Why is my electricity usage so high??!!

[insanelycheerful]

I really don't understand why my electricity usage is so high. This is compared to "other similar E-on homes" and "other energy efficient homes".

E-on basically give you an energy usage report which shows that our electricity usage is approx 35% higher than similar E-on homes and about 65% higher than energy efficient homes.

I appreciate these statistics are perhaps not entirely accurate, but why do we use so much more?? We have a modest 3 bed semi detached home, have 2 small children so have the associated washing etc (I'd say we run the washing machine 4-5 times per week, use tumble dryer in autumn and winter months but not for all the washing, use tumble dryer for towels and a few other bits only during warmer months, only boil the water we need in kettle, leave one landing light on overnight (energy efficient bulb), mostly hob cooking (gas) although do use microwave too). I just can't work out why we appear to be using way more electricity than the average household!!

It also appears that usage has increased over the past year or so. Would it be worth contacting E-on to ask if they can explain why we are suddenly using so much, and why it has increased. It seems so much more than average it has made me wonder if there is a problem somewhere (no idea what though, I don't imagine you can leak electricity!)

Any tips gratefully received as I am baffled, given that I had thought we were a relatively energy sensible home.

I did check them out but it's still £30 a year more to do that.

Eon should give you a free energy monitor
it shows how mny watts you are using at any time and how many per day / hour / week

immersion heaters are OFFENSIVELY expensive : turn the tank thermostat down to no more than 55
luffs my solar thermal panel that heats my hot water all summer

and standby clocks up : phone chargers, anything with a big block plug .... if its warm its drawing power ... cordless phones, you name it
go around the house unplugging or switching off what does not need to be - you'll shock yourself

and tumble driers are SO expensive to run : get an airer for all but the coldest dampest days

You can borrow electricity monitors from our local library, perhaps it's worth checking if you can in yours.

Solar panel

Dh won't let me fit solar panels (how much was the panel?)

I've fitted led lightbulbs in most of our light fittings now & our bill dropped.

You don't need to heat water for very long, I put ours on for 20mins and it stays hot all day. In the summer it lasts 2-3 days because we have showers not baths.

If the hot water tank cupboard gets warm then lag all the pipes with thick foam insulation (not the budget stuff) & put another jacket over the tank.

I've had my panel for 6 years. It was fitted at the same time as a new boiler and hot water tank.
The panel and kit and fitting cost around £1200 all up
the tank was about £150 dearer than normal because it has the extra sections.

My boiler is OFF from April to October : the only cost is the 11w pump that moves it around.
Currently have 240 litres of water at 65 degrees (because its been sunny)
If we have more than 5 days without sun I put the immersion on for 20 minutes and that does us.
Kids have learned to shower efficiently.

Apparently we use 65% more has than energy efficient homes which I find strange as we cook with electric and had a brand new energy efficient boiler fitted in feb last year!!!!!!!!!!!

eon are bonkers with their percentages,i ignore them know

As we all feel so much worried while receiving so high electricity bills every month. As these bills actually make it difficult for us to maintain our limited budget that we have set for our entire monthly expenses. Obviously, everyone want to have low electricity bills and for this they have to follow certain steps and for that firstly they should know about things that are actual reason for these high bills.
www.landlordsafetycertificate.co.uk/blog/why-is-my-electric-bill-so-high/

I moved from E-on to Ovo and my bills came down massively. This was 2 years ago now. I now pay £86 a month for dual fuel. In the summer months my bills are around £60 a month so I build up credit. Then winter months are around £100 - £120 so I use up my credit and may end up adding a little more at the end of winter.
That's for a 4 (double bedroom) 1930s house, 2 adults 2 young kids and that fee is based on me being on may leave so home a lot.
Ovo have been amazing in comparison!