Please help figure out how much i should be spending all electric 1 bed flat

Chanuki

Hi all,

I am on a prepayment meter with utilita. I have all electric. 1 person until rcently where there is regularly two of us.

Shower
washer dryer
induction hub and fan oven
hot water heater (very very small under kitchen sink)
Computer, always on
Fish tank, medium sized with water pump, no heater
A few lamps
and the big ones an electic heater built in and an a stand alone electric heater

In the last 12 months  i have used 5819kwh

I understand this is alot, i have my heating on all the time in winter from when i wake till i sleep. I wake very early so it can be on for over 12 hours in winter, sometimes using 10.50 a day.

As i write this it is dawning on me just how much i have the heating on in winter. My flat gets very cold if i dot have the heating on.

I was just wondering what i should be usin per annum or an average, just so i have an idea of how far out of the aveage i am using.

Thank you

Gerry1

• Low 2200kWh
• Medium 3900kWh
• High 6700kWh

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/TDCV 2023 Decision Letter.pdf (See 2.6)

If you're using pure resistive electric heating (not a storage heater, heat pump or air conditioner in heating mode) it's just about the most expensive heating you can have.  Make sure it's a single rate tariff (not Economy 7 or similar).

matelodave

Gerry1 said:

• Low 2200kWh
• Medium 3900kWh
• High 6700kWh

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/TDCV 2023 Decision Letter.pdf (See 2.6)

If you're using pure resistive electric heating (not a storage heater, heat pump or air conditioner in heating mode) it's just about the most expensive heating you can have.  Make sure it's a single rate tariff (not Economy 7 or similar).

Those numbers dont really reflect the reality of a place with electric heating and no gas.

Although 5800kwh a year sounds a lot (and it is) its probably not far off the amount of energy required for an all electric flat, especially using bog standard heaters which are on all day. Washer/dryers are pretty inefficient (both for washing and drying) The age of the building, size and sort of windows, outside walls etc all conspire to either hold heat in or let it escape but generally theres not much you can do to improve those in a flat.

I've never totally understood how Ofgem work out their averages, if a place that uses gas central heating needs an average of 2900kwh and say 10,000kwh of gas, then just doing simple sums would result in an electric only place needing 12900kw rather than the unfeasibly low number that Ofgem manage to calculate

You might be able to mitigate the cost a bit by going for storage heating and E7 or paying lots up front for a heatpump, but in the end without really analysing what is using it a when its pretty difficult to understand what steps are needed to reduce consumption except by turning stuff down or off.

Reading the meter daily (in fact twice a day, when you get up and when you go to bed will allow you to monitor your consumption and let you see how small changes can affect your daily use.

Making sure that the washing machine is used with full rather than part loads, avoid using the dryer. Turn the heating down a bit and use an electric throw or blanket to keep warm.

Cooking with a microwave and possibly an air fryer instead of the hob and oven could save a bit. Dont waste hot water for rinsing stuff (including hands). I guess its an electric shower, in which case reduce the amount of time you stand in it. Turning stuff off at the wall rather than leaving it on standby can also save a bit

Gerry1

matelodave said:

Gerry1 said:

• Low 2200kWh
• Medium 3900kWh
• High 6700kWh

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/TDCV 2023 Decision Letter.pdf (See 2.6)

If you're using pure resistive electric heating (not a storage heater, heat pump or air conditioner in heating mode) it's just about the most expensive heating you can have.  Make sure it's a single rate tariff (not Economy 7 or similar).

I've never totally understood how Ofgem work out their averages, if a place that uses gas central heating needs an average of 2900kwh and say 10,000kwh of gas, then just doing simple sums would result in an electric only place needing 12900kw rather than the unfeasibly low number that Ofgem manage to calculate.

It's because all-electric properties tend to be small one or two bedroom flats, probably with only 1 or 2 occupants, hence will have a significantly lower heat demand.

Very few people would heat a 3 bed semi or 4 bed detached house (often 4 - 5 occupants) with resistive electric heating on the day rate.  If they can't get gas they'd probably go for oil, stove / back burner or a heat pump.

Flats can also adjoin up to 5 neighbouring properties, significantly reducing the heat losses.

QrizB

Gerry1 said:

matelodave said:

Gerry1 said:

• Low 2200kWh
• Medium 3900kWh
• High 6700kWh

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/TDCV 2023 Decision Letter.pdf (See 2.6)

If you're using pure resistive electric heating (not a storage heater, heat pump or air conditioner in heating mode) it's just about the most expensive heating you can have.  Make sure it's a single rate tariff (not Economy 7 or similar).

I've never totally understood how Ofgem work out their averages, if a place that uses gas central heating needs an average of 2900kwh and say 10,000kwh of gas, then just doing simple sums would result in an electric only place needing 12900kw rather than the unfeasibly low number that Ofgem manage to calculate.

It's because all-electric properties tend to be small one or two bedroom flats, probably with only 1 or 2 occupants, hence will have a significantly lower heat demand.

Also, "profile class 2" isn't necessarily all-electric properties; it also includes other complex metering. See the note below para 2.6 of the Ofgem TDCV letter Gerry linked to.

For example, my parents had an E7 meter in their old house. All their winter heating was solid furel, so electricity was lights & power plus summertime water.

(During the 1980s the meter got stuck on cheap rate for three years, but that's by-the-by!)

Stubod

Sounds like a lot, we are all electric, and don't use much more than that, although we also use a soild fuel burner for about 6 months over winter. As well as the solid fuel burner we also rely on 2 night storage heaters running on economy 7.    63% of our energy is "off peak"...ie heating. 

If you can't get gas, you may be better off considering night storage heaters and an E7 tariff??

bob2302

matelodave said:

Making sure that the washing machine is used with full rather than part loads, 

This isn't always true anymore. I do most of my loads on the ECO 40-60 programme, which mostly uses around 0.2kWh. Beyond a certain level that jumps to 0.7kWh, because it's switched from cold to 30 degrees.