease the payments because of more usage in winter.

Georget79

Happy_Sloth said:

That is quite high for gas usage but if the CH is on all year it's not an un-thinkable figure. 20-30 is very warm so it's almost certainly the CH usage thats driving her bills so high.  

Can you lower the hot water amount or frequency it's on?

Can you encourage her to leave the temp at around 20? and use a blanket?  I have an electric throw i keep on my knees and it's tons cheaper than running the CH. maybe buy her one for her Birthday if you could get her to use it.  

Heat the person and not the home is a good mantra to have tbh.... it's harder with older people with dementia so i realize it's easier said than done. 

Yeah the electric blanket sounds a great idea. Shouldn't be too hard to make the change, someone with her all the time, so can just encourage her and she does love a warm blanket. Thankyou 

Georget79

sevenhills said:

Not sure why she would need the heating on, it's summer.
I pay £175 and I am £350 in credit, but my app won't let my decrease the payments because of more usage in winter.

People with Parkinson's tend not to retain heat very well and get cold quickly. If it's a really warm day the heatings off, but being in Scotland it does get chilly even in summer. I don't think the heating is that effective anyway, it does seem to escape quickly, perhaps up the chimney. 

Georget79

macman said:

Temp varies between 20C and 30C?! Tell us you're not serious!
20C is a reasonable average. 21C is about the max that most people are comfortable with. If you are seriously turning it up to 30C, then you've answered your own question: it will never achieve that temp, but in trying to do so the boiler would be running full bore all the time. Is it on 24/7 in the heating season?
She will get £400 credited back on her electricity bills in 6 bites from October, plus the usual WFP and the additional pensioner allowance., so £500  if 77. Plus £150 CT credit on bands A to D.
If she has dementia, then she may count as SMI and so can be disregarded for C Tax, which means that you will get a 25% SPD discount, if there are no other adult residents.
Check the loft insulation is up to standard, very easy to fix if not.

I have no idea what's going on then with the heating. It can be on at 30 during the day and she can then get very cold and we even need to turn on the small electric plug-in heater to keep her warm. I also don't feel that hot when it's like that, and I'm 42 and fit and healthy. I really don't understand it.

Thanks for the heads up on the other stuff. 

Broomstick

Georget79 said:

We've exhausted all her benefits allowances I think, but worth having another check just incase, thanks. 

I think it can be worth revisiting the options, especially in the case of progressive illnesses and increasing frailty.  

Something else to consider is whether the bills have been going up due to increased use of a washing machine/tumble drier. The NHS help your mum might be linked to (eg district nurses) may be able to help with relevant aids/products if necessary but they may not realise about the need unless it's flagged up.

I don't know how well microwavable heat pads (eg the wheat or rice filled ones) work but they might be a safe alternative to hwbs with boiling water.  I rather like the look of the ones that you can drape around your neck! 

Occupational therapists might also be able to help with ideas for safe ways to keep your mum's feet feeling warm while still being safe to walk if her mobility is affected. 

Good luck with it all - it's a steep learning curve and it can be a challenge to navigate the system but there are some brilliant people out there if you can find them!

Georget79

Broomstick said:

Georget79 said:

We've exhausted all her benefits allowances I think, but worth having another check just incase, thanks. 

I think it can be worth revisiting the options, especially in the case of progressive illnesses and increasing frailty.  

Something else to consider is whether the bills have been going up due to increased use of a washing machine/tumble drier. The NHS help your mum might be linked to (eg district nurses) may be able to help with relevant aids/products if necessary but they may not realise about the need unless it's flagged up.

I don't know how well microwavable heat pads (eg the wheat or rice filled ones) work but they might be a safe alternative to hwbs with boiling water.  I rather like the look of the ones that you can drape around your neck! 

Occupational therapists might also be able to help with ideas for safe ways to keep your mum's feet feeling warm while still being safe to walk if her mobility is affected. 

Good luck with it all - it's a steep learning curve and it can be a challenge to navigate the system but there are some brilliant people out there if you can find them!

Yes I will take another look at it all. Need to cut down on the washing machine too. Thanks for all your help and advice, much appreciated 

macman

Get a separate thermometer and check. No CH system could ever get the house up to 30C, because the rate of heat loss would be enormous. 25C would be pushing it, and unbearable for most people. I like it set to 19C personally.
Anecdotallly, every 1C adds 10% to your consumption.

PennyForThem_2

I would go over to the Benefits Forum and ask the question there about help with benefits but make clear you are living in Scotland.

Look what I found on google - might be worth investigating for loft and cavity wall insulation:
https://www.scottishenergygrants.co.uk/free-loft-insulation/

TheBanker

Are you heating the whole house? If so, is it possible to turn off the radiators in un-used rooms and just heat the room your mum is in at the time, and her bedroom before bedtime if needed?

And yes, as the poster above suggested, look into whether there is any funding available to improve your insulation. If you have an open chimney then the heat will all be going up there rather than staying in the room. I have no idea what support is available in Scotland but your mother's condition may open up additional sources of help. Your energy supplier might be able to make some suggestions, have you had a look on their website? Or your local council, or the Citizens Advice?

Do you/your mother own the house, or is it rented (and if so, is it from the council/HA or a private landlord)?

chris_n

I would suspect the heating is incapable of reaching 30 as all of the heat goes up the chimney!