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Original poster

Carer charging electric bike? How much adding to bill?

111 replies

helpmakingahome · 26/12/2025 15:45

My aunt lives quite rurally and had a carer come in 3 times a day to help her get up etc. When the carer arrives, she immediately plugs in her electric bike into an extension lead in the outside lean to and leaves her bike charging there for an hour.

The carer keeps failing her driving test so can't get a car and relies on the electric bike to get her about. I understand that my aunt is quite remote and maybe the carer is worried about running out of battery in the middle of nowhere but it seems a bit off. I don't know how much this is adding to my aunt's electricity bill, she's on disability so quite a small fixed income. Any ideas how much it will be costing to charge? If it's a couple if quid then it's fine but I don't know. Is this normal now?

OP posts:
caramac04 · 26/12/2025 18:02

OP was asking how much to charge the bike and the responses saying 20p ish are well within what they are happy for aunt to be paying.

No need for all the ‘you should be grateful to get a carer’ when she had no intention of stopping the charging.

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 18:02

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:58

Not at the expense of a person who’s living on a small income.

Once the carer starts driving are you suggesting the aunt chis in for the carers petrol?

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No. That's hardly comparable! 😂
Have you seen the cost of charging an e bike for an hour?! Less than £1, on average if that!!
If the aunt genuinely cannot afford that, perhaps the OP could pay...
It's hardly petrol!

Tighteningmybelt · 26/12/2025 17:59

helpmakingahome · 26/12/2025 17:23

Thanks everyone for letting me know how much it costs to change a bike, I honestly had no idea if it was pennies or £40 a time! I'm obviously not going to worry if it's a few pounds a day, I was just concerned if it was adding hundreds to her bill every month. There's no problems with carers using anything in the house, same as when we're in work. As long as they're good to my aunt, everything is fine. I just hadn't come across an electric bike before so had no idea.

It’s not a few pounds a day. It’s probably about 10p.

Anna20MFG · 26/12/2025 17:59

It's not a few pounds. It is literally a few pence.

If she had a car would you be paying her mileage?

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:58

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 17:48

So you think the carer shouldn't charge her bike?

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Not at the expense of a person who’s living on a small income.

Once the carer starts driving are you suggesting the aunt chis in for the carers petrol?

XenoBitch · 26/12/2025 17:58

Frequency · 26/12/2025 17:52

Nothing, most likely. I worked in care for years, with many different carers, from many different companies, all of them wanted to secure roles within extra care/supported living housing because they weren't being paid for travel, sometimes racking up to 2 hours a day in unpaid travel time.

I've yet to meet a carer who got paid for travel time.

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I am not surprised.

She would be paying for the wear and tear of her bike too.

sanityisamyth · 26/12/2025 17:57

I’d be more concerned about it catching fire than the cost of the electricity.

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:55

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 17:52

Carers do not get a salary. They get paid per visit. If its more than 30 mins between locations, then they have to be out 12 hours to get paid 8 hours.

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They’re remunerated for the work they do. They’re not volunteers.

Frequency · 26/12/2025 17:52

XenoBitch · 26/12/2025 17:41

How much is she getting paid for travelling there?

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Nothing, most likely. I worked in care for years, with many different carers, from many different companies, all of them wanted to secure roles within extra care/supported living housing because they weren't being paid for travel, sometimes racking up to 2 hours a day in unpaid travel time.

I've yet to meet a carer who got paid for travel time.

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 17:52

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:48

I’ve no idea. I wasn’t aware that people were paid for travelling to work. But they do get a salary just as the carer does - she’s not working out of the goodness of her heart.

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Carers do not get a salary. They get paid per visit. If its more than 30 mins between locations, then they have to be out 12 hours to get paid 8 hours.

IainTorontoNSW · 26/12/2025 17:51

Here, in Australia, it costs NOTHING to charge my electric bike during the daytime.

If, on the other hand, I charge it overnight, it adds about 43 cents to do a long/ful charge. (About the amount it costs for a standard tea-cup of milk.)

Your aunt would be a cruel penny-pincher to refuse the carer a chance to "top-up" her e-bike battery.

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 17:49

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:46

Op, how many days per week is this happening?

If the carer had passed her driving test and was arriving by car she’d have had to pay for fuel and would posters be thinking it’s okay for your aunty to be chipping in for that as well?

You've said your aunt is on a small fixed income and over a month the 3 times a day battery charging could be the difference between your aunt enjoying a nice meal or having to have tea and toast instead.

People like you......

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 17:48

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:46

Op, how many days per week is this happening?

If the carer had passed her driving test and was arriving by car she’d have had to pay for fuel and would posters be thinking it’s okay for your aunty to be chipping in for that as well?

You've said your aunt is on a small fixed income and over a month the 3 times a day battery charging could be the difference between your aunt enjoying a nice meal or having to have tea and toast instead.

So you think the carer shouldn't charge her bike?

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:48

XenoBitch · 26/12/2025 17:41

How much is she getting paid for travelling there?

Show quote history

I’ve no idea. I wasn’t aware that people were paid for travelling to work. But they do get a salary just as the carer does - she’s not working out of the goodness of her heart.

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 17:47

Serencwtch · 26/12/2025 17:31

Most workplaces don't allow them to be charged on the premises, not due to the cost but because of the significant risk of fires whilst charging.

Personally I wouldn't allow the carer to do it.

If you do let them then make sure it is the correct charger & definitely don't use an extension lead. Also check the house insurance as you may not be covered if there is a fire

Someone in my village had a huge fire earlier in the year caused by a charging e-bike battery. It caused a huge amount of damage, her 2 kittens were killed & then insurance wouldn't pay out as the modified charger she was using invalidated her insurance.

Someone in my neighbourhood had a house fire caused by a tumble dryer.
You have to be careful with electrical appliances.

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:46

Op, how many days per week is this happening?

If the carer had passed her driving test and was arriving by car she’d have had to pay for fuel and would posters be thinking it’s okay for your aunty to be chipping in for that as well?

You've said your aunt is on a small fixed income and over a month the 3 times a day battery charging could be the difference between your aunt enjoying a nice meal or having to have tea and toast instead.

Sunshineo · 26/12/2025 17:44

It’s nice that you are looking out for your aunt and making sure that she isn’t being taken advantage of. Well done for checking.

XenoBitch · 26/12/2025 17:41

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:39

She’s being paid for turning up. She’s not volunteering.

Show quote history

How much is she getting paid for travelling there?

Nucleus · 26/12/2025 17:39

Even our full electric car has only cost us £250 over the last year for all our home charging. If an elderly relative had found a good and reliable carer, I would pay that for them if money was a problem. For an e-bike, it is not even a remote consideration.

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:39

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 26/12/2025 15:58

You are lucky to have a carer in a rural area. I wouldn’t dream of saying anything, particularly if she turns up 3 times per day.

She’s being paid for turning up. She’s not volunteering.

MumChp · 26/12/2025 17:36

Serencwtch · 26/12/2025 17:31

Most workplaces don't allow them to be charged on the premises, not due to the cost but because of the significant risk of fires whilst charging.

Personally I wouldn't allow the carer to do it.

If you do let them then make sure it is the correct charger & definitely don't use an extension lead. Also check the house insurance as you may not be covered if there is a fire

Someone in my village had a huge fire earlier in the year caused by a charging e-bike battery. It caused a huge amount of damage, her 2 kittens were killed & then insurance wouldn't pay out as the modified charger she was using invalidated her insurance.

The OP said outside.

Good luck finding another career rural if saying no.
Is it really a hill to die on?

Serencwtch · 26/12/2025 17:31

Most workplaces don't allow them to be charged on the premises, not due to the cost but because of the significant risk of fires whilst charging.

Personally I wouldn't allow the carer to do it.

If you do let them then make sure it is the correct charger & definitely don't use an extension lead. Also check the house insurance as you may not be covered if there is a fire

Someone in my village had a huge fire earlier in the year caused by a charging e-bike battery. It caused a huge amount of damage, her 2 kittens were killed & then insurance wouldn't pay out as the modified charger she was using invalidated her insurance.

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 17:30

helpmakingahome · 26/12/2025 17:23

Thanks everyone for letting me know how much it costs to change a bike, I honestly had no idea if it was pennies or £40 a time! I'm obviously not going to worry if it's a few pounds a day, I was just concerned if it was adding hundreds to her bill every month. There's no problems with carers using anything in the house, same as when we're in work. As long as they're good to my aunt, everything is fine. I just hadn't come across an electric bike before so had no idea.

Then why be critical of her and start a thread if you had no idea?
It's easy enough to find out.

VanillaIceIceBaby · 26/12/2025 17:29

helpmakingahome · 26/12/2025 17:23

Thanks everyone for letting me know how much it costs to change a bike, I honestly had no idea if it was pennies or £40 a time! I'm obviously not going to worry if it's a few pounds a day, I was just concerned if it was adding hundreds to her bill every month. There's no problems with carers using anything in the house, same as when we're in work. As long as they're good to my aunt, everything is fine. I just hadn't come across an electric bike before so had no idea.

It won’t be a few pounds a day. Even on a high tariff.

MeganM3 · 26/12/2025 17:27

Our smart meter indicates a 5 hour (full charge) is £0.90