Winter energy use is over? How did you do?

The_Green_Hornet

Annual gas use to Tuesday 22 March 2022 - 7585 kWh
Annual gas use to Tuesday 21 March 2023 - 6328 kWh       16.57% saving

Gas used for heating and hot water.

Achieved by the weather being warmer on average over the last twelve months compared to the previous twelve months.

pseudodox

I was always pretty frugal with my energy use as I had to survive on a low income when working and since retiring just the state pension income.  So I was not expecting to really be able to make a huge saving but the extra vigilance has paid off.  Using the last 6 months actual figures and predicted next 6 months I have reduced my projected gas usage (heating, hot water, (except shower), cooking) by 25% from a 10 year average of 8000kWh to 6000kWh.  Electricity seemed less adjustable (the extra daylight hours do help but there is not much I can cut down on) but from an average annual use over the past 10 years of 1700kWh I appear to be on track to reduce this to 1500kWh.

Minimal use of CH, gas fire just ticking over when CH is off, a plug in ceramic heater instead of the old fan in my study, a couple of old duvets to snuggle under when watching TV, keeping the freezer topped up for efficiency and showering in the "get wet, turn off, soap up, rinse off" mode might have been the biggest saver for electricity (& my recent water bill is quite a bit lower)

Six months of winter bills have totalled £885.  But deducting £150 C Tax refund, £500 WFA and £400 EBSS I am quids in facing the summer.  Which is very gratifying when I look back to my argument with OVO in October who wanted £220 per month FDD from me & refused to negotiate a reduction.  The money I did not pay to them is now earning interest in my savings pot, whilst I just pay for what I use each month to EDF.

Mstty

JGB1955 said:

You think winter is over?  I'm not sure the Met Office agree with you.
UK weather warnings - Met Office

Yeah very old school here heating goes on the earliest 1st October and off 1st April. It served my 94 year old nan well and passed down through the generations lol.

Mstty

Sea_Shell said:

Can you please tell the weather that winter has finished 😉. Thanks.

Best response so far 🤣🤣

MikeyPGT

Charges 1/10/2023 to date

Electricity  £286.24
Gas  £91.34

Less

Council Tax rebate  -£150
EBSS  -£400

Net Cost  -£172.42

spot1034

dunstonh said:

Its safer to wait until May before declaring the cold spells are over.  Often March and April can be the coldest months in the year.

I can remember at least a couple of years when we were still wearing overcoats in the early part of June. 

Swipe

I reduced my consumption (E7 with storage heaters) quite a bit compared to last winter:

gbhxu

Don't know how much I've used, but I'm quids in like pseudodox with all the Government payments.

I've had £750 credited to my electric account. £400 EBSS + £150 WHD + £200 AFP.

Over the past 5 moths I've only paid £33.04 for electric. But that was only due to date when WHD was paid. Otherwise I'd had paid nothing.
At the moment, by next electric bill is due 1st April and I'm £320.38 still in credit. So hopefully still another 4 months worth of electric paid for.

Also had other payments totalling another £1025. £650 IR ESA COL + £150 PIP COL + CTR £150 + £25 Cold Weather payment and £50 CTs Discretionary Payment

So I've had a total of £1775 in Government Payments

Before anyone says anything, I'd sooner have good health rather than the money

dealyboy

Winter officially ended on Sunday Mar 19th ... to be pedantic, and weather is weather, there are warm days in winter, cold days in spring.

I have done well on managing my use (electric only) over the last 12 months and kept my winter costs down by a multi faceted approach:

heat the human, not the home
- buying thermals (vests, fleeces, long johns, socks, gloves, thick T-shirts) and wearing 5 layers above the waist, 3 below, 2 pairs of socks, comfortable leather boots, thermal hat
- using a heated throw
- using a heated blanket

making effective use of E7
- washing clothes and me before 7:00am
- cooking breakfast before 7:00am
- setting timers for appliances
- changed hot water cylinder from 24 hours to E7 time, then off entirely

buying low energy appliances and bulbs
- dehumidifier (reduced humidity helps the temperature)
- heated clothes airer

getting a smart meter 3rd Apr 2022
- identified 30W power drain (sub-woofer on but not used)
- identified unnecessary use of hot water cylinder ... now use kettle

getting an electricity E7 fix
- ended 29th Jan 23

My usage from 3rd Apr 2022 to 28th March was day 785 units, night 802 units, tariff averaging 22p per kWh +SC 40p, costing approximately £550 for the year. The previous year was significantly higher usage but with a mix of tariffs from Symbio and then E.ON Next difficult to know how the overall costs compared.

Subsidies
- Council cost of living payment £150
- EBSS £400
- WFP £500
- AFP £200
==========
   £1,250

lessons to be learned
- be kinder to self, was a bit extreme
- avoid chilblains on fingers of one hand
- keep overnight heaters on during cold/freezing nights to help dehumidifier and to avoid condensation

chubsta

Haven't got time to add all the figures but was very frugal with heating this winter so didn't spend too much on gas, can't seem to do much with electricity as don't really waste any.
Overall, I do know my DD each month for both combined was £130, I got the £400 from the government (well, taxpayer so they will get it back from me eventually...), and had a refund from my bills of £285 as I have overpaid! So, far better than the absolute car-crash I was expecting - would have been nice to have been a little warmer sometimes though...
4 bedroom detached, but don't spend too much time there really as mainly working, or at 'main' house.