Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand my energy bills

40 replies

energyhelp · 12/09/2024 13:00

Our energy bills are stupidly high and I'm not sure if they are reasonable? Our house is large (approx 10,000 sq ft) and we have a heated indoor swimming pool, underfloor heating and 6 bedrooms. Therefore I expect them to be high but I'm not sure if they should be this high and don't really know if there's anything we can do to become more energy efficient. I'll be honest in that I don't really understand how it all works and what appliances are using what energy... Currently we are paying approx. £2k/month for gas and another £2k/month for electricity - so £4k a month just on energy bills (gulp)

What I'd really love is for someone to come out to survey the property, explain what is using the most energy and maybe advise us on how we can become more energy efficient. Does anyone know if such a company/person exists?! If anyone has used anything like this before I would much appreciate your input. Thanks for any help!

OP posts:
EasterIssland · 12/09/2024 13:48

energyhelp · 12/09/2024 13:37

Thank you - this was actually quite useful - we are on an Economy 7 meter and our night usage is much less than the 40% they recommend so changing that could be the first step to reducing bills! Just looking into all the different tariffs now - does anyone have an energy company they recommend - we are currently with EDF and the customer service has been shocking so far

Show quote history

Do you have an EV tariff that you can use to maybe reduce the bills? Do you charge the car at night ?

CranfordScones · 12/09/2024 13:48

Switching lights off won't really make any difference. It's your heating and hot water you need to look at. As you say, you need to wrestle some control from the 'smart' controller. May be worth paying an electrician to give you an opinion, given how much you're paying. It's astronomical.

EasterIssland · 12/09/2024 13:47

Have you considered solar panels? It’ll cost you money upfront but long term you’d get some of it back and reduce your bills

Original poster
energyhelp · 12/09/2024 13:47

chickenpieandchips · 12/09/2024 13:39

Do you have an electric car too?

Yes we do...

OP posts:
Original poster
energyhelp · 12/09/2024 13:45

anniegun · 12/09/2024 13:33

It will be heating that accounts for the majority of costs. An Energy survey can provide the information you need. Just put that into Google and look for suppliers in your area

This is what I've done but nothing really comes up? A company called Furbnow came up who are based in Birmingham (a couple of hours away) - have called them and left a voicemail. Is anyone familiar with them/used them?

OP posts:
Original poster
energyhelp · 12/09/2024 13:43

soscarlet · 12/09/2024 13:31

You’re lucky there’s a ton of steps you can take to reduce your energy use.

Switch the pool off.
It’s only September, do you really need the heated floors? Turn them off for another 10 weeks or so.
You sound like the kind of person who might have air conditioning. Turn it off, open the window instead.
You’re only in one bedroom at a time, so switch off the lights in the other ones. No need to have more than one lightbulb on at any time, and none at all during daylight hours. That includes the acres of under cabinet lighting in the kitchen.

Underfloor heating isn't on at the moment - but it's some fancy system that is set to come on automatically when the temp outside falls below a certain level. Tbh I hate it as I feel like I have no control. We inherited all this when we moved house - give me simple radiators any day!

We do have air con but don't use it. I try to make sure lights are switched off but my 3 young kids can be a nightmare - think I'll start charging them! That might incentivise them to switch them off when they leave a room!

Pool is heated as it's indoor and used all year round... although not sure it's used enough to justify the cost now that the novelty has worn off. We'll probably turn it off over the winter, maybe sooner.

Thank you - appreciate everyone taking the time to reply

OP posts:
Janedoe82 · 12/09/2024 13:41

It will be the pool and underfloor heating- both are very expensive to run. Not much you can do other than turn them off.

dannyufcfan · 12/09/2024 13:40

Diamond shoes too tight, as well?

chickenpieandchips · 12/09/2024 13:39

Do you have an electric car too?

Original poster
energyhelp · 12/09/2024 13:37

thunderbanana · 12/09/2024 13:04

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/how-to-work-out-energy-usage/

sounds about right though tbh
you have an indoor pool & under floor heating both cost a lot to run

Thank you - this was actually quite useful - we are on an Economy 7 meter and our night usage is much less than the 40% they recommend so changing that could be the first step to reducing bills! Just looking into all the different tariffs now - does anyone have an energy company they recommend - we are currently with EDF and the customer service has been shocking so far

OP posts:
anniegun · 12/09/2024 13:33

It will be heating that accounts for the majority of costs. An Energy survey can provide the information you need. Just put that into Google and look for suppliers in your area

soscarlet · 12/09/2024 13:31

You’re lucky there’s a ton of steps you can take to reduce your energy use.

Switch the pool off.
It’s only September, do you really need the heated floors? Turn them off for another 10 weeks or so.
You sound like the kind of person who might have air conditioning. Turn it off, open the window instead.
You’re only in one bedroom at a time, so switch off the lights in the other ones. No need to have more than one lightbulb on at any time, and none at all during daylight hours. That includes the acres of under cabinet lighting in the kitchen.

NotOnlyFedUpButAlso · 12/09/2024 13:17

This may not go well...

Catza · 12/09/2024 13:13

Plenty you can do to be more energy efficient and I think it is pretty obvious that a heated pool and underfloor heating will cost more money to run than a fridge and air-fryer.

thunderbanana · 12/09/2024 13:04

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/how-to-work-out-energy-usage/

sounds about right though tbh
you have an indoor pool & under floor heating both cost a lot to run

Swipe left for the next trending thread