Gas and Electric winter bill!

[StarUtopia]

O.k. So just looking for a comparison. Moved in. Old property but we 've had to put in brand new central heating (so brand new boiler!) and electrics.

October was £187 for gas and electric combined

November's bill has just come in at £217

Obviously, British Gas now want to increase my DD to £180 a month (from £100) which I'm going to ring them about as I can't afford that in January straight after Christmas.

I work from home in the day, but I have started to leave the heating off . We have 2 showers a day (uses the gas) and my tumble dryer/washing machine is on a lot.

But does this seem excessive?! 2 adults, 2 children, 4 bed semi,

Does sound pricey. Are the bills done using meter readings? Have you not been in there long then? I pay £127 per month at the moment combined. Am in a 4 bed detached in Scotland. Heating on 6-10am and 5-10pm. Hot water on a couple of hours in total each day.

What sort of boiler did you get?

We pay £210 per month.

Electric only.

4 bed house.

Yes, I"m giving meter readings every 4 weeks. Only been in since June but the boiler only went in in September and the radiators only went in October.

The boiler is a Viesmann.

I'm wondering just how to get the bills down - whether even turning the temp on the water down even a couple of degrees would make a difference? (it does seem to be very hot at the minute)

Electric is more expensive than gas so it isnt really a great comparison to a house with both gas and electricity

Is it a combi or do you have a hot water cylinder? What is your thermostat set at?

We are with BG for both and it’s about £100 per month based on a yearly amount , largish 4 bed detached , 3 adults , heating on all day most days , tumble dryer used all year several times a week .

Definitely turn the heating thermostat down a couple of degrees, add a jumper and turn it REALLY low when you go out. The water you could turn the temperature down to, say, 45, if you have a cylinder.

Try drying the clothes on a heated airer overnight or use radiator fans and stand an airer nearby to cut down on tumble dryer use.

Can you add more insulation to the loft to keep the heat in more? Add heavy curtains over draughty doors and windows?

Also worth checking when the meter was read last - are they basing bills on an estimate based on previous occupants (old, inefficient) system?

It's a combi boiler.

Thermostat set at 20 (say like now, it's cold!) but it turns down to 17 overnight and in the daytime. (I put a jumper on)

We did have it on a timer, but have taken it off that now and just put it on when we need it.

I am thinking it's a bit daft of BG to immediately up my DD as surely you build the credit up in the summer to use through the winter? (so i will be massively in credit come the summer!!)

I had never paid attention to gas/electric costs until recently but my god it is really expensive atm- kinda reassured to know it’s not just us.

We live in a 1800’s mid sized terrace (2 beds) 2 adults living here. Our DD is currently £156 monthly and I’m making a huge effort for us to cut back. I’m at home during the day too but refuse to put the heating on so wrap up. Use an electric airer instead of the dryer and limit dishwasher/washer/oven use where possible.

We are already up to £70 for this month (15 days 🙄) so that’s about £4.50 ish per day on absolute basics.

Due to move to a bigger home and have a newborn shortly - I’m not sure what we’ll do.
I honestly think the ‘lack of empathy‘ towards ‘The poor’ that people keep banging on about on MN is caused by stuff like this. We both work FT on ‘good’ wages and we’re worried about being able to afford to heat a family home 🙄

I'd speak to them and negotiate a lower payment that can be reassessed in a few months

What tariff ?
B gas are expensive we are trying to switch atm as it was £350 a month for both and other quotes are around £200

Yes, also do a price comparison to see if you could be paying less

OP, we live in a 6 bed, 3 story victorian end of terraced house. We have a HIVE heating system linked to a 12 year old Glow Worm combu boiler. Our heating comes on whenever the thermostat goes beneath 17, meaning the heating is on most of the time. I occasionally boost it to 22 if it's particularly cold. Our DD payment is currently £124. In our old house (a 5 bed detatched stone cottage) we paid £220 a month.

That sounds really high as does the other poster with the 2 Bed Victorian. I am in a 3 bed Victorian midterms week (2 plus loft conversion) I have a combi boilers. My Thai month was £70 - I work from home 3 days a week.

I tend to try and keep hearting at about 18 during day when I am home - I have a mini oil filled radiator I put on by my desk for 10 minutes when I need a boost.

How many units are you using a day? That gives a better indication that cost alone.

Ok. So these are my units used.

It's the gas! Your electric use isn't far off mine which was 10 units a day but my gas was only 35 units over the last months bill.

Blimey - I just checked our last months gas usage and it’s 48 units for one month. We have someone home during the day at least 4 days a week. My OH wacks the heating up really high (and then sits there in a t-shirt 🤔🔫) and is the sort of person to leave it on when he goes out. We are only a 2 bed terrace though. Even so - yours is super high.

That seems high.However I have the thermostat set to 12 at night and from 7-4 weekdays.We turn it up if we're cold or at home on the weekdays.Ours was combined gas/elec £75 last month,goes down to £30in summer.We are using the tumble drier more though as it has been so wet.

I am quite concerned that there's something weird going on with the gas!

The property didn't have gas so we had to pay £700 to have it installed (Then the cost of the central heating and boiler)

I did ring the gas engineer yesterday and asked how do i turn the temp down on the water to save some ££ and his reply was, seriously, you have a brand new energy efficient boiler i, even if it were left on all day it shouldn't be costing that much

Does make me concerned. May turn EVERYTHING off and see how many units get used!

Our bill for last month combined has cone in at £170! This is for an average size 4 bed semi detached.

There is only one day a week when nobody is in so I know it's having the heating on all day that's pushed the bill up.

We're definitely going to have to be more careful with our usage!

I’m in a new (3 years old) house and my electric is £43 a month and my gas £30. There are just myself and my little boy x

That's very high. We have a new boiler and bills for both gas and elec are coming in at £35-50 a month so far. That's two adults and a small child, on a 100% renewable elec tariff. I'd find a different supplier !

4 bed detached here. Highest units of gas in coldest months is 78 units. 2x adults and 2 x teenagers, heating 20 all day and baths/ showers frequent

Are you paying next door's bill as well?