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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think £250 on gas and electric is far too much?

129 replies

Curiousmum69 · 21/02/2019 20:19

I'm currently paying £250 a month for gas and electricity on a 4 bed semi detached pretty standard house. Aibu to think this is crazy high.

What are others paying and how can I reduce this

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 21/02/2019 20:43

Fuck me, that's a lot, I pay less and I have prepayment meters, and the heating on almost constantly.

YellowLilies · 21/02/2019 20:44

Where do you live?

We pay about £100 a month but we use a lot of electricity and have the heating on day and night!

You need to get that checked, it sounds WAY too high!

dementedpixie · 21/02/2019 20:44

Will the combi not be using gas rather than electricity?

Original poster
Curiousmum69 · 21/02/2019 20:44

Yes electric shower and cooker. But that's always been the case

We did switch to induction cooker.

But I can't see what has so dramatically changed.

OP posts:
Scienceforthewin · 21/02/2019 20:45

Old fridge/freezer? I'm told if they go wrong they can get through loads of lec.

Biffsboys · 21/02/2019 20:46

I’m paying the same - mainly electricity. I have no tumble dryer . I do have a fish tank and gaming teenagers !!

Original poster
Curiousmum69 · 21/02/2019 20:48

Your electricity charges this period
Your tariff is Standard
20 Nov 2018 - 31 Dec 2018
Standard energy 1605.kWh at 16.97p £272.36
Standing charge 42.days at 18.26p £7.67
01 Jan 2019 - 18 Feb 2019
Standard energy 1871.kWh at 15.76p £294.87
Standing charge 49.days at 20.02p £9.81
VAT 5.00%
(on charges of £584.71)
£29.23
Total electricity charges this period £613.94

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 21/02/2019 20:50

Get off the standard tariff for a start! Have you looked at alternative tariffs?

Original poster
Curiousmum69 · 21/02/2019 20:50

Fridge freezer are pretty old.

Gaming teenagers. Check.

OP posts:
Amanduh · 21/02/2019 20:51

Granted, we are in a new build, but we pay £55 a month. Cook with both every day, heating on for a couple of hours morn and eve. No tumble dryer (always the extra!!!) We’re in a 4 bed semi.

Enidblyton1 · 21/02/2019 20:51

Have you started using an electric heater? Even the small ones can use a huge amount of electricity.
Something is definitely not right, OP.
We live in a large, poorly insulated, very old 5 bedroom house and don’t manage to pay that much.

Enidblyton1 · 21/02/2019 20:53

(And we use a tumble drier and an electric heater)

sighrollseyes · 21/02/2019 20:56

Christ! I pay £65 a month for a 4 bed detached with a toddler who has a bath every night.

OftenHangry · 21/02/2019 20:57

God. 3 bed semi £70-£80 in winter, £45 in summer. Two of us, no tumble dryer, but i use washer dryer so no saving there. And heating and lights for our prt.
£250 would give me serious belly ache.

That price per unit sounds almighty high

Bunnybigears · 21/02/2019 20:58

Your unit prices and standing charge aren't ridiculously high (could probably be a bit lower though) it's just you are using loads of electric. Call your provider and ask for the energy efficiency team. They will discuss it in detail with you and work out what using it.

sugarbum · 21/02/2019 21:00

We are in a new build, detached 4 bed. So far (7 months) it seems to be working out at under 100 a month combined. with British gas at the mo. Im pretty sure it was way more than that in the old house, which was an 80s build, same spec but smaller.

grannieanne · 21/02/2019 21:00

What is the price per kw you are paying ? Something is seriously wrong.. have you checked your meter readings to see if this is a massive over estimate ?

Mamamia456 · 21/02/2019 21:00

Get a smart meter and then you will be able to see what uses most electric. We have one and our electric shower uses the most. Things like tvs, xboxes etc don't use much. I would say that your tumble dryer and shower use the most. How many showers a day does your household have?

Original poster
Curiousmum69 · 21/02/2019 21:01

Ok. I've switched tariffs and got it down a bit.

But still... I need to find where I'm leeching electric.

OP posts:
grannieanne · 21/02/2019 21:01

Sorry, just seen rate you are paying.... seems to be the consumption that's the issue

OftenHangry · 21/02/2019 21:05

Go to your fuse box tomorrow and flip the main switch. Take a pic of what does the meter show. Wait few hours and check. If it moved there is a problem. I once found out about a problem on prepaid one like this

yearinyearout · 21/02/2019 21:08

We pay 120 a month for a four bed detached. We also work from home so electricity/gas being used during the day too.

Princessmushroom · 21/02/2019 21:10

That’s crazy! We pay £89 a month for a 5 bedroom detached house, hot tub in summer and heating on a lot.

AhoyDelBoy · 21/02/2019 21:10

Good suggestion by OftenHangry
We had an insanely high bill last quarter, I’m in Australia where electricity is billed quarterly. It turned out that the element in the hot water cylinder was broken, we had an electrician come and take a look. Could be something to look at?

pointythings · 21/02/2019 21:11

You need to investigate a bit... Mine is currently £70/month for gas and electric combined. 4 bedroom semi, but very well insulated. Very new and efficient boiler is helping and not too many gadgets.