How much will my energy bills cost?

Fishfood86

I realise it's impossible to give an exact answer, but any type of rough estimate would honestly be really helpful and appreciated.

Basically, I'm looking at moving out of my parents in to a 1-bedroom flat in the NG17 area, but the only thing I'm concerned about is whether I'll be able to afford my utility bills. Having lived at home all my life, I have no past experience/knowledge when it comes to the cost of such things. I've tried asking around to at least get an idea of what I can expect, but don't really know anyone in a similar situation (single occupancy in a flat).

I'm currently unemployed and claiming UC, but am looking to eventually go self employed working from home. I suffer with agoraphobia so spend pretty much all my time at home either on the PC or gaming/watching films, so such gadgets are obviously using electricity throughout the day. Then there's just the general type stuff - cooking, washing, showering etc.

So, is there anyone here with the same living arrangements that could maybe share the cost of their energy bills please? TIA!

Krakkkers

Is it heated by gas or electricity, big difference in costs.

Gerry1

Try to find somewhere with gas central heating.  If it's all electric, try to get High Heat Retention Night Storage Heaters on Economy 7.  Make sure YOU read the meters (and the water meter) the day you take possession, never let anyone else do it on your behalf.

If it has panel heaters, convectors, oil filled radiators or any other day rate electric heating, run a mile because it will bankrupt you.

Register with the existing supplier and then you can switch to any supplier you like.  Pay by DD, send monthly meter readings, keep records.

Make sure you're on the Electoral Register.

You don't need a TV Licence if you only watch catch-up: don't watch or record any channel live and don't use the BBC iPlayer.  You don't have to contact or respond to TV Licensing or let them into your property (unless they have a valid search warrant).

Neil_Jones

There's a calculator here, it depends on your usage more than anything else:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/what-are-the-price-cap-unit-rates-/

One bedroom flats you can usually work your way through (insulation, construction and your habits pending) 8000 gas units a year and about 2000 electricity units - bulk of which will be used from October through to about March - unless you want your flat to be even more like a sauna than it already will be in the summer no doubt...

Spoonie_Turtle

Gerry1 said:

Try to find somewhere with gas central heating.  If it's all electric, try to get High Heat Retention Night Storage Heaters on Economy 7.  Make sure YOU read the meter (and the water meter) the day you take possession, never let anyone else do it on your behalf.

If it has panel heaters, convectors, oil filled radiators or any other day rate electric heating, run a mile because it will bankrupt you.

In addition to this, any communal/district heating system is not subject to price regulation so you would not protected from any unexpected spikes.

[Presumably as you're considering this you know roughly how much UC would pay towards rent, for budgeting purposes, but if you need any guidance on that side of things, just shout over on the benefits board.]

MikeJXE

Hi, I live alone in a 1 bed ground floor flat, built 2007 well insulated gas central heating , EPC B

I keep the temperature at 19/20, I'm in most of the day on my Macbook/iPad (not gaming) some YouTube. 

I don't use the oven or hob as I microwave, (none electric shower) 

My DD is less than £100 per month 

Gerry1

Leave the immersion heater(s) switched off if you have gas.  If all electric on E7, leave lower heater on and upper (boost) heater off.  Use the boost only in emergency to get half a tank of expensive day rate hot water when you've run out.

Avoid an electric shower, use stored hot water on E7 or hot water from the gas  boiler.

Gerry1

MikeJXE said:

My DD is less than £100 per month 

That may or may not be sufficient to pay the bills.  Better to think in terms of kWh derived from actual meter readings.

MikeJXE

Gerry1 said:

MikeJXE said:

My DD is less than £100 per month 

That may or may not be sufficient to pay the bills.  Better to think in terms of kWh derived from actual meter readings.

The OP asked for someone to share the cost of their energy so I stuck to that.

I know it's best to go with kWh to come up with a more accurate answer but everyone doesn't understand that and only look at the direct debit 

Regarding kWh mine is roughly 850kWh Electric and 5,600kWh gas 

Gerry1

MikeJXE said:

Gerry1 said:

MikeJXE said:

My DD is less than £100 per month 

That may or may not be sufficient to pay the bills.  Better to think in terms of kWh derived from actual meter readings.

I know it's best to go with kWh to come up with a more accurate answer but everyone doesn't understand that and only look at the direct debit.

And therein lies the problem.  The OP sets a fixed DD of £100 but is at home all day and uses more energy than average for that property.

Then six months later the supplier says the account is (or will soon be) in debit so the DD must increase to £250 per month...

Fishfood86

Thank you so much for all the replies. I wasn't expecting such a great response so soon!

To answer some questions... I haven't actually found a flat yet, but most of the ones I've looked at in my price range have unfortunately been electric heated with an EPC of D or E. obviously I'd prefer something more efficient, but I'm already finding it difficult enough to find somewhere that accepts UC without a guarantor, so beggars can't be choosers and all that.

I don't watch live broadcasts, so thankfully no need for a TV license. Although, I'll probably have to cut down on my subscription services (currently have 3).

I've already started changing a lot of my usual costly habits at home to prepare me for single home life, and can probably cut down even further on certain things, so they're not much of a concern for me.

I've never had to read meters or anything like that, so reading through some of your responses is a bit confusing at the moment, but at least gives me something to research and gain a better understanding of, which I probably wouldn't have even considered doing beforehand since no one else has ever suggested it to me.

Thank you again to everyone who's taken the time to respond. I really do appreciate it and will keep everything that's been recommended in mind