Help understanding electricity usage!

TheElectricCow

Have you checked you half hourly usage data at all? I’m not sure about EDF but some suppliers will show this on your online account, provided you’ve allowed them access to this data in your privacy settings. Alternatively apps like Bright and Hugo will offer this functionality and often come well recommended here.

Once you can see what times of day the usage is highest it shouldn’t be too difficult to track down what’s running at that time (and then can see if turning those things off makes any difference).

Magwitch15

@dunstonh Thanks for your comments. I own the place- it had storage heating when I moved in but they didn’t work so I had them replaced and was advised by my electrician to install the Rointes as he said they would be really cheap to run. 

For context, I live in a 1900s building that was converted into flats in the 50s. No central heating. 

There’s no water tank; the hot water is heated by a little unit under the sink in the kitchen and then another one directly in the shower, I believe. 

I have a quick shower as the bathroom is cold and I’m trying to control moisture! 

Thanks again for everyone’s comments- I really appreciate it. 

MeteredOut

Magwitch15 said:

@dunstonh Thanks for your comments. I own the place- it had storage heating when I moved in but they didn’t work so I had them replaced and was advised by my electrician to install the Rointes as he said they would be really cheap to run. 

For context, I live in a 1900s building that was converted into flats in the 50s. No central heating. 

There’s no water tank; the hot water is heated by a little unit under the sink in the kitchen and then another one directly in the shower, I believe. 

I have a quick shower as the bathroom is cold and I’m trying to control moisture! 

Thanks again for everyone’s comments- I really appreciate it. 

Did you increased bills happen to coincide with the Rointes being installed (or at least their increased usage)?

Have you asked your electrician that recommended them to comment on your increased bills? Did you ask what he regarded as "cheap" and how does that compare to the actuality?

And are you sure that all heating timers at the weekend are the same as during the week?

Do you know if you have an E7 meter (you mentioned previously having storage heaters) and what EDF tariff are you on?

We really need to see actual usage figures from, ideally, your bills (redacted) or from the EDF website, which does show weekly/monthly usage.

(sorry this is just questions, but I think the answers to these will help us track down whether there is an underlying issue)

Swipe

Magwitch15 said:

 Under meter reading history it says ‘change of supply’ (I didn’t change anything). When the meter reconnected in November, my electricity usage quadrupled (I put my heating on in mid-November). EDF said this isn’t related.

This to me sounds like something has gone wrong. Go back through all your bills and check the meter readings and meter serial numbers to make sure you haven't been charged twice for the same units. I had this "change of supply" pop up when a meter that was replaced 3 years ago under a previous supplier suddenly appear on my account.

EssexHebridean

Ouch to the "advice" from the electrician - you may as well have just bought some cheap plug in panel heaters and saver the extra cost for the overpriced Rointe ones to pay the electricity bill, I'm afraid. They are no more efficient to use than the oil filled rads you were using before. 

EDF being utterly unhelpful is something that a number of us are familiar with.

Actual use figures are going to be helpful here I think - could you go back over the bills for those, and also note whether those readings are estimated, smart or actual? 

dunstonh

@dunstonh Thanks for your comments. I own the place- it had storage heating when I moved in but they didn’t work so I had them replaced and was advised by my electrician to install the Rointes as he said they would be really cheap to run. 

Those old storage heaters would draw power via an economy 7 tariff off-peak for 7 hours.  Those 7 hours would be much cheaper than peak rates.  For example, my off-peak rate is just over 8p kWh.   Although closer to 13p is more typical.       The negative of Economy 7 was that the peak rate was higher.  But you wouldn't use as much.  So, you would be better off.

If you have stayed on an economy 7 tariff, that will be costing you money now as you are no longer shifting your electric use to the off-peak hours (typically around 12.30-7.30 but varies).  Instead, you are drawing your heating electricity during peak rates.

So, as mentioned higher up, have you switched your supply with EDF from Economy 7 to a single rate?   If not, then that will be one cause of increased cost.

Every time you draw hot water using the sink or shower, it is going to cost you a fortune with your set-up.
Plus, the heaters, as already mentioned.

born_again

Magwitch15 said:

@Robin9 I moved in Feb 23 and usage is shown as 3153kwh. 

My bills were fine until Sept 23 when my smart meter disconnected. Before Nov 23, my highest daily use was recorded at 10kwh in March but that was when I was using portable electric oil heaters before I had the new Rointes installed. 

 Under meter reading history it says ‘change of supply’ (I didn’t change anything). When the meter reconnected in November, my electricity usage quadrupled (I put my heating on in mid-November). EDF said this isn’t related.

My two radiators are programmed to maintain 16 degrees and I have temperature monitors (for humidity) which verify that’s the maintained temp when the heaters are on. I’m a jumper kind of girl! Although, I’ve just switched the bedroom heater off as I can’t afford £200 a month. If the temp drops again I’ll obviously it back on.

So this is the 1st winter with the heaters installed.

Perhaps check a daily meter read over a couple of weeks, also noting external temperature each day.

QrizB

Magwitch15 said:

@dunstonh Thanks for your comments. I own the place- it had storage heating when I moved in but they didn’t work so I had them replaced and was advised by my electrician to install the Rointes as he said they would be really cheap to run.

As no-one else has been quite this blunt - your electrician told you a pack of lies.

See this link (also in my signature) for an illustrative comparison of heating costs - gas vs. storage heaters vs. panel heaters (which is what Rointe heaters are). Panel heaters are the most expensive heating option.

If you had storage heaters before, you probably had Economy 7 electricity. Do you still have E7 or have you switched to a single-rate tariff? If you're still on E7, you're paying even more for your heat.

bob2302

If what you say is right, you can't possibly use more than 7kWh a day on heating. 12 kWh a day in total is just about possible, but 25 kWh a day on weekends is not. Either the radiators aren't doing what you think or that figure of  25 kWh  is wrong.

Magwitch15

Screenshot of my electricity breakdown over the month. I don’t know why the electricity drops slightly in mid-Jan. I didn’t change anything as far as I can remember. My usage for yesterday is 10.83 kWh and I had a shower in the morning, left for work around 08:30, got home from work around 22:00 and went straight to bed, so the only significant thing there is the heating. Two radiators, each programmed to come on between 05:00 and 07:00 and 18:00 and 21:00.

I do not have E7- I noticed the electricity company last year and they gave me a different tariff.