Electric heating only flat

WiserMiser

Newbie_John said:

Consider smart tarriffs like Good Energy EV tarrif with 6p (quarter the standard rate) between 0-5am to charge storage heaters. It will make your heating costs similar to gas. £2-£3k for storage heaters it's a 1% cost of the flat - and makes it much easier for future buyers if you wish to sell.

We live in 3 bed detached house which is electric only, bills are £100 in winter, £50 in summer. It all can be done cheap - so I wouldn't worry much.

No gas also means £200ish less a year on standing charges..

The 6.6p/kWh rate is great but the 30.83p/kWh rate from 0500 to midnight is a bit on the high side

However, the OP would be able to switch to a cheaper Good Energy tariff in the summer with no exit fee.

Newbie_John

Yeah but compared to E7 the day rate is almost the same and the night rate is halved.

If you use 20kWh between 0-5 and 10kWh rest of the day it will cost you £1.2+£3=£4.20. Same 30kWh on SVR £7.50. Even if you use 5kWh at night for 30p and 10kWh for £3 = £3.30 compared to 15kWh on SVR £3.75 so as long as heating is on stay on it.

RedFraggle

2bed here with HHRs in living area and panel/oil rads in bedrooms. £65 pcm summer, £200 to £300 pcm where the outside temp is less than about 8C. Flat heated all day at 21C.
EPC borderline B/C. 700 sq ft. Middle floor end, so 3 external walls 

Newbie_John

RedFraggle said:

2bed here with HHRs in living area and panel/oil rads in bedrooms. £65 pcm summer, £200 to £300 pcm where the outside temp is less than about 8C. Flat heated all day at 21C.
EPC borderline B/C. 700 sq ft. Middle floor end, so 3 external walls 

What's your usage in kWh? Also what tarrif you're on and rates? It you're on E7 could you break it by day/night for example in January?
It is quite hefty bill I must say - £230 just for heating.

MattMattMattUK

RedFraggle said:

2bed here with HHRs in living area and panel/oil rads in bedrooms. £65 pcm summer, £200 to £300 pcm where the outside temp is less than about 8C. Flat heated all day at 21C.
EPC borderline B/C. 700 sq ft. Middle floor end, so 3 external walls 

Something which shows comparisons do not really work.

I am in a two bed flat, middle floor corner so exposed on two sides, EPC C, no storage heaters but rarely need heating. £89 or 625kWh on November, water heated overnight for an average of nine showers a week, dishwasher and laundry mostly run overnight, and 1,040 miles in my EV that month as well on IOG so 7p night rate.

To hit £300 I would have to drive a phenomenal amount (10k+ miles) or heat my flat to 30c. 

Newbie_John

Yep that's my point, £230 on heating alone, that's nearly 1000kWh a month.
30kWh a day - and that's 2kW heater running constantly for 15h

I do suspect something strange is going on - like you're not using storage heaters properly and while being on E7 rate you use most of electricity during the day, keep windows open or have neighbours who never heat there places..

For comparison small 3 bed detached house November 2025: 528kWh, £96, maybe £50 spend on heating - kept to 21°C all the time.

RedFraggle

Newbie_John said:

Yep that's my point, £230 on heating alone, that's nearly 1000kWh a month.
30kWh a day - and that's 2kW heater running constantly for 15h

I do suspect something strange is going on - like you're not using storage heaters properly and while being on E7 rate you use most of electricity during the day, keep windows open or have neighbours who never heat there places..

For comparison small 3 bed detached house November 2025: 528kWh, £96, maybe £50 spend on heating - kept to 21°C all the time.

There's nothing strange going on. The quantums are fine and merrily doing their thing. 
As I said in the original post, we use instant heat in the bedrooms and the oil rad is on constantly at 18C, the panel in bed 2 is on 8 hours a day at 20 as I work in there. Electric showers are £1 a day. Thermal store heats for a few hours overnight. Then cooking and other domestic use.
Could easily spend less by turning things down but I have arthritis,  and already wear thermal underlayers. 
The bill only exceeds £200 from November to Feb. There are garages under the bedrooms. 

RedFraggle

Here you go....

RedFraggle

And the data....

Newbie_John

Yeah, thanks for that, I was just wondering as your bills are double than mine.
Problem with E7 is that day rate is expensive and you do use a lot of heating during the day - about 50%.
So your average rate lands around 22p.

I never had storage heaters as before COVID never bothered with costs, as I wasn't at home since then went through various approaches how to reduce costs.
Switching things on and off when I'm in and out (automated).
ToU tarriffs like Agile, Tomato Lifestyle and making tropics during <10p periods hoping it will stay warm as long as possible.
Then when honestly considered buying storage heaters hoping I can charge them at night and only use them throughout the day, no other devices.
In the end ended up with A2A heat pump and Agile tarrif with my bills hitting £100 in winter months. Usage dropped from max 40kWh to max 25kWh in winter months.

You could consider Good Energy EV tariff, the day rate is similar 30p, but 0-5 costs half price 6.5p 😉

Anyway, all good 👍