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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:
Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 26/12/2025 16:08

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.

Yes, this. Surely by complaining about her costing a few pence in electricity, the only result is that she'll have to withdraw from being able to provide the essential service altogether - and all for the sake of 5 or 10p a visit.

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 26/12/2025 16:05

She isn't charging it then in a deliberate attempt to steal somebody else's electricity; she's charging it then because it needs charging then, just like a phone.

You may as well say that, if she goes for a wee at the client's home, it's because she's deliberately saving money by not using her own water, paper and soap - when of course, the only reason she's actually having a wee there is because that's where she is when the wee is needed!

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.

Dinosweetpea · 26/12/2025 15:57

Good, reliable carers are like gold dust - it costs next to nothing to charge so just leave them be.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 26/12/2025 15:53

I have one it holds just over 1.3 kWh so a full charge costs about 25p it takes five hours though so I imagine in an hour it’s about 5p.

ChaChaChaChanges · 26/12/2025 15:52

Honestly, I’m incredulous that this even crossed your mind.

Clefable · 26/12/2025 15:51

They usually cost about 10-20p to fully charge from 0 on standard variable tariff (depending on battery size) so likely much less than that as it won’t be from empty.

vanillalattes · 26/12/2025 15:50

Probably not even 5p. Honestly, let it go.

modgepodge · 26/12/2025 15:49

Google AI says it costs between 5p and 22p to do a full charge (which for my bike takes 5 hours). So an hour is probably costing 1-4p. If she’s otherwise happy with the carer I’d let it go 😂

Aplstrudl · 26/12/2025 15:48

Depends on the tarriff your aunt is on.

Mcdhotchoc · 26/12/2025 15:47

Google says 10-22p per hour. Hth
And good on the carer for cycling to her work