wildgarlic
|
Electricity Costs - weekly record club Winter 2008Who will join me. We've just switched electricity suppliers to Eon as that appeared to be the best price at the time.
Our latest readings indicate that in 7 days we've used a huge 240 units of electricity. This surprised me as we've just turned off the chest freezer downstairs.
So, today's reading for me is 39031 - I'll check it again next Monday and hopefully will have used fewer units than this week.
|
IainC
|
Might give it a go... see just how much we are using compared to others.
|
Annpan
|
Oh I am going to join you on this one... I have never followed our leccy usage but at current prices I know I really should.
We have storage heaters in 3 rooms, and a plug in heater for the kitchen, so I'd imagine our usage is higher than average.
We are on ecnomy 7 though... so I'll give 2 readings
1. 14692
2. 05335 (this is the cheaper tariff.... I hate economy 7, note that it is about a third of the higher tariff)
total - 22573
ETA - I am going to start this on 'ish too... I think a lot of people would join in.
|
myra
|
I'm a real saddo - I read my electric meter every day!! cost had started to run away with us so I started keeping a close check on it to find out what was using so much, and now it's got to be compulsive! We are on economy 7 so I bought timers and use a load of my electric over -night eg. washing machine, dish washer, bread maker. Have found that my electric oven is the worst offender for running up the bills, so now use a slow cooker a lot and am amazed at the difference it has made.
|
wildgarlic
|
Myra - so hopefully you'll join us on a weekly basis then, and share other money/energy saving tips.
|
myra
|
would love to join on a weekly basis, but be warned I have become such a scrooge over the electric that I even shock myself at times. Poor O.H. is becoming a nervous wreck with me walking around behind him turning off lights etc. sometimes I don't even let him get out of a room before the switch gets snapped off. Seriously though It's amazing how much you can cut costs with a bit of effort. I never put just one item in the oven any more but plan meals so that I can fill all the shelves, always use the cheap night time rate if I can, only light the room we are in - all that sort of thing helps. Yesterday we only used 9 normal units and 14 cheap units and that included using 1 storage heater.
|
myra
|
my readings for Sunday(morning) 25th November.
Normal 53131 Total used in that week 67
Cheaper rate 41020 Total used in week 27
Must admit these totals are a bit lower than normal.
|
myra
|
my readings for Sunday 30th November
Normal rate 53199 units used this week 68
Night rate 41065 units used this week 45
My night rate seems a bit high this week and don't have a clue why but at least that's only charged at 5.41p per unit. My normal rate is charged at 11.48 per unit - both have vat on top of that.
|
wildgarlic
|
Interesting that your night time readings have jumped quite a bit from last week! It has been quite cold this week though with a good few frosty nights.
I'm glad you posted today as it will hopefully remind me to do my reading tomorrow.
|
Annpan
|
I have used
79 peak rate units
16 cheap rate units
This is the first time I have ever looked at what we use.... seems awfully high, but at least I have a base for comparison now.
I have only just switched to a fixed rate (set at Augusts prices) so I will need to double check prices.
|
JamesB
|
well i think i'll try and do monthly if i can, i did weekly for the first half of 2008 for our new house. average was 45 units per week from jan to jul for all electric (inc pvt water supply and occasional use of ventilation heater) and the occasional top of thermal store. We are going to struggle to get any lower since everything is as about as energy efficient as possible. The only other improvements i can think of is LED lighting, anything else would involve a lifestyle reduction.
The other reason for not taking readings is that the meter is outside on another building so not so straightforward to access. I had to tie the door to the meter cabinet after a recent storm since the wind took the door right off its hinges!
James
|
wildgarlic
|
Monthly is fine too if anyone else is thinking that weekly is just too much hassle 
|
myra
|
would give more of a comparison if regular readers could indicate what they use electric for (cooking, heating etc) and number of rooms they are heating.
|
wildgarlic
|
Ok well mine isn't much different from last week, but I do have my daughter staying.
Reading was 39257 which makes it 226 units for the week.
We use electric for cooking and we've got 10 rooms - the main part of the house has a tin roof which probably isn't that good for energy efficiency. I plugged a lot of gaps in windows etc recently but that won't make a lot of difference to the electricity usage as the heating is done by oil.
We bake all our own bread and make all meals from scratch.
We've got a large room under the main part of the house which isn't insulated and has only a metal shutter type door at the front (garage) - this room always feels relatively warm for some reason. It does have storage heaters but these are switched off at the fuse box.
The other thing that we've got is an electric water pump and this supplies all the water to our house and also to next door (and their holiday cottage when in use) - there is also a heater down in the well which is on frost watch - possibly this takes up a fair bit of electricity. We need to get one of those meter things so that we can work out how much electricity individual items are using.
|
IainC
|
| wildgarlic wrote: | I plugged a lot of gaps in windows etc recently but that won't make a lot of difference to the electricity usage as the heating is done by oil.
|
Yeah, but what do you use to burn the oil? leccy 
The more the heating is required, the more leccy you will use as well I'd have thought.
|
Julie
|
What a good way to raise your personal awareness.
This seems like a good place to mention this as it might be of benefit to some people.
Scottish hydro Electric now do a social tariff for those who spend more than ten percent of their income on their fuel bills. Customers can get up to twenty percent off the unit cost of their electricity bill. It is means tested, but anyone who thinks they might qualify, can be assessed and have a decision with a ten minute phone call. It is called the 'Energy care plus' tariff.
|
Smooth Hound
|
ill look into that
|
myra
|
you sound a bit like us WG - a barn of a house that costs the earth to heat! we use electric for most things (not on gas supply) and oil for central heating, plus electric pump on the well. I do all cooking from scratch and make bread. Must admit the house could do with more heating but can't afford to do it, and we keep one part of the house closed up and open it for visitors coming. Cost will soar over Christmas period as we are having visitors and they are from the s. of England so not used to the raw cold up here they will want the heating on full 24/7. I used to use an electric steamer for the veg but have found it eats the power, don't know if they all do or if it is just mine.
|
myra
|
my readings for this week :
Normal 53274 75 units used this week
cheaper 41090 25 units used
|
Annpan
|
OK.... something is wrong....
last Monday I posted these figures.....
1 - 14771
2 - 05351
Total -22721
I have just taken these readings
1 - 14774
2 - 05351
Total - 22721
Can anyone explain this to me?.... I have read it 4 times to make sure - if this is the result of watching the energy used then 
We use electricity for cooking, some heating, dishwasher and washing machine (every night)..... 3 units at one rate, but the total is the same.... but if you add the 2 together you don't get the same figure.... I am confusled
(I have posted this on 'ish as well)
|
myra
|
It looks as if you have used 3 day time units and no night time - assume you are on economy 7? Try putting the kettle or something like that on and then have a look and see if the red light on the actual meter is flashing. If everything is working ok then great, but be careful because if the meter is faulty and your electric supplier realises this then you could get a hefty estimated bill, might be worth checking it daily for this week.
|
Annpan
|
red light is flashing, yes, I'll do daily readings for a few days....Thankyou
|
myra
|
If the light is flashing then the power used must be going through the meter (not that I know much about it!!) so be glad that you are not using much, I can't get mine any lower no matter how hard I try, have even become reluctant to use the cooker because of all the power we are using.
|
wildgarlic
|
only 3 units in a week!! That sounds very low - what was you last bill?
I've not read the meter today because I've been too busy but will try and get it done in the morning. I'm scared to look this week as I know it will be much higher.
|
Annpan
|
Don't worry guys I am no where near only using 3 units a week ....lol....
I did more readings today.... and I had 19 units at peak rate and 3 units at cheap rate.....
That is just in the last 24 hours.... I had the cooker on for 20mins and only boiled the kettle twice.... I have a suspicion that the meter isn't working correctly..... I am going to keep an eye on it for a while.
|
Stonehead
|
| Annpan wrote: | OK.... something is wrong....
last Monday I posted these figures.....
1 - 14771
2 - 05351
Total -22721
I have just taken these readings
1 - 14774
2 - 05351
Total - 22721
Can anyone explain this to me?.... I have read it 4 times to make sure - if this is the result of watching the energy used then |
It sounds like a faulty meter.
We aim to use no more than 11kWh per day, averaged over the year. That means up to 16kWh in winter and down 8kWh in summer.
In the past seven days, we used 93kWh or 13.29kWh per day.
We have an electric borehole pump, mains electric fencing, two freezers, a refrigerator, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, electric oven and hob, electric bread maker (used every day), washing machine, microwave etc.
No tumble dryer and while there is a built-in dishwasher it's never used. Central heating is gravity fed oil, but it does have an electric circulation pump.
Power tools and the pressure washer use a lot of electricity, but I use them most in summer when our useage is down overall. (Hand tools also keep me warmer in winter!)
I monitor the use over the space of every day. If we have a couple of loads of washing to do, that might mean no baking that day or no TV of the evening. I cook for several days at a time, then we can eat cold meals or ones re-heated in the microwave.
The central heating only runs for two hours in the morning and four in the evening. Most of the time the house temperature is 10-12C, but it can hit 15-16C when we have the wood fire burning as well. (We're quite comfortable BTW.)
Anyway, cuppa finished and feet thawed so I'm heading out again.
|
wildgarlic
|
ok - scary scary readings this week - LATE I know.... but here goes.
Last reading 39247 1st December.
This reading 39644 10th December.
397 units in 10 days.
That is just awful - we had to use an electric oil filled radiator and use the cooker a lot because we were out of oil - but yet we were still wearing coats and outdoor trousers indoors.
|
myra
|
No comfort to you I know, but i am expecting readings like that over the Christmas period, visitors will mean that the house will need to be really warm plus will be opening up one part of the house that we rarely use. Have noticed that mine is creeping up again but can't think of anything else I can do to save, it's all becoming a nightmare isn't it?
|
Maria
|
About time I joined in. It scared the hell outta me doing the readings as I know how horrific our electricity cost are over the winter. The main cause of the expenditure is a cold house using old storage heaters (in the house already) and two mobile oil filled elec heaters. Also use elec for old elec cooker, (meals almost always from scratch), fridge-freezer, washer PC/laptop, shower, kettle, toaster, washer, dryer when needed.
7 rooms in small house. 2 bedrooms in the roof (literally) with who knows how little insulation? Two exentions to house, porch - half glass, which when cold has ice on the inside! Kitchen only bearable when cooking. Also use a fire, wood coal mix - heats the water which is a blessing.
Here's the scarey part. Readings!!!!
Fri 28th Nov - 15518
Wed 10th Dec - 16156
14 days - 638 - an average of 46 units per day - and a total cost of £97!!! We are charged 15.31p per kWh on a card meter.
The only up side is that this is more than our average. Little one was off school for a week so more heating has been used in the day. Couldn't have her going from warm to freeeeezing when using bathroom, or following me to kitchen ect. Funny really, I'm ill now, but the rules are different. More jumpers. 
|
myra
|
readings for this week
normal 53351 77 units used
lower 41119 29 units used
not too unhappy with the amount used considering the cold weather we have had, can't figure out how to get it any lower.
|
Stonehead
|
| Maria wrote: | | We are charged 15.31p per kWh on a card meter. |
Is that including VAT?
We're charged 17.82p for each of the first 264kWh used then 10.7p thereafter. Across our total consumption and plus VAT, it works out at 12.44p per kWh. We're on a standard meter with monthly direct debit.
An aside. Why does energy cost less the more you use? If we're supposed to be conserving it and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, surely you should get charge more the more you use?
|
JamesB
|
It cos the intial units cover the standing charge ie the cost of having a connection to your house and maintaining the grid. A while back they use to charge a fixed fee for the standing charge and a fixed unit price. they have jsut changed how its allocated now but you effectively pay the same for each unit.
|
myra
|
readings not too bad for this week - will be a lot higher next couple of weeks with visitors here!
normal 53422 71 units used
lower 41146 27 units used
|
Stonehead
|
89kWh in the past seven days or 12.71kWh per day, so we're well on target. I'd like to set a target of 10kWh per day, but I'm not the only person living here!
|
JamesB
|
meter readings for yearIve kinda given up taking readings on a weekly basis but we used a total of 1740 units in 2008 so on average 33 units per week. I was aiming at 30 units per week at the start of the year but i didn't know jessica was pregnant!
It went up in the last quarter since jessica is now at home full time with Erik! But the per person consumption has now gone down!
|
myra
|
I'm still taking readings, just sort of lapsed in posting the readings here - sorry! We seem to be increasing units used rather than decreasing, but with this cold weather and Jim has been poorly I'm turning a blind eye to the readings at the moment.
|
Maria
|
Will get around to reading mine asap - and publicly shame myself and our consumption here.  I'm hoping it's going to be a little better as the kittens have moved out of the room we would normally shut up over winter. Also seriously thinking of having the daft card meter removed, as I'm pretty sure our electricity costs more because of it.
|
JamesB
|
I would certainly recommend getting rid of the card meter, you wil be paying a higher rate because of it.
James
|
Lord_Azrael
|
I keep meaning to start doing this again, and I was dreading the bill coming from HydroElectric, but luckily they owe me money....again!!
|
Ratchet
|
Dear All
Have just had my Hydro Bill £836.33 for 11 Dec '08 to 13 Mar '09. Once I'd picked myself off the floor, and taken arnica fro shock, I immediately banned the use of 2 x 2 Watt electric heaters. The previous reading was an estimate but even so. This was on top of our coal bill of £117 every 3/4 weeks. From now on I'll keep a record of oor actual usage. Talking about fuel poverty I think we're in deeper than that.
Flipping Nora
Yours
Ratchet
|
Ratchet
|
Dear All
For those who are Hydro business elecy customers:
If your elecy usage is over 32 units per day averaged over the quarter then VAT increases from 5% to 15% and a Climate Change Levy is also applied to each unit. Whilst we are a farm, 99.9% of Electric use is domestic, (the steading has a few lights which are hardly ever used and the cost of the water pump is shared, plus a couple of grain spears have been used intermittently (150 Watt each).
38 days later we have used 1014 units. An average of 26.7 units per day. As we have only just thown out the 2 heaters that should come down a lot soon
More jumpers are needed.
Yours
Ratchet
|
