Utility Warehouse back bill and bill hike

Reviewreader9

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

We do not have a dryer, American fridge/freezer, chest freezer, games consoles, underfloor heating etc etc and are very strict about lights, using things in eco setting and unplugging things not in use including the tv!

We also only have gas central heating.

the only thing we do have is a car charger for our hybrid which is only sometimes used due to it being a hybrid and it shouldn’t cost more than a tenner a week on average?

A hybrid is a major bit of new information.   How much does it take to fill it up?
Many are around the 35 kW per charge range.

EVs are cheap if you are on economy 7 or an EV tarrif but if you are charging the vehicle at standard rates then it will cost more.  

On a cheap off-peak/EV tariff with an efficient EV, it can cost £1 for every 100 miles. PHEVS are not as efficient as EVS, and you haven't said if you have an off-peak/EV tariff.  It looks like you don't   On a standard tariff for a PHEV with around 35kW its closer to £10 for every charge from empty to full.  (the range of possibilities here is wide).

When we used to have a PHEV, it was charged almost every day.  It typically grabbed 5-20kW.  (that equates to 5-20 units).   With you averaging 18kWh per day, it is a good chance that the PHEV is the cause of your additional use.

Is 500 units in a month a lot? 

Its a lot more than you told UW and Octopus (referring back to your first post).  More than double the average but you have a PHEV. So, you won't be expected to be near average.

You now need to see how much energy your PHEV is using.    That data should be in the car/app for the vehicle.

It doesn’t say on the app on my phone 😒

superkoopauk

So your read from 31/12/24 was the trigger for the high bill.  I am surprised it came out of the blue and that you didn't get any pre notification from UW.  Do you have any evidence of the readings you took before that date?  If not then it is going to be hard to argue the case against UW that you gave meter reads that they didn't use. 

You say you have a smart meter - it doesn't sounds like it is a working smart meter.  When was it installed?  If prior to your UW tenure then it is likely an older first generation meter that UW cannot support.  If that is the case it is worth asking for a second generation smart meter to be put in so you can monitor your usage half hourly and have a better chance of working out what is causing the high consumption

dunstonh

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

We do not have a dryer, American fridge/freezer, chest freezer, games consoles, underfloor heating etc etc and are very strict about lights, using things in eco setting and unplugging things not in use including the tv!

We also only have gas central heating.

the only thing we do have is a car charger for our hybrid which is only sometimes used due to it being a hybrid and it shouldn’t cost more than a tenner a week on average?

A hybrid is a major bit of new information.   How much does it take to fill it up?
Many are around the 35 kW per charge range.

EVs are cheap if you are on economy 7 or an EV tarrif but if you are charging the vehicle at standard rates then it will cost more.  

On a cheap off-peak/EV tariff with an efficient EV, it can cost £1 for every 100 miles. PHEVS are not as efficient as EVS, and you haven't said if you have an off-peak/EV tariff.  It looks like you don't   On a standard tariff for a PHEV with around 35kW its closer to £10 for every charge from empty to full.  (the range of possibilities here is wide).

When we used to have a PHEV, it was charged almost every day.  It typically grabbed 5-20kW.  (that equates to 5-20 units).   With you averaging 18kWh per day, it is a good chance that the PHEV is the cause of your additional use.

Is 500 units in a month a lot? 

Its a lot more than you told UW and Octopus (referring back to your first post).  More than double the average but you have a PHEV. So, you won't be expected to be near average.

You now need to see how much energy your PHEV is using.    That data should be in the car/app for the vehicle.

I have t currently got the car, it’s back with Mazda for a software update so I’ll see if it’s in the app on my phone. It only does I think about 40 miles on a full charge so it doesn’t take long to charge 

So, if charging from empty to full, you are looking at a ballpark of 18kWh per charge.

How many times a week do you charge it?

Reviewreader9

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

We do not have a dryer, American fridge/freezer, chest freezer, games consoles, underfloor heating etc etc and are very strict about lights, using things in eco setting and unplugging things not in use including the tv!

We also only have gas central heating.

the only thing we do have is a car charger for our hybrid which is only sometimes used due to it being a hybrid and it shouldn’t cost more than a tenner a week on average?

A hybrid is a major bit of new information.   How much does it take to fill it up?
Many are around the 35 kW per charge range.

EVs are cheap if you are on economy 7 or an EV tarrif but if you are charging the vehicle at standard rates then it will cost more.  

On a cheap off-peak/EV tariff with an efficient EV, it can cost £1 for every 100 miles. PHEVS are not as efficient as EVS, and you haven't said if you have an off-peak/EV tariff.  It looks like you don't   On a standard tariff for a PHEV with around 35kW its closer to £10 for every charge from empty to full.  (the range of possibilities here is wide).

When we used to have a PHEV, it was charged almost every day.  It typically grabbed 5-20kW.  (that equates to 5-20 units).   With you averaging 18kWh per day, it is a good chance that the PHEV is the cause of your additional use.

Is 500 units in a month a lot? 

Its a lot more than you told UW and Octopus (referring back to your first post).  More than double the average but you have a PHEV. So, you won't be expected to be near average.

You now need to see how much energy your PHEV is using.    That data should be in the car/app for the vehicle.

I have t currently got the car, it’s back with Mazda for a software update so I’ll see if it’s in the app on my phone. It only does I think about 40 miles on a full charge so it doesn’t take long to charge 

So, if charging from empty to full, you are looking at a ballpark of 18kWh per charge.

How many times a week do you charge it?

We tend to plug it in every night but as it’s only hybrid rather than full electric and only does 40mile on elec it is charged in about 3 hours and apparently only costs £2.25 to charge

matt_drummer

Why did you buy a hybrid instead of a full ev if you need to charge it every day?

A phev is nowhere near as efficient as a full ev.

You are romping through the battery pack cycles if you charge every day, it will be ruined in no time.

Presumably most of the time you are just carrying around a petrol engine and drivetrain and not using it?

GingerTim

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

We do not have a dryer, American fridge/freezer, chest freezer, games consoles, underfloor heating etc etc and are very strict about lights, using things in eco setting and unplugging things not in use including the tv!

We also only have gas central heating.

the only thing we do have is a car charger for our hybrid which is only sometimes used due to it being a hybrid and it shouldn’t cost more than a tenner a week on average?

A hybrid is a major bit of new information.   How much does it take to fill it up?
Many are around the 35 kW per charge range.

EVs are cheap if you are on economy 7 or an EV tarrif but if you are charging the vehicle at standard rates then it will cost more.  

On a cheap off-peak/EV tariff with an efficient EV, it can cost £1 for every 100 miles. PHEVS are not as efficient as EVS, and you haven't said if you have an off-peak/EV tariff.  It looks like you don't   On a standard tariff for a PHEV with around 35kW its closer to £10 for every charge from empty to full.  (the range of possibilities here is wide).

When we used to have a PHEV, it was charged almost every day.  It typically grabbed 5-20kW.  (that equates to 5-20 units).   With you averaging 18kWh per day, it is a good chance that the PHEV is the cause of your additional use.

Is 500 units in a month a lot? 

Its a lot more than you told UW and Octopus (referring back to your first post).  More than double the average but you have a PHEV. So, you won't be expected to be near average.

You now need to see how much energy your PHEV is using.    That data should be in the car/app for the vehicle.

I have t currently got the car, it’s back with Mazda for a software update so I’ll see if it’s in the app on my phone. It only does I think about 40 miles on a full charge so it doesn’t take long to charge 

So, if charging from empty to full, you are looking at a ballpark of 18kWh per charge.

How many times a week do you charge it?

We tend to plug it in every night but as it’s only hybrid rather than full electric and only does 40mile on elec it is charged in about 3 hours and apparently only costs £2.25 to charge

Without wishing to be Johnny Pedant, you say 'apparently only costs'. Is this based on manufacturer information or from meter readings?

dunstonh

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

We do not have a dryer, American fridge/freezer, chest freezer, games consoles, underfloor heating etc etc and are very strict about lights, using things in eco setting and unplugging things not in use including the tv!

We also only have gas central heating.

the only thing we do have is a car charger for our hybrid which is only sometimes used due to it being a hybrid and it shouldn’t cost more than a tenner a week on average?

A hybrid is a major bit of new information.   How much does it take to fill it up?
Many are around the 35 kW per charge range.

EVs are cheap if you are on economy 7 or an EV tarrif but if you are charging the vehicle at standard rates then it will cost more.  

On a cheap off-peak/EV tariff with an efficient EV, it can cost £1 for every 100 miles. PHEVS are not as efficient as EVS, and you haven't said if you have an off-peak/EV tariff.  It looks like you don't   On a standard tariff for a PHEV with around 35kW its closer to £10 for every charge from empty to full.  (the range of possibilities here is wide).

When we used to have a PHEV, it was charged almost every day.  It typically grabbed 5-20kW.  (that equates to 5-20 units).   With you averaging 18kWh per day, it is a good chance that the PHEV is the cause of your additional use.

Is 500 units in a month a lot? 

Its a lot more than you told UW and Octopus (referring back to your first post).  More than double the average but you have a PHEV. So, you won't be expected to be near average.

You now need to see how much energy your PHEV is using.    That data should be in the car/app for the vehicle.

I have t currently got the car, it’s back with Mazda for a software update so I’ll see if it’s in the app on my phone. It only does I think about 40 miles on a full charge so it doesn’t take long to charge 

So, if charging from empty to full, you are looking at a ballpark of 18kWh per charge.

How many times a week do you charge it?

We tend to plug it in every night but as it’s only hybrid rather than full electric and only does 40mile on elec it is charged in about 3 hours and apparently only costs £2.25 to charge

18kWH at say 25p per kW is £4.50.

If you were on economy 7 or an EV tariff, then "apparently" would be correct as they would have 5-7 hours overnight as low as 5p per kw. 

you may not use up all the electric mileage each day but it does seem you have found your culprit.

You are romping through the battery pack cycles if you charge every day, it will be ruined in no time.

To be fair, PHEV batteries are designed for increased cycles.  They are different to EV batteries.  However, that is in part why they are less efficient than EVs.

matt_drummer

dunstonh said:

To be fair, PHEV batteries are designed for increased cycles.  They are different to EV batteries.  However, that is in part why they are less efficient than EVs.

In what way are they different?

They are not a lithium battery?

My boss had a Jaguar phev and it was less than half as efficient as my full ev and he charged it every day.

Utterly pointless and he now has a full ev, he's seen the light!

Reviewreader9

GingerTim said:

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

We do not have a dryer, American fridge/freezer, chest freezer, games consoles, underfloor heating etc etc and are very strict about lights, using things in eco setting and unplugging things not in use including the tv!

We also only have gas central heating.

the only thing we do have is a car charger for our hybrid which is only sometimes used due to it being a hybrid and it shouldn’t cost more than a tenner a week on average?

A hybrid is a major bit of new information.   How much does it take to fill it up?
Many are around the 35 kW per charge range.

EVs are cheap if you are on economy 7 or an EV tarrif but if you are charging the vehicle at standard rates then it will cost more.  

On a cheap off-peak/EV tariff with an efficient EV, it can cost £1 for every 100 miles. PHEVS are not as efficient as EVS, and you haven't said if you have an off-peak/EV tariff.  It looks like you don't   On a standard tariff for a PHEV with around 35kW its closer to £10 for every charge from empty to full.  (the range of possibilities here is wide).

When we used to have a PHEV, it was charged almost every day.  It typically grabbed 5-20kW.  (that equates to 5-20 units).   With you averaging 18kWh per day, it is a good chance that the PHEV is the cause of your additional use.

Is 500 units in a month a lot? 

Its a lot more than you told UW and Octopus (referring back to your first post).  More than double the average but you have a PHEV. So, you won't be expected to be near average.

You now need to see how much energy your PHEV is using.    That data should be in the car/app for the vehicle.

I have t currently got the car, it’s back with Mazda for a software update so I’ll see if it’s in the app on my phone. It only does I think about 40 miles on a full charge so it doesn’t take long to charge 

So, if charging from empty to full, you are looking at a ballpark of 18kWh per charge.

How many times a week do you charge it?

We tend to plug it in every night but as it’s only hybrid rather than full electric and only does 40mile on elec it is charged in about 3 hours and apparently only costs £2.25 to charge

Without wishing to be Johnny Pedant, you say 'apparently only costs'. Is this based on manufacturer information or from meter readings?

Manufacturer Information

Reviewreader9

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

dunstonh said:

Reviewreader9 said:

We do not have a dryer, American fridge/freezer, chest freezer, games consoles, underfloor heating etc etc and are very strict about lights, using things in eco setting and unplugging things not in use including the tv!

We also only have gas central heating.

the only thing we do have is a car charger for our hybrid which is only sometimes used due to it being a hybrid and it shouldn’t cost more than a tenner a week on average?

A hybrid is a major bit of new information.   How much does it take to fill it up?
Many are around the 35 kW per charge range.

EVs are cheap if you are on economy 7 or an EV tarrif but if you are charging the vehicle at standard rates then it will cost more.  

On a cheap off-peak/EV tariff with an efficient EV, it can cost £1 for every 100 miles. PHEVS are not as efficient as EVS, and you haven't said if you have an off-peak/EV tariff.  It looks like you don't   On a standard tariff for a PHEV with around 35kW its closer to £10 for every charge from empty to full.  (the range of possibilities here is wide).

When we used to have a PHEV, it was charged almost every day.  It typically grabbed 5-20kW.  (that equates to 5-20 units).   With you averaging 18kWh per day, it is a good chance that the PHEV is the cause of your additional use.

Is 500 units in a month a lot? 

Its a lot more than you told UW and Octopus (referring back to your first post).  More than double the average but you have a PHEV. So, you won't be expected to be near average.

You now need to see how much energy your PHEV is using.    That data should be in the car/app for the vehicle.

I have t currently got the car, it’s back with Mazda for a software update so I’ll see if it’s in the app on my phone. It only does I think about 40 miles on a full charge so it doesn’t take long to charge 

So, if charging from empty to full, you are looking at a ballpark of 18kWh per charge.

How many times a week do you charge it?

We tend to plug it in every night but as it’s only hybrid rather than full electric and only does 40mile on elec it is charged in about 3 hours and apparently only costs £2.25 to charge

18kWH at say 25p per kW is £4.50.

If you were on economy 7 or an EV tariff, then "apparently" would be correct as they would have 5-7 hours overnight as low as 5p per kw. 

you may not use up all the electric mileage each day but it does seem you have found your culprit.

You are romping through the battery pack cycles if you charge every day, it will be ruined in no time.

To be fair, PHEV batteries are designed for increased cycles.  They are different to EV batteries.  However, that is in part why they are less efficient than EVs.

When the car charger was fitted, our usage slightly increased but not by much. Our neighbours have the same sized house and a charger for their car and their bills are still half ours! They even have games consoles and a dryer and a chest freezer, we have none of those! Our bills going from 90.00 to 145.00 to 330.00 doesn’t make any sense, it’s too big of a jump for there not to be something  strange going on