Electricity for a Scout Hut

valiant24

(Apologies if this is a domestic forum only.  I did look at the FAQ and that wasn't obvious ..)

I'm the Treasurer of our small local Scout Group in rural Somerset.  The Scout Group is a registered charity in its own right, but in UtilityLand we're a small business.   

We're coming to the end of a 3-year deal with British Gas Lite (BGL), paying 30.56p/day standing charge; 13.95p/kWh "Evening and Weekend" ; 16.10p/kWh "Weekday Rate".  We pay about £600 a year, with estimated annual consumption 3,400kWh.   I don't think we really need the dual rate, usage insofar as I can tell is about 50/50 between the rates over the year.

The renewal offer from BGLis: 40p/day standing charge; 51.26p/kWh "Evening and Weekend" ; 71.80p/kWh "Weekday Rate".  Estimated annual charge £2,300.  This will be crippling for us.

I've tried a couple of brokers and they don't seem significantly cheaper.  Octopus Energy Business is slightly cheaper than BGL on the higher rate but slightly more on the lower, so marginal too.

I wonder if anyone had any suggestions?  I sense it's diminishing returns from this point ...

Thanks
V

[Deleted User]

Don't worry, it's not domestic only here - only that many of us have more experience in dealing with queries from the domestic side.

Alnat1

Maybe a community collection box, so the regular users can chip in a bit (suggest 50p?) each time they use the facilities? A box would allow them to put in what they can afford and maybe some would donate a bit extra.

ampersand

DigForVictory -
Any experience or ideas for this group?
🙂

valiant24

Alnat1 said:

Maybe a community collection box, so the regular users can chip in a bit (suggest 50p?) each time they use the facilities? A box would allow them to put in what they can afford and maybe some would donate a bit extra.

Yes I think we're well aware that, if the high rates pertain and we can't meet them from reserves, we'll need to raise more money.  We have some options: raising members' subscriptions; increasing rates to our visitors etc.

My question was more about how to minimise the increase in the first place.

Cheers
V

macman

If this is partly  or mostly for electric heating, could you switch to something like portable calor gas heaters instead?

valiant24

macman said:

If this is partly  or mostly for electric heating, could you switch to something like portable calor gas heaters instead?

No, the heating and hot water comes from an oil-fired boiler, and the kitchen has portable gas for the ovens and hobs.   The electricity use is mainly lighting, with a bit of kettle-boiling.   10kWh per day seems quite high on that basis, doesn't it?!

[Deleted User]

valiant24 said:

macman said:

If this is partly  or mostly for electric heating, could you switch to something like portable calor gas heaters instead?

No, the heating and hot water comes from an oil-fired boiler, and the kitchen has portable gas for the ovens and hobs.   The electricity use is mainly lighting, with a bit of kettle-boiling.   10kWh per day seems quite high on that basis, doesn't it?!

10kWh per day for lighting and a kettle is a lot.  I'd expect there are many lights though - old tube lighting?

Apodemus

Deleted_User said:

valiant24 said:

macman said:

If this is partly  or mostly for electric heating, could you switch to something like portable calor gas heaters instead?

No, the heating and hot water comes from an oil-fired boiler, and the kitchen has portable gas for the ovens and hobs.   The electricity use is mainly lighting, with a bit of kettle-boiling.   10kWh per day seems quite high on that basis, doesn't it?!

10kWh per day for lighting and a kettle is a lot.  I'd expect there are many lights though - old tube lighting?

...or old style spots.   It's not uncommon for halls to have a couple of old 500W Halogen spotlights at the front door or overlooking the car park.  With these switched on before an evening meeting and left on until everyone has gone home, you can easily rack up the electricity usage! 

I've also seen halls where the stage area is used as an additional "break-out" space and the stage spotlights are used to light the area, with several kW of bulbs shining down on the meeting.

macman

So can you get the lighting upgraded to LED's? That usage is exceptionally high just for general lighting. How often is the hut in use?

valiant24

macman said:

So can you get the lighting upgraded to LED's? That usage is exceptionally high just for general lighting. How often is the hut in use?

The Hut is in use by a tenant on most weekdays, and in use Mon-Thu evenings for Scouting activities.  Although less common in winter, it's often also used by visiting groups at weekends.