Page 4 | If this is correct, how can a family afford to pay then?

ChickenStripper · 22/02/2022 11:09

If you light your home or building for 10 hours per day, the cost of LED lighting, not including consumed electricity, is approximately £0.0047 per day or three pence per week. Over the course of one year, the approximately cost of an LED lamp is £1.70.

BarbaraofSeville · 22/02/2022 11:09

@BinBandit

It's apparently cheaper to run a dishwasher than it is to hand wash. A bowl of hot water uses more energy that the dishwasher does. So I've read.

That is likely to be true, especially on the eco setting.

A full dishwasher uses about half a sink full of water. You can't wash 12 place settings, cups, pans etc in that amount of water.

Otherpeoplesteens · 22/02/2022 11:09

That's 27kWh a day. We are a family of four (2 x adults, 2x preschool DC, all at home all day) and we average 12kWh a day in summer and about 8kWh per day in winter - two or three times what we use.

You live alone and you're washing and tumble drying every other day? There's your problem.

OinkyO · 22/02/2022 11:10

Do you have a pet lizard with a heated tank?

littleurnlottie · 22/02/2022 11:10

We used 476 units from 12 Jan - 11 Feb - 4 bed house with 3 people apart from few days when there was 4. In comparison your bill is high.

SeasonFinale · 22/02/2022 11:11

4 bed 3 story house with gas central heating and water here.

Our electricity usage was 339 kW. I eesd the meter myself.

I think there is a fault with your smart meter. I have heard of this before and this is why I won't switch to one as there is no need when I can take my own readings monthly.

BarbaraofSeville · 22/02/2022 11:12

@mam0918

I know its not the point but...

How on earth does everyone find or afford to own 5-bed houses?

We really need a 4 bed (me and DH, teenager, disabled child and baby of opposite sex that by law cant share with teen) and as we both work from home so the 5th bedroom as an office would be great.

We live in a rented 3 bed, we have had a deposit ready for years but bar the 1 million+ houses (in a cheap area of the UK where average property prices run from 20k for a 1 bed do upper in a rough area to 300k for a 3 bed new build in a good area on average) then there are just no 4 or 5 bed houses around here.

A lot of the 4 or 5 bed houses are occupied by single people complaining about the cost of electricity needed to run them

But I do question your assertion that a 'baby of opposite sex that by law cant share with teen' as I don't think there is such a law. What law do you think bans you from doing this?

DetailMouse · 22/02/2022 11:13

That looks a lot to me. I have a 4 bed house with two teenagers and their devices and inability to turn off lights. Washing machine on most days and tumble dryer probably twice a week. Heating is gas but cooking is electric and we used 435 KWH in Jan which equates to 644 KWH for 46 days.

Maybe the teens aren't quite as wasteful as I thought!

This thread has just prompted me to review my DD, as my fixed rate expires next month. I was paying £128 pm for gas and electricity combined and under the new price cap, the same usage will cost me £247pm.

There must be very many families for whom this is a complete disaster.

ForgetsHerHead · 22/02/2022 11:13

2 of us in a small 2 bed flat, Electricity has shot up to £500 a quarter, gas is at £200 a quarter, so yours is roughly what I pay per month for 2 of us so seems about right.

TOADfan · 22/02/2022 11:15

Jesus!
3 bedroom house, me and my husband and I work from home so lights, TV and computer on all day. Run the washing machine and tumble dryer about 4 times a week each, electric cooker and oven used most nights, electric shower used 9 times a week.
We have a top up meter and put in £45 a month.

findingsomeone · 22/02/2022 11:15

We use about 12kwh a day. Three of us in a four bed terrace (Victorian). I work from home, so there is somebody here every day and the washing machine and tumble drier are on most days as is the dishwasher. Yours certainly seems high in comparison!

Using4532 · 22/02/2022 11:17

The amount of washing doesn't seem excessive if you have mucky horse clothes, there are two of us and we wash every day because DH has loads of dirty stuff from his hobbies, we are on economy 7 though so I wash in the early morning and it's under 8p a unit at the moment, though it will go up loads when our tariff ends

BarbaraofSeville · 22/02/2022 11:17

We used 554 kWh of electricity from 4/1 to 18/2 and everything of ours is electric except the GCH. Oven and hob, shower, dishwasher, appliances and I WFH so have a laptop running all the time.

OP you used over twice as much in the same period and you don't have an electric shower, which are probably one of the highest uses of electricity.

What did you use in the same period last year? How long have you had your smart meter?

Treacletoots · 22/02/2022 11:18

Ours is currently £93 for Feb to date (21 days) so estimate double it for your same period.

We do however have 2 EVs which we charge mostly at home, work from home and have the washing appliances running almost constantly thanks to DC. I think we were very lucky to swap to a low fixed rate tariff just before all the rises came in, so yes yours does look quite high

JudgeJ · 22/02/2022 11:18

@InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest

This is my latest electricity bill. I live alone, in a big (five-bed) house. I am very careful with electricity and gas usage because that's how I was brought up. I don't leave lights on when I leave a room, I use the washing machine every other day and same with the tumble dryer. I use a hair dryer/styling tools once every couple of weeks. Heating is gas and so is cooking. I have checked the meter and it seems to be working just fine. Does this bill seem correct to you? If so, do you mind sharing how much you use/pay and how many people you live with? AIBU in saying that this is not normal for a person living alone? Thank you.

I'm now alone in a 4 bedroom house, similarly careful, mine was about £50 for a five week period over the same time! The main difference is that I only put the washing machine on once a week, unless I'm doing towels, sheets etc and the tumble drier is only used in emergencies, otherwise a use an airinr rack in the warm bathroom. My cooker is dual fuel, electric over and grill.

DetailMouse · 22/02/2022 11:18

@BinBandit

It's apparently cheaper to run a dishwasher than it is to hand wash. A bowl of hot water uses more energy that the dishwasher does. So I've read.

I've heard this too, but don't you always end up with a bowl of hot water too? There's always something that can't go into the machine and the sides to wipe down.

My mum still uses a plastic washing up bowl as that uses less water than filling the sink.

thewhatsit · 22/02/2022 11:19

@mam0918

I know its not the point but...

How on earth does everyone find or afford to own 5-bed houses?

We really need a 4 bed (me and DH, teenager, disabled child and baby of opposite sex that by law cant share with teen) and as we both work from home so the 5th bedroom as an office would be great.

We live in a rented 3 bed, we have had a deposit ready for years but bar the 1 million+ houses (in a cheap area of the UK where average property prices run from 20k for a 1 bed do upper in a rough area to 300k for a 3 bed new build in a good area on average) then there are just no 4 or 5 bed houses around here.

I’ve seen people say this “by law” bit but what does it actually mean? Is it actually illegal? Surely the police can’t make you sell your house or give up your rental??

We use our 3rd bedroom as an office so have two sharing of opposite sex. They’re young and I assumed if we haven’t moved by then we’ll get rid of the office and move them when they are old enough to want it but if they’re still happy being together isn’t it up to us if they move at 12..13…14..? Is there actually a law?!

Original poster

InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest · 22/02/2022 11:20

I have booked my electrician to come out and have a look and see what's what. The fact that households with more people in and hence higher usage of appliances, is paying less than me, means something's the matter with my meter I think.

OP posts:

JudgeJ · 22/02/2022 11:21

A lot of the 4 or 5 bed houses are occupied by single people complaining about the cost of electricity needed to run them

I would imagine that a lot of 'single' people occupying 4 or 5 bedroomed houses have had children fly the nest and partners die, aren't we the lucky ones!

thewhatsit · 22/02/2022 11:21

And yes Op don’t tumble dry. With a 5 bed house I assume you have a garden? From now ish you can just dry your clothes outside again and plus point is that the sun gets stains out.
Hanging my washing on the line and finally feeling the sun on my face every spring is my pathetic secret joy

FourTeaFallOut · 22/02/2022 11:22

We really need a 4 bed (me and DH, teenager, disabled child and baby of opposite sex that by law cant share with teen) and as we both work from home so the 5th bedroom as an office would be great.

This is plain wrong. The law has absolutely no say in how many children of whichever sex can go into any room. I think this is mixed up with the entitlement for council housing in which they assess your needs based on your number and sex of children.

PhilofDelphia · 22/02/2022 11:22

Just looked at our latest bill. With Shell Energy after our last company went bust. 4 bedrooms, family of 5 including 2 adults working from home and kids who are addicted to technology. Dishwasher on 2 times per day, usually on eco. Washing machine and tumble dryer on approximately 8 times per week.

We used 342 kWh over 31 days at the rate of 19.12p per unit plus daily standing charge of 25.54p. So that works out at 11 kWh on average per day. So used £76.97 in electricity this month.

Not sure how your usage is more than double ours!

AuntieMarys · 22/02/2022 11:22

We used 360 kW Jan to Feb.
Gas central heating/ water, 4 bed house over 3 floors with 3 bathrooms. There are 2 of us.
Last months combined bill was £218. I have now used up all my summer credit with Bulb...currently £125 a month direct debit.

Dobedodo · 22/02/2022 11:23

Based on daily average , you use 3x more than my house which is two of us. I don’t think house size matters for this purpose if you have gas heating because you said you were sensible about turning lights off etc.

The biggest thing is your dryer. It’s just throwing money away. Use one of your 4 spare bedrooms to dry clothes!

Cinnabomb · 22/02/2022 11:25

@actiongirl1978 hope you don’t mind me asking but are you finding your everhot still economical with the rising prices? I’m desperate to get one in our next house as they look fab, but husband worried about bills