Completely confused, EON, Help!

Scottish_Dorset

We moved into our house last year.  New build 3 bed semi, well insulated, Calor gas tank for heating (underfloor), we're in a rural area, 4 solar panels that create 1KW max.  We are with EON Next after our last supplier went bust.  We are a couple that are out to work all day.  Our usage for electric has been approx 260KW per month up to the end of July.  I always thought this was very high.  For the last month or so, our usage has dropped so we are using approx 100KW per month.  Nothing has changed!  Should I query this with EON?

Also, we were on the a tariff of approx 28p/KW and paying around £115.  They sent a suggestion of a fixed tariff, V19, which is approx 61p/KW and are charging us £260 per month.  We are currently in credit as we are not using that much electric.

This a problem in two parts.  First why has our usage rate dropped, or were we being over charged.  Maybe faulty smart meter?  Secondly, should we go back to the NetFlex tariff?

Any suggestions, help, clarifications, similar circumstances would be very much appreciated.

[Deleted User]

We need some clarifications from you before we can help. 

Do you mean kW or kWh?  Perhaps kW for your solar panels but kWh for the rest?

Are you on a fixed direct debit?

Where have you got these meter readings from?  Are they marked 'Smart' on your bill?

What do you mean by "our usage has dropped"?  Have you changed your lifestyle at all?  Have you been tracking your usage or just looking at the bills?

They have sent you a suggestion of V19.  Is the £260 for this, or is it for the variable tariff that you are on at the moment?  And if it is for V19, what is your payment at the moment?

Scottish_Dorset

Thank you yes, kWh for electric and kW for the solar panels.

Yes we are on a fixed direct debit, just changed from £115 to £260 per month, to cover the prediction EON Next provided.  £260 was EON Next's advised monthly payment.

I have the meter readings which I can access from our online account, readings are sent automatically from the smart meter.  Yes they are marked as "Smart".

Usage has dropped, that is we are not consuming so many kWh of electric.  For example 30/08 - 30/07 usage 144, 30/07 - 30/06 usage 269.  Nothing has changed in our lifestyle, no change of appliances, still working full-time etc.

The £260 is for V19, perviously we were £115 for the NetFlex.  We changed to V19 during the last week of August.  Our first V19 payment came out first week of September, we are now £244 in credit.

[Deleted User]

That's a big change in usage without an obvious cause, but it will take more than a month for it to change the estimated usage for your supplier.

At a really rough calculation, you're probably estimated to use about 3500 kWh annually, which at the V19 Online rate is about £2100 a year + standing charge - or about £190 per month fixed DD.  If they think you're going to use a bit more, it will be a bit higher.  Seems like the numbers are roughly OK, if your usage stays lower for a couple of months (or when the unit rates change), you can always ask for your DD to come down a bit.

They are not going to know what caused the usage to change, only you can work that out by looking around your house for whatever you're using (or whatever you're generating).  I doubt that it's a faulty smart meter.

Scottish_Dorset

Thanks for the advice SparkyGrad.

I feel that our usage was too high and the drop is more in line with others I know.  I friend of mine is in a similar house: new build with solar panels. he works from home, his wife works part-time, their electric bill is (or has been until things change), £77 per month.

We have a dishwasher and washing machine which we put on during the day when the solar panels are producing energy.  We shower each once a day, normal size fridge/freezer and cooker, all A+ rated, an immersion heater that comes on for 3/4H morning and evening (total 1.5H).  Don't have tumble drier.  

In my mind, it doesn't add up!

[Deleted User]

If you continued to use at the 120kWh range, that would end up with about £85 per month DD.

260kWh is high for a duel-fuel house, but within a 'normal' range especially if you are relying on an immersion heater for 1 1/2 hours a day - that could be using several hundred kWh itself.

Rodders53

Surely you'd use LPG boiler for HW cylinder rather than electric immersion (unless using those clever solar diverters to use the panel to heat water when producing energy and not import anything from the grid).
LPG would be far cheaper per kWh than electricity.

A solar array producing only 1kW ain't gonna fully supply the 2kW heaters in dishwasher or washer and heaven forbid both are on at the same time also.  Careful timing of their use (and, perhaps, the hot water immersion) would be needed; but you're out all day...

Going on to V19 was a mistake (even before the Govt intervention) imho.

BUT Something that was consuming electric has stopped... you need to discover what (e.g. immersion heater now off and using LPG to reheat the cylinder).  People have left immersions on 24/7 relying on thermostat and not realised...  The CH/HW timer controller is invariably for the gas/lpg/oil boiler...  Perhaps the immersion heater element has now failed?

Scottish_Dorset

Actually our boiler is heated by gas 

Rodders53

Scottish_Dorset said:
 an immersion heater that comes on for 3/4H morning and evening (total 1.5H).  

Scottish_Dorset said:

Actually our boiler is heated by gas 

Yep boiler for heating and mebbe HW... But YOU said immersion heater not me!!
Rare for immersion heaters have timers (all electric houses usually).

DO check the immersion heater switch in your press (airing cupboard) is not (has not been) on. Ditto the MCB for it in the Consumer Unit (wise to have it off normally then it can't be put on by mistake).

Scottish_Dorset

Thanks for your reply Rodders53.  Regardless of how the water is heated, it still doesn't explain the drop in usage of kWh.  Nothing has changed since we moved here.  I'm happy it has dropped but concerned that for some reason we were overpaying/had a fault previously.

Also, still looking to see if we should stay with the V19 tariff, which we agreed to pre Liz Truss, or revert back.

Thank you for your advice everyone.

[Deleted User]

You said your immersion heater “comes on” for 90 minutes a day.  Most immersion heaters in gas HW systems don’t use timers, so were you turning it on and off yourself?