Why am I using so much more energy than last year?

[Anniecarrieson]

I have tried (half heartedly) to use less energy in view of rising prices but just reviewing a statement for Jan 2012 - Jan 2013 - our gas usage has gone from 9.82 kWh/day in 2012 to 17.68 kWh/day in 2013 (nearly double!!) and electricity from 8.01 kWh/day in 2012 to 11.22 kWh/day in 2013.

Incidentally - we were with power and have just used a price comparison tool and discovered if we switch to Ovo Energy (anyone heard of them?) we save £700 per year! How can the difference be so much?!? Crazy.

We have a toddler and someone home most days so our heating and other appliance use is probably slightly higher than average, but I don't have the heating 'hot' IYKWIM. Probably around 18 degrees (the dial on the heating doesn't have temperature). We have 2 adults and 2DC, and a combi boiler.

Until September we had an old fridge freezer which had become very inefficient (couldn't afford to replace it) - it was freezing food in the fridge. Replaced in Sept with top rated energy efficient ff.

We have used the tumble drier much less (no more cloth nappies) BUT have been drying clothes on a rack using a dehumidifier. I thought this was cheaper than running a tumble drier but am I wrong?

We got a dishwasher installed end of 2012 - it's slimline and A or A+ rated. We run it once or twice a day.

Washing machine everyday. Tumble drier maybe 1 hour/week on low.

2 showers/day (adults) and 1 bath shared by DC most days.

Any ideas why our energy use is much higher

We can control water temp by turning the dial, but there are no markings on the dial IYKWIM.? Sorry, don't think I'm explaining it well. The dial goes from 7pm to 5pm and is usually on half past 8.

Thankfully, no mixer taps.

Pjs, dressing gowns and early nights for keeping me warm!

You are explaining it well it's just me struggling to comprehend that the manufacturers thought this was acceptable control but when your boiler was fitted fuel was cheaper, 14 years ago My all electric flat cost me £10 a month to run & I wasn't shy with the heating.

Boilers usually have a dial to control the output eg mine runs low-Eco-high & PigletJohn on here has said in the past its cheaper to run them on high because the system heats up quickly . That's not to say the hot water needs to be above 60 in a domestic set up.