Need help to reduce bill urgently

[worriedabouthealth]

We are having massive issues with our electric bill. I’m stressed and upset as have tried to reduce it to no avail

It was too high but kept creeping up so we started to make changes and tbh we weren’t using tons anyway.
We accepted a smart meter to try and help
I thought the tumble dryer was a problem so we got a double washing line and 2 airers but still the bill went up

We made sure we turned off all lights etc.
Checked how energy efficient appliances were
Got different light bulbs to be better

Still the bill went up.

In desperation we decided last October to switch as found out we were on an expensive standard tariff and not allowed to switch so we decided to change suppliers.
We have been blocked at every turn it was meant to switch in early Dec but the company kept saying they weren’t aware we wanted to switch (they were as wrote to us ‘sorry you’re thinking of leaving us’??? )

The bills kept going up and the smart meter no matter what changes we made wasn’t showing less. Then it was showing more ???
We were living in darkness it was ridiculous

FINALLY after lying what we thought was the final bill we switched this week and having been carrying on our efforts so hopefully it will help BUT

We got another final bill for an astronomical amount from old supplier. The letter stated ‘tariff change in 4 Dec’ and they’d put us in an even more expensive one ???
It also said the bill was estimated ?

I called them and they denied both saying it’s not estimated (why does it say that ?) and they haven’t changed any tariff (again why does it say that ?)

I don’t know to do I’m worried we aren’t doing enough to save energy but I’m turning everything off at night and I’m the day I’m here and it’s dark and I’m not using anything I even use a flask and make one lot of tea in the morning so not boiling kettle a lot etc

I dont see how they could change the tariff to a more expensive one as we were switching they said I was mistaken it was just a price change

I’m so angry. They won’t accept there’s anything wrong I don’t know who can help
Plus I don’t know if there’s anything else I can do to reduce the electric usage and I’d really appreciate some help
Thankyou

Did you switch the electric off at the fusebox and check next door's lights?

You haven't answered this.

It would have been very useful to know what happens when each circuit is turned off individually, and what happens when the main switch goes off.

Fingers crossed the engineer finds something - that's interesting what a poster said about about meters being swtiched.

I'm having the same issue since moving to a property 4 years ago.
I'm with the same supplier as before and haven't changed my habits, just updated all the products I had, eg, fridge etc, to new A++ ones (others were 8+years olds so not so efficient).

My combined bill has gone from £110pm to £304pm and whereas I was always in credit, now I'm always in debit. I expected my gas to go up as it's a bigger place, but it's my electric that's going mad. Averages around £7 per day.

I was always under average in my usage (for 10 years) now my electric is more than treble that.

I did have smart meters installed and then we had them checked. A guy came out and looked into it and said it was within their tolerance.
With everything switched off the meter actually went backwards. When I queried that he said it was fine and wouldn't be causing an issue.

I'd also be interested in any suggestions as to what to do. In 4 years my yearly electric usage has gone from 2,500kWh to 9,600kWh, whilst my yearly gas usage has gone from 10,000kWh to 18,100kWh.

The average usage for electric is 3,100kWh p.a.
The average usage for gas is 12,000kWh p.a.

We switched everything possible off when we went on holiday for 2 weeks, yet it made no difference to our daily usage.

@Whiskeychaser

That much energy usage will be making quite a lot of heat. Turn off your central heating and prowl the house, outbuildings and swimming pool to verify that they all get cold. Include the loft and cellar. How is your hot water heated?

First, turn off the main switch on your consumer unit. Does the meter stop moving or flashing?

Then turn it back on. Observe the speed your meter is turning or flashing. Turn off one of the breakers only. Does the speed noticeably reduce?

After a few minutes, turn it off and try the next. Do each in turn.

If you read the meter several times a day, or have a monitor, you can establish which times, or days, usage is highest. Do the test then.

Have you checked the current meter reading yourself to seen if it follows on from the one they used for the final bill?

@Whiskeychaser - you could try turning off individual switches on the fuseboard to identify quickly which one is bleeding excessive power, then find out what is on the end of it. You might need an electrician if it looks like the power is going elsewhere or there's something odd.

Would be interested in @PigletJohn 's opinion too.
We have Nest heating on for average 2hrs/day in winter, house has been rewired, etc, all new plumbing, etc, and new insulation, etc, too, so rarely drops below 16/17°C inside.

Lights LED mainly, but only on when dark, and think my dc are vampires as they're always in the dark!
Heating upstairs controlled separately via 2nd Nest so is off until evening. Average usage is 90 mins/day during the week and around 3 hrs max at the weekend.
Downstairs is around 2 hrs/day. Heating set to 20/22°C only when on (I control it via the app). Kept at 16°C all other times, so doesn't come on as house generally stays around 18°. Won't come on if no one is home either.
All appliances bar 2 TVs and one drinks fridge are about a year old and all new ones are A+ as a minimum .

Drinks fridge is 4 years old and TVs about the same (LED). One TV on probably 8hrs most day. Others only used occasionally.

Hob is gas, used for around average 30 mins/day, if that.
Electric fan oven (A+++) is on for max 90 mins a day, usually less though.
1 electric shower used daily. Other showers run off heating system. Hot water tank is heated up 1 hour per day (programmed).

I'm home, but I don't have heating on, would much rather add a layer of clothing. Have cold lunch, so no cooking.
Have immersion heater as emergency use, but switch on wall is definitely off (shows as off anyway) and we've never used it.

Have hot water tap and used probably 12×per day. Less than a year old though and Grohe Duo Red (4l tank).

18 month old A++ rated tumble dryer used max 4×per week in winter(usually 3 loads/week).

5 month old A+++ washing machine used max 5×per week(usually 3 loads/week).

2 A++ rated freezers and 1 A+++ US style fridge freezer. All less than 1year old.
Large-ish fish (5ft×1ft×2ft) tank for tropical fish, newish filter running all the time but low wattage, heater runs only when below 20°C and is actually switched off in summer.

All of which we had in our old house (just older versions).

sorry for hijacking your thread @worriedabouthealth, but I've never seen someone with such a similar issue before.
I'd almost resigned myself to large bills thinking it must be me, but this gives me hope.

Hope you get a good resolution to this. Please let us know what they discover.

Thanks, piglet. Will try that when my oh gets home.
No pool or cellar.
Loft is a bedroom, and dc keeps the rads off as it is too hot up there (v well insulated).
We installed a pond in the summer (one low wattage/energy efficient pump and one energy efficient/low wattage filter), but bills have been mad for 3 years.
We're often spending £10/day on fuel, most of which is electric.

Just got my latest gas and electric bill. Last month, our bill for both was £155.

I looked back over the last few years and the most we ever paid was approx £150, for two or three of the winter months. In the summer, it’s obviously a lot lower. We pay approx £110 per month to keep, the payments even over the year.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

What happened @worriedabouthealth?

@worriedabouthealth did this ever get resolved?