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Original poster

Is anyone using electricity only? How much does it cost you?

47 replies

toffeebutterpopcorn · 22/05/2021 09:10

A relative is spending almost twice what we do (same size property - one of her, 3 of us) on fuel (electricity only - we are electricity and gas). This sounds bonkers (she has those big storage heaters). We are both working from home, washing machine and dishwasher on every day, wash every day, hearing has been on...

Should I get her meter checked? Or is electricity really much more expensive?

OP posts:
Elouera · 22/05/2021 09:15

I'm suprised its only twice as much. Here are my rates from bulb:

Electricity 17.25/kWh
Gas 2.69/kWh

elf1985 · 22/05/2021 09:16

It really is that expensive. We have a large 3 bed, with electric boiler. Oh dear lord. Ours is £220 per month.

Original poster
toffeebutterpopcorn · 22/05/2021 09:17

Really? I would have thought ‘storage heater’ and ‘economy 7’ would be, well cost effective! I thought her meter was playing up. She hasn’t got gas in her property - are there better heaters she could get maybe?

OP posts:
Original poster
toffeebutterpopcorn · 22/05/2021 09:18

She is paying about £180 a month for a 2 bed flat (she doesn’t bother hearing the spare bedroom). This does sound a lot though doesn’t it?

OP posts:
Tereseta · 22/05/2021 09:20

We pay 100 for a 2 bed terrace but don't use heaters at the moment. It would be nearer 180 on the colder months.

Original poster
toffeebutterpopcorn · 22/05/2021 09:25

I wonder if they upped it over winter and it’s not gone down yet (it is still nippy though).

OP posts:
Elouera · 22/05/2021 09:28

If she is on economy 7, these are my bulb costs with that:
Day 18.89 kWh
Night 9.4 kWh

She should check what exactly is on the night rate and what time it starts/finishes with her supplier. Storage heaters are the most efficient with electric, but only if they are heating water etc during the night rate. I've just been through this myself and found out that we had nothing connected to the night rate!

PricklesAndSpikes · 22/05/2021 09:31

@toffeebutterpopcorn

She is paying about £180 a month for a 2 bed flat (she doesn’t bother hearing the spare bedroom). This does sound a lot though doesn’t it?
Exactly the same as us sadly!...
Original poster
toffeebutterpopcorn · 22/05/2021 09:31

Oh. I wonder if the timer is wrong? Maybe it’s the wrong ‘time’?

OP posts:
Original poster
toffeebutterpopcorn · 22/05/2021 09:34

19.8 - day
9.9 - night
And a 22p day rate

I can’t believe how expensive electricity is! It doesn’t sound as if it’s wrong though.

Any suggestions on how I can get this down for her? Or is it just ‘what it is’?

OP posts:
greatauntfanny · 22/05/2021 09:38

£60 in the middle of summer, £180 in the depths of winter. The increase/decrease is not even throughout the year though (more cold/chilly months than hot ones) so it would probably average out at about £140.

Londonnight · 22/05/2021 09:48

I hate my storage heaters [ econ 10 ]! The cost is astronomical! We are mid terrace, small two bed house and it costs an average of £100 per month.
Can't get a smart meter as they don't work with econ 10. energy company actually wouldn't believe me about this until an meter person came out to change to smart meters and said econ 10 aren't compatible!

SandyKo · 22/05/2021 10:34

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SwimBaby · 22/05/2021 17:10

I’m reading this thread with interest, I have just bought my DC a 1 bedroom flat that is all electric. He’s out all day but I am concerned about the fuel bill.

Original poster
toffeebutterpopcorn · 22/05/2021 17:12

Kind mum! You can ask the old owners can’t you?

OP posts:
SwimBaby · 22/05/2021 17:19

Yes but I think they lied and said it was about £50 per month.

Original poster
toffeebutterpopcorn · 22/05/2021 17:20

Maybe they never cooked, bathed and this was in the summer.

OP posts:
SwimBaby · 22/05/2021 17:22

toffeebutterpopcorn come to think of it they did smell a bit!

DK123 · 22/05/2021 17:28

I've got an electric boiler in a flat and my energy bill is similar to a relative who lives in a large, draughty old house. I know it's supposed to be better for the environment but the amount it's costing me, I wish I didn't have it.

JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame · 22/05/2021 17:30

I have a 1 bed flat with 2 of us in it, all electric and it's only £55 a month. My heaters were pretty new when I moved in though so I'd imagine they're much more economical than older style storage ones.

BertieBotts · 22/05/2021 17:32

€224 per month :(

Storage heaters are awful for energy efficiency these days. The reason they were invented was because it used to be very difficult to store electricity so you wanted to encourage people to use electricity during the night rather than day, to balance things out. Storage heaters draw a huge amount of power, much more than you would need if you were just running an electric space heater when you need it, the only upside is that they do this during the "off peak" hours.

These days energy storage has improved so much that it no longer makes any difference WHEN people are using energy, what you want is for people to reduce their consumption overall. So something that uses more but overnight is no longer beneficial. Economy 7 is also not as cheap as it was because there is no longer any need to encourage people to use energy at off-peak times. Although the difference your friend has in her rates do sound like it would work out in her favour - maybe get her to check the timers and everything are set up correctly.

Then add to that the fact that storage heaters were fashionable in the 70s and 80s but sharply declined after this so they tend to be older, less efficient technology now as well.

She will probably save money by buying a couple of A++ energy rated plug in heaters and using those for the rooms she wants to heat. We haven't even taken the storage heaters out (because we rent but also because it's incredibly expensive to do - they are built out of asbestos).

Kyph · 22/05/2021 17:34

Economy 7 is a nightmare. DS moved into a tiny 1 bed flat last December. I urged him to avoid all electric but most flats are now all electric because landlords dont have to do gas safety. Never mind the cost to the poor tenant.
DS2 has worked from home for the last year. WFH does not go well with Economy 7 becauseyou need the heat on during the day, his first electric bill was £180 for the month. He ended up having to switch the heating off all day and is going to move before next winter.
DS1 rented an all electric flat though not E7. His bills for a 1 bed flat were £140 a month.

llamaparades · 22/05/2021 17:37

2 bed flat, often forget to turn the storage heaters off and leave them on a lot during the winter. We also have a portable heater in one room.

We payed 44 for 4 years which went up to 77 a month last year and now back down to 60 a month all year round.

HelebethH · 22/05/2021 18:02

I have a friend in a 3 bed house who was getting astronomical bills. Last year she bought convector heaters with a thermostatic timer (about £30 each) and uses those. Even working from home for the last year and having children off school, using the heating more she is saving over a third of her previous bills

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