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Huge Electricity Bill

61 replies

WireCat · 19/08/2014 23:57

We've been in this hues a year. Electricity consumption ridiculous.

I have to use the tumble dryer when it's raining/winter as the washing simply doesn't dry here on the racks.

We switch off lights etc.

Where/how can we cut back?

4 bed detached house. Open plan downstairs.

Gas Central heating.

Thank you.

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LIZS · 20/08/2014 07:44

Do you cook using gas or electricity ? Could you get a gadget which monitors usage and identifies appliances which use a lot ie. tumble drier.

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WireCat · 20/08/2014 08:59

Electric cooker as well.mand I do cook every day.
Our fridge is in the utility room (no room in the kitchen) ans it's always "on". It's hot out there due to the way it's built.

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prettybird · 20/08/2014 09:05

My dad noticed his electricity consumption was consistently higher over a number of months. He eventually discovered that his (top up 'cos it's normally heated by the gas boiler) electric immersion heater had been on for months. The switch is hidden behind an appliance and he'd forgotten that he'd switched it on once for a quick top-up.

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MisForMumNotMaid · 20/08/2014 09:06

Get one of these an owl meter.

You can then see what you're using and when.

Can i ask how much you're using for how many people?

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WireCat · 20/08/2014 09:09

There's 5 of us. We are over £600 in debit and they will be taking £110 per month from now on. British gas.

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MisForMumNotMaid · 20/08/2014 09:11

Is the £110/ month including gas and repayment?

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LIZS · 20/08/2014 09:14

We pay about £130 pcm so it doesn't sound that high tbh. How much is electricity vs gas ?

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Timeforabiscuit · 20/08/2014 09:15

Definitely get one of the consumption metres, turn everything off and then you can test each appliance to see what they're costing you.

I think the costliest are tumble dryer, microwave and kettle.

Does your tumble dryer have good ventilation? Do you have any damp in the house, does your washing machine have a good spin cycle ? Just using a tumble dryer will eat electricity.

Have you checked that the tarrif is a good one that fits with your consumption. No point having really cheap electric overnight if your not using it then.

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prettybird · 20/08/2014 10:05

Can you not dry outside? Even in winter I'll hang washing out, even for a short time and it makes a difference. Even if all it does is get the worst of the moisture off.

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WireCat · 20/08/2014 10:54

We've got a north facing garden. The washing was as wet when I brought it in over the winter as when I hung it out! The washing dying thing is so annoying. I never used the TD in the other house. I used it for storage inside the drum!
I spin the washing twice before putting it in the TD.
I don't use the microwave much but the kettle is boiled quite often, I must admit!
£110 is just the electricity.
I will do price comparison later on and see if I can change suppliers maybe.
I will also get one of those consumption meters.
Our utility room is boiling in the summer (so he fridge is on constantly) and freezing in the winter, so nothing dries in there. It's not very big either (1st world problem!) so can only fit in a small airer. Conservatory is also the same.
Who has a lakeland heated airer? Are they any good? Will I get damp from using them?
Thanks all.

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Missunreasonable · 20/08/2014 10:58

You are paying £110 a month at the moment but you have a £600 debt so how much per month was you paying before? How much is your actual monthly usage?

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prettybird · 20/08/2014 11:25

Mine is a north facing garden too. Maybe it's just windier up here! Wink It's not always fully dry in winter - but even the airing helps.

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LIZS · 20/08/2014 11:28

We have a north facing garden and use outside airer in all but the dampest, coldest of weathers. Could you have an airer over the bath or shower. Slowcooker uses less energy than an electric oven

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AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 20/08/2014 11:43

I don't have one of those lakeland heated airers, but I have heard good things about them. Even if you use them to cut your tumble dryer use in half that would probably help. Although I use my tumble dryer pretty much daily and I spend about £60-75 per month. That's on prepaid meter. I've accepted that I probably won't get my bill any lower, and I'm willing to pay that for the convenience of using the tumble dryer. I'll be frugal in other areas to make up for it.

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PigletJohn · 20/08/2014 11:56

first and most important question:
What is the Actual (not estimated) meter reading today?
What was it a year ago?

If you have not been keeping a record of your meter readings, you can probably see them on your electricity supplier's website.

You say this is your electricity bill. Please confirm that your gas bill is separate.

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WireCat · 20/08/2014 11:59

I'm a bit crap at keeping an eye on my meter readings. This is from an actual meter reading.
Has separate.

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LIZS · 20/08/2014 12:06

How much of the £110 is back payments?. If you are £600 in arrears are they making you pay back say £50 pcm over 12 months and £60 towards future bills for example. Our electricity element is about £65 pcm as comparison but not a heavy td user.

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PigletJohn · 20/08/2014 12:08

until we know last year's meter reading, and today's, we don't know how much you've used.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 20/08/2014 17:58

I'd sack the TD & get a spin dryer instead. Ours spins at 2800rpm.

I get an extra pint of water out each cycle and things dry on an airer overnight now instead of taking two days to dry. It doesn't crease the clothes either.

You can buy them on eBay second hand. It's 1950s tech but it works.

I use a halogen oven now, it saves me £52 a year. We only use the main oven for big pizza now.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 20/08/2014 17:59

Btw I'm fairly sure BG won't let you change suppliers until debts are cleared.

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jessplussomeonenew · 20/08/2014 18:11

How energy efficient are your appliances, particularly the ones that you use regularly or all the time? If they're old/low-rated, switching to more modern ones could make big savings. Do you boil more water than you need in the kettle?

What about lighting? Changing to LED/compact fluorescents can make a big difference, particularly if you have a lot of those little spot lights as they use a lot of power which is generally very expensive, particularly if they're in rooms that you use a lot. Switching all spots to modern warm white LEDs can cut the cost dramatically; we cut costs by 90% without any loss in lighting quality.

But overall, definitely get a smart meter and go round switching things on and off - it's the only way to work out where it's all going!

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MisForMumNotMaid · 20/08/2014 18:13

If a years reading is too complicated can you tell us on the bill what meter reading at start and meter reading at finish are (check neither if them are estimated i.e. Have an e against them). Then if the bill is for three months or longer usually british gas say no. of days i think.

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ladybirdandsnails · 20/08/2014 18:49

Get a hot air dryer / airer. Cost about 70 pounds to buy but dry everything over night for about 1 pence. Putting a sheet over speeds it up. Can plug in any where

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ladybirdandsnails · 20/08/2014 18:51
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Eva50 · 20/08/2014 20:03

We have a 4 bedroom detached and 5 of us. We are £179 pcm (gas and electric) yours doesn't sound too bad. We are in the Scottish Highlands so perhaps it's colder here!

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