economy 7 is this right??

johnest

Hi all, I have had a flat empty over the last 3 months during repainting in between tenants. I have just had the bill. I used next to nothing day time electricity, but managed to chomp through 3244 units of of peak economy 7. There is only 3 E7 heaters in the flat. all have been left on to keep the place aired. The cost has been £192 for the 3 months. £64 a month for 3 economy 7 heaters seems alot. I don't pay that in gas to heat my 4 bed detached house. Is there anything I need to look out for such as: old mechanical meters, faulty heaters, etc. It could be just that I am with Swalec that seems to be the highest cost , but still seems alot of units.
Any advise greatfully received.

rrwfotr

It must be an estimate, check your bill. If not your meter may be faulty ask them to test your meter.

johnest

its not an estimate. The on peak reading is the same on the meter as on the bill ( the on peak fuse box is switched off) so looks as if the meter was read on the 21 apr. Since then I have used another 571 units of E7. Needless to say I have turned them off now.
If the meters were read correctly 18 days ago E7 is using 571/18=37.72kwh a day.
If E7 is 7 hours thats 5.38 Kwh per hour. which I guess could be made up from a 3kw & 2*1.7kw heaters.
Which if that is the correct way to calculate it means they are a tad pricy to run. I suppose I better look to see the ratings of the heaters and how long my E7 runs for each night and get a cheaper tariff
It is a mechanical meter do these go wrong often?.

Cardew

I would have thought that leaving on 3 storage heaters would quite easily use that sort of power.

It is not as simple as taking a 3kW heater and assuming it will be consuming that for the whole 7 hours(i.e 21 kWh) - it depends on the setting.

Mechanical meters do go wrong - they run fast/slow. However all that would mean is that you get your 7 hours E7 at different times. e.g. from 2am to 9am instead of midnight to 7am.

Stardelta

The charge acceptance (7Hrs) is. 3.4kw Heater 23.5kwh 2.55kw 17.6kwh 1.7kw 11.8kwh 0.9kw 6.3kwh Multiply the kwh by your night rate for each heater per day assuming the input control is set at max. My 3.4kw on full 23.5*4.55 +106.9 £1:07 per day but this will apply from cold first day of switch on, the core never goes cold again until switch off.

BexTech

E7 heaters are horrendously expensive to run, I certainly wouldn't have left them on if no one was there. You try and make sure you use them as little as possible. Horrible things, was glad when we moved to somewhere with gas heating and that was with modern E7 heaters.

zoelouise88

£64 a month does seem about right. we use 2 heaters a night on E7 which cost us just over £2per night so thats £56 a month for 2 so an extra £8 for an extra heater actually works out quite cheap

Stardelta

Could always a gas fire The Misermatic for 1.0kw output you need 2.5kw input so 2.5*3.0p for gas = 7.5pence per hour * 14 hours = £1.05 that is if 1.0kw was enough and in my room it is not. So storage heater much cheaper for me. And the Misermatic figures are out of the Flavel Gas Fire Range 2007-8 brochure for a conventional flue, I would need a balanced or powerflue, and the powerflue versions cost even more per hour to run. My electric bill has just come £190 night electric, bungalow never gone cold. day electric £68 after the price rises. Also apart from 4 new elements £90 in 24years fitted by me NO annual maintenance charges. I am wondering and being an electrician I am not biased, if investing in gas would reduce my bills. The guy who gave me the gas brochure's has in his house central heating, gas cooker gas fire his bill £180 for gas and does not always use the central heating + his electric bill on top of that. Plus I have to pay £430 for a gas meter

johnest

Thanks for all your replies. I still think it is a lot for what is supposed to be cheap background heat, which is only limited to the rooms the heaters are in. My gas bill is not far off that to heat my whole house and is off and onable as the British Gas tortoise used to say. The heaters are in a flat I rent. I have just asked for a quote to put in a gas meter. Even though the flat has always rented (touch wood)I hate the storage heaters and am not convinced that storage heaters make it an attractive prop to rent. Even though it saves me a gas safety certificate every year. I know I will eventually go to a wet heating system. Any comments about electric boilers????? Even though they are more expensive I know my gas connection will be a few hundred quid. Connection is also not a problem as I am too an electrician.

Stardelta

I have gas to my bungalow in fact in to the kitchen, the meter was taken out in 1984 so the kitchen units would fit in, turns out that was a mistake. To have a new meter £430 plus any pipe that may be required.

Stardelta

These are the people I contacted for a gas meter. United Utilities Gas Connections 498 Gorgie Road Edinburgh Midlothian EH11 3AF