to be worried by how many people don't know roughly how much energy they use?

[cakeorwine]

Read loads of threads on here about people being surprised by their bills. I appreciate that some people struggle to read meters but Smart Meters are more common nowadays and people do get regular bills.

It seems that there are people who are unaware of how much they pay per KWH, their standing charge and roughly how many units they use - and how it can vary.

For information - the 'average house' is supposed to use 2400 KWH of electricity and 12,000 KWH of gas per year.

That's what the price cap is based on - with the appropriate charge per KWH and a standing charge.

Knowing what you pay per month isn't that helpful if you don't know how much you use - and that's when the new charges and tariffs are going to hurt.

If you know what devices use power, you may be able to make changes.

I know some people know this and how much power they use but I worry that there are many people who don't and will get really caught out.

The 54%, is that per kWh or an average taking into account the standing charge as well? I mean with the electricity standing charge going up to 45p, if I have lower than average usage are my bills going to go up by more than 54%? But then the gas standing charge isn't changing much is it? I use 1300 in electricity and 7400 in gas a year.

@Svara

The 54%, is that per kWh or an average taking into account the standing charge as well? I mean with the electricity standing charge going up to 45p, if I have lower than average usage are my bills going to go up by more than 54%? But then the gas standing charge isn't changing much is it? I use 1300 in electricity and 7400 in gas a year.

Your electricity is going up by 45% to £528 from £364 Your gas is going up by 59% to £616 from £387

Overall, your bill is going up by 52% to £1144 from £750

Approximately as gas varies a bit by region

Thanks @cakeorwine, I'm wondering if I can cut my gas consumption how much difference it makes if still hit by the high standing charge, I'll have to get a notepad and try some numbers. I don't understand why that's going up so much and why it's not just done through the kWh rates?

Electricity standing charge I mean

@Svara

Thanks *@cakeorwine*, I'm wondering if I can cut my gas consumption how much difference it makes if still hit by the high standing charge, I'll have to get a notepad and try some numbers. I don't understand why that's going up so much and why it's not just done through the kWh rates?

Electricity Standing charge has increased from £91 to £164 per year Gas hasn't changed much - £91 to £98

Your actual gas costs have gone from £296 to £518
Electricity from £273 to £364

That's a good question about electricity standing charges

If I reduced gas by 1000kWh it would only save me £74 a year. Standing charges cost me £264 on their own then! Seems to penalise people on lower incomes who already have lower usage.

@Svara

If I reduced gas by 1000kWh it would only save me £74 a year. Standing charges cost me £264 on their own then! Seems to penalise people on lower incomes who already have lower usage.

Hopefully, when we get some new deals back, there will be better deals for low usage users.

But yes, when you see the figures and do the maths, there are some parts of a bill you have little control over.

@svara we have a dehumidifier. I hang all the washing in our utility room, with the window & door shut. Dehumidifier on in the room.

I worked out that I could run the tumble drier for 1 hour, or the dehumidifier for 12 hours for the same cost.

A load of washing usually takes 3-4 hours to dry using the dehumidifier, sometimes less. Sports kit & synthetics dry much quicker, towels take longer. (That's in winter and my house isn't very warm)

I try and dry as much as possible outside- even if just a few hours and they're not fully dry I think at least some moisture is outside rather than in my house!

Thanks @poshme. I don't have a tumble dryer, it currently dries in 24 hours in front of a radiator or towels and sheets on the bannister. Heating on a few hours a day. Only takes longer in Spring and autumn when heating doesn't come on but it's difficult to dry outside before getting rained on. Wondering if regularly airing the house is fine or if it's worth getting one. But then electricity is so expensive!