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Original poster

Regretting getting a smart meter already...

134 replies

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:36

Has gas and electric really gone up this much? ☹️ Just moved house and got a smart meter installed, lost my fixed tariff as I couldn't bring it with me and nowhere offers fixed anymore.

We've been out most of the day, no heating on and all plugs are switched off bar the fridge freezer, oven, sky box and router. Currently it's sat at £10.30. Bloke had to install new meters as our old ones were prehistoric.

£300+ a month for barely using any gas or electric? Is this right and has it really gone up this much?! I only used to pay £100 a month and I'd not be minimising any of my useage. I'm hoping it's faulty meters because I'm never gonna be able to afford to put heating on and I'm on a pretty good salary!

I hate this smart meter already.

OP posts:
Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:05

Definitely just for the day ☹️

Regretting getting a smart meter already...
Regretting getting a smart meter already...
OP posts:
DrinkFeckArseGirls · 10/12/2022 21:06

boiler set to pre-heat water?

WhatsitWiggle · 10/12/2022 21:06

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 20:48

61.36kwh gas, 9.35kwh electric

That's a lot for being out all day. I've used 8.87khw electric, I've done two loads of washing and tumble dried, cooked dinner on the hob and grill and had the TV on for several hours.

Gas is 73.5khw and the heating has been on all day in the lounge, bathroom and daughters bedroom.

Something is on somewhere, or your IHD is faulty. Have you got an app for your supplier? My usage on the app matches the IHD (Octopus) but the gas cost on my IHD is always way off (under) so I know to mentally add £3 a day to whatever it shows.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living
Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:07

No DC! Just myself and the DH

OP posts:
CheeseIsMyPatronus · 10/12/2022 21:07

Welcome to Dickensian Britain. Yes, it has gone up that much for new tariffs. It's frightening! Older houses are particularly badly hit as they weren't built with insulation.

cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 21:08

So your current demand is good for electricity - the question is what's been using it during the day.

Electric showers?

But you have used a lot of gas - so that must be doing something.

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:10

@WhatsitWiggle I'll have to check my octopus app tomorrow and see if it matches as data seems to be a day behind.

We found a built in fridge and freezer in the kitchen island earlier so we've switched them off too just in case they're energy guzzlers.

Might reach out to the supplier and see if they think it seems right too. It's a lot for 2 people, considering we've not been using anything all day ☹️

OP posts:
Silvers11 · 10/12/2022 21:11

BettyOBarley · 10/12/2022 20:38

I've turned mine towards the wall tonight, it's so easy to get obsessed by it.

That's not your Smart Meter you are talking about ( sorry to be pedantic) That's the In Home Display and not the Smart Meter itself.

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:12

We have one electric shower downstairs. Main bath is mains fed as is the shower too. Neither have been used today (don't judge me)

What's these immersion heaters people are going on about? I'd like to find out if I have one!

OP posts:
cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 21:14

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:10

@WhatsitWiggle I'll have to check my octopus app tomorrow and see if it matches as data seems to be a day behind.

We found a built in fridge and freezer in the kitchen island earlier so we've switched them off too just in case they're energy guzzlers.

Might reach out to the supplier and see if they think it seems right too. It's a lot for 2 people, considering we've not been using anything all day ☹️

What are your boiler controls like?
Is it timed?
Is there a hot water setting?

Somehow you have used 64 kWh.

Fridge / freezers don't use much energy (despite what the Daily Express would insist)*

*see my other threads on that

Augend23 · 10/12/2022 21:15

Do you have a hot water tank, or is it a combi boiler?

cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 21:15

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:12

We have one electric shower downstairs. Main bath is mains fed as is the shower too. Neither have been used today (don't judge me)

What's these immersion heaters people are going on about? I'd like to find out if I have one!

Look at your hot water cylinder and see if you can find anything plugged into it.

That would be an immersion heater. Like a kettle element.

cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 21:16

Immersion heater

www.boilerguide.co.uk/articles/immersion-heaters

Shesasuperfreak · 10/12/2022 21:16

I hate it when people come on to the thread to correct others 😒. The 3 of you need to get a life.

TERRRYsnotmine · 10/12/2022 21:16

When was the last time you was only paying £25 a week for gas?

Without bring careful? That doesn't sound right OP!

WhatsitWiggle · 10/12/2022 21:18

Look at your hot water cylinder, an immersion looks a bit like the attached, follow the cable and you'll find an on/off switch.

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:18

@cakeorwine thank you! Will have a look when I go upstairs.

It's a combi - 12 years old Baxi. We're thinking of getting it replaced next summer if a newer one will be more efficient.

Will also check if water is set to preheat... I don't think it is as it takes a few mins to come through as hot but will definitely check! Anything to bring the damn bill down

OP posts:
Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:21

@TERRRYsnotmine £40pm gas & £60pm leccy is what I paid at the old house (moved a month ago). Was on a 2 year fixed so was pretty protected from current prices...

@WhatsitWiggle thank you 🙂

OP posts:
ssd · 10/12/2022 21:25

I have the edf app on my phone which shows how much the smart meter is costing every day. I look at it all the bloody time.

thefatpotato · 10/12/2022 21:28

Ours is at £10 a day most days, but that's with heating on for minimum 3 hours a day at the moment.

BettyOBarley · 10/12/2022 21:30

I know, it's crap isn't it.

We only have the heating on for 30 mins on a morning and then I sit freezing cold all day WFH, with the thermostat on for a few hours on an evening and our bill was still £180 last month.. 🫤

nellyelloe · 10/12/2022 21:30

I'm beyond depressed about this. Our bill is extortionate but we are still freezing most of the time. It's absolutely miserable

cakeorwine · 10/12/2022 21:32

CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:21

@TERRRYsnotmine £40pm gas & £60pm leccy is what I paid at the old house (moved a month ago). Was on a 2 year fixed so was pretty protected from current prices...

@WhatsitWiggle thank you 🙂

It's the kWH you need to think about.

Electricity and gas has gone up a lot - but it's knowing your usage, how much power devices use and how your house is heated and retains heat that really help.

Original poster
CinnamonSwirl82 · 10/12/2022 21:32

It's stressful 😔 I don't know how we're ever going to afford it. We have a biofuel fireplace so might have to live in the living room & just heat that room with the fire... Hopefully that should cost less to run.

Need to find what's guzzling our gas though!

OP posts:
Pterrydactyl · 10/12/2022 21:34

Could there be a frost stat that’s had the boiler turn on?

When we moved in our boiler had a frost stat in the loft that would automatically turn the boiler on if the temperature got too low. And the loft was the coldest part of the house.