Winter energy use is over? How did you do?

[Deleted User]

Oct 21- Mar 22

Electricity 1486kWh Gas 6660kWh costing £618.03 

Oct 22- Mar 23

Electricity1334kWh (10% Reduction) Gas 4863kWh (27% Reduction)

Cost £1064.41 less £400 EBSS = £664.41 less DFS earnings £12.01 = £652.40 over 6 months.

Happy that I did not have to dip into any long term savings to heat the house. 

kuratowski

beckysheffield said:

So basically everyone seems to be quids in? 

That isn't the message I would take from this thread.  Rather, that those people who pay close attention to their energy usage and bills, and who are able to act to reduce their consumption, can make big savings.  Which has always been the case, but the motivation was a lot stronger this year.

Leon_W

Just did the figures and was pleasantly surprised !

Oct 21 - March 22  we used 7500kwh of Gas and 2100kwh of Electricity. 

Oct 22 - March 23  we used 5137kwh of Gas and 1167kwh of Electricity.

A 32% reduction in Gas

A 45% reduction in Electricity.

We've made some quite drastic changes this year though.  Gone from using the old Gas Rayburn for heating and hot water to having a new gas combi fitted.  The Rayburn was a gas guzzler !!  The downside was we lost our primary heating source in the kitchen but we've since fitted a multifuel stove on which we burn wood and occasionally coal but at nowhere near the cost of Gas.

The reduction in electricity I put down to the fact we no longer use fan heaters.  When the Rayburn wouldn't quite keep up with temperature losses from the house we'd move one from room to room.  We also insulated some internal walls and kept tumble drying to a minimum.

A fairly inefficient old, solid brick, 3 bed detached cottage in Somerset with 2 people living in it for comparison.

caeler

beckysheffield said:

So basically everyone seems to be quids in? 

Not quite.  I've pleased I've reduced my usage but that means on average I've *just* paid just over double what last year cost.  

Spoonie_Turtle

5088kWh these 6 months.

2021 was 6467kWh, and 2020 was 6005kWh.

We have made tweaks to the heat pump (I don't have usage stats for that before last summer) but I suspect a large amount of the reduction was due to using the electric shower on eco mode as much as possible, and not being able to shower for 2 months between the bathtub cracking and having a wetroom put in.  I've also not been out very often to need to charge my wheelchair battery, although I went out even less in winter 2020.

Cost wise, we've definitely benefited from being on Tracker.  Had we been on an EPG rate, we'd have paid more than 2020 and less than 2021 after the support.  As it is, because of the savings on Tracker we have actually paid less than in 2020, with all the energy support payments including Winter Fuel for my Dad and WHD for me (and I'm counting the £150 Council Tax rebate as well, as it was intended for energy).

But that is balanced out by everything else costing MUCH more than it did in 2020 - some food essentials have almost doubled which is why we had the EBSS in the first place, to free up that £400 for other necessary things, like food, and rent …

NeverendingDMP

beckysheffield said:

So basically everyone seems to be quids in? 

I wish. We've managed to scrape through it is a better description for us personally. Our bill has doubled despite reducing our use by 15-20%. And although we never froze we weren't comfortably warm either and our massive hoodies have been extremely well used . I don't have exact figures but at a guess after the govt assistance we got has been factored in we paid an extra 6-700 in gas and electricity over the last year. That coupled with food (another topic I know) was a big sting in the budget. Brighter days are ahead though. We have made it through and the forecasted costs are less and hopefully manageable with a strict budget. 

Storminmike1

Oct 21 - March 22 Gas 5689 kwh

Oct 22 - March 23 Gas 4154 kwh

summer switch from regular boiler to ATAG Combi with TADO