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Original poster

Bill free

80 replies

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 18:00

Has anyone managed to live bill free ,no gas ,electricity or water bill ,if so how have you done it ,like solar panels ,rainwater to flush ect
are there any houses built specifically ,for being self sufficient with no bills

we can’t pay our bills from November when it goes up ,we are going to have to take out a £3000 loan to get through the winter ,and there’s only so many years we can do this

OP posts:

Eastangular2000 · 16/08/2022 18:50

Ok so your problem is usage. You are using more than three times the average for electricity and 1.5 times the average for gas. Using those levels in the summer without I presume having the heating on, means that you are using very very heavily.

2 loads of washing a day is a lot, if it's not SN related it may be something you can look at or maybe see if there is a launderette with a big machine that may work out cheaper.

You do need to look at your usage though as what you are saying you use and what your usage actually is doesn't seem to add up.

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 18:50

15000 kWh gas ….sorry missed of a 0
annually

OP posts:

Eastangular2000 · 16/08/2022 18:52

Even with not leaving the house those electricity figures are insanely high. Have you got an immersion you are leaving on or something like that?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 18:52

How is it not adding up
4 computers on ,
washing machine drum is tiny ,so I can’t fit much in it

OP posts:

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 18:53

How do u turn an immersion off ?
pits a new build 20 years a go ,with big water tank on top floor 3 story house

OP posts:

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 18:55

I had no idea we were using more than everyone else ,I thought it was a bills going up problem not how much we are using .
and the heating has been off the whole time the bills are this high

OP posts:

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 18:56

I think we will be living by candlelight in the winter

OP posts:

AperolWhore · 16/08/2022 18:59

Those figures seem excessive. Water should be no more than £60/70 a month and if you aren’t having the heating on at the moment you should only be using around £250 a month for gas and electric,

You need to take a manual meter reading tonight for the gas and electric and take another reading at the same time tomorrow night to see how much you use in a 24 hour period. Once you have that you can then work on getting your usage down;

Turn everything off at the wall when not in use, even ovens and the microwave.
Batch cook when the oven is on so you are using it less and use your slow cooker for more meals
Are all the windows and doors insulated? Get a door curtain and window films if they aren’t
Invest in thermal socks and slippers to wear around the house during the way, fleece or thermal pyjamas for on a night and snuggly throws for the sofa
Get electric blankets for the beds so you don’t need the heating on for more than a few hours a day

So many people will struggle this winter so it’s best to prep as much as you can 🥰

InTheFridge · 16/08/2022 18:59

How much electricity does a PC use in the UK?
A desktop PC typically uses around 100 watts of electricity, the equivalent of 0.1 kWh. This means that if a PC is on for eight hours a day, it will cost 10p a day to run the laptop (based on an average energy unit cost of 12.5 p/kWh).

Because OP it doesn't work out

Eastangular2000 · 16/08/2022 18:59

i just mean that other than the 2 loads of washing a day you are not describing heavy usage, but your meter is reflecting heavy usage. 14 loads of washing a week is a lot though, is it SN related or could you cut down or use launderette?

Overthebow · 16/08/2022 19:00

U you oh definitely need to review your usage. There are less of us in our house but we do have a DC and an old 4 bed house that isn’t very efficient, and we are currently spending £130 per month on gas, electricity and water and we have a smart meter so know it’s accurate. £500 per months is loads!

pumpkinpie01 · 16/08/2022 19:01

15000 of gas is 41 a day on average , that's a lot . Take a reading tonight for both then again in a week . Is the £500 you are paying based on what your energy company are just asking for without taking any notice of what you are actually using ? They like to do that !

NewBootsAndRanty · 16/08/2022 19:04

You should be able to see your useage breakdown monthly/weekly/daily/hourly online with Shell if you have a smart meter... if you've an immersion on constantly for your water, it should be obvious as your useage will be high even when everything else is off..

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 19:05

I don’t know what else to say …
i don’t understand myself

OP posts:

CornishTiger · 16/08/2022 19:07

What kind of boiler do you have? A hot water tank. Do you have hot water all day long.

Find that immersion switch and turn it off.

Biscuitandacuppa · 16/08/2022 19:08

The longer eco wash uses less electricity than a quick wash because the drum stays still and there is a lot of soaking time. Look at your washing machine manual, it will have the electric usage for each cycle.

Is your meter actually accurate though? Check your meters first thing in the morning and when you go to bed and then again in the morning. Unless you have loads of things on I can’t see how your electricity is so high! The gas usage seems odd too given that it is summer. My gas was £8 last month.

Sellie555 · 16/08/2022 19:09

Oh my lovely, that must be so stressful. But I definitely think something isn’t right in your house as there are 6 of us, 2-3 of us at home all day on laptops, gaming etc, we don’t particularly (yet!) watch our useage but our actual useage bill is only around £150 a month at the moment, so your £500 can’t be right

years who, my parents got an unexpected high bill and it turns out they were paying for some of the street lighting…

there is definitely a problem there. Could you call Shell and explain the situation so they can check everything is right or not?

CornishTiger · 16/08/2022 19:10

Would you mind saying roughly where you are. Sounds like you could benefit from an energy advice charity.

Chocolatiestchocolate · 16/08/2022 19:10

With 3 dcs you can apply to be on the water sure tarrif. Google it. They can only charge about 38 pm no matter what the usage.

We have 6 of us.
3 loads washing a day (yes its loads but 5 x beds. All on roation once a week, towels, clothes, dh uniform has to be washed separately etc it adds up)
Xbox on most of day. A. Tv on most of day. Electric cooker /oven daily use.
Pump to pool on 24/7
1930 house, no loft or wall insulation.
Old heating and boiler
All 6 bath /shower daily. (gas)

And we're no where near that usage.
Our electricity last month was £97 which is high but ok. Gas £34

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 19:18

I don’t understand this at all
I thought it was the same for everyone

OP posts:

amylou8 · 16/08/2022 19:22

Your useage is really high. I run a clothes resale business from home, I'm constantly washing, drying and ironing. Then the normal house hold stuff, and the air-conditioner has been doing overtime too. My useage is a fraction of yours...about £75 pm.

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 19:27

Something must be wrong then somewhere
from last September to this February our water bill was £1800.
and before that a bill of £1000

my washing machine was the cheapest possible at £170 ,and it’s on 3 times a day ,dishwasher 2 times .
the kids are adults so do their own washing in the machine

OP posts:

Sellie555 · 16/08/2022 19:27

Chocolatiestchocolate · 16/08/2022 19:10

With 3 dcs you can apply to be on the water sure tarrif. Google it. They can only charge about 38 pm no matter what the usage.

And we're no where near that usage.
Our electricity last month was £97 which is high but ok. Gas £34

@Chocolatiestchocolate apart from the pool, everything you have written is exactly exactly the same as us, as well as the same monthly cost we are paying for each ! I’m glad I’ve found someone with the same situation and the same costs, makes me feel more comfortable that we are where we should be re costs

flirtygirl · 16/08/2022 19:30

Contact your water company, you should have been on watersure tariff. Ask them to send you a form..

The rest sounds 3 times too high. We are very similar, sen, home learning, computers never off x 3 and rarely leave the house. We are less people but a quarter of your amount. Even doubling our bills for what you say you use and it would be around £250pm. Something is very wrong with your nos.

Original poster

Summergirl5 · 16/08/2022 19:30

our smart meter didn’t work when it was fitted 4 months ago
it’s a 2 month wait for it to be fixed
so I can’t see where exactly usage is

OP posts:

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