Energy costs (again)

Pondy

Pondy

Muppet
 At the summit of the picturesque fens
I have now started logging my gas and 'leccy usage from 1st to 1st of each month to see what it is actually costing, as the usage is rising.

November was not cold by any stretch, our house is fairly modern (2002), we have 100% LED light bulbs and fittings, all appliances are new and at least 'A' rated, modern condensing system boiler, three rooms in the house heating shut off and doors kept closed. Our heating is off during the night and most of the day. Only 3 people in the house. Heating thermostat set at 17 deg C. The tumble dryer has hardly seen any use yet.

There is not a lot more I can do to cut back. Our November costs (including standing charges and VAT) were £390.92. :o

That is outrageous!

Was paying 11p/ kWh for electric earlier in the year. Now 33p. 300% increase :x
Was paying 2.3p/ kWh for gas. Now 10.24p. 450% increase :x
 
Hmm..seems a lot my last statement was £350 but that was estimated. The real cost was about about £250. Only two of us here now in a 4 bed detached. Do you know what your average usage per day is for November it would be interesting to compare.
 
My electric use only has been averaging just under £90/month, we have an oil burning boiler for heating though so that’s another bill on top.
Had the central heating on for aprox 10 days now, before that we were just using our log burner
 
Smartbear said:
My electric use only has been averaging just under £90/month, we have an oil burning boiler for heating though so that’s another bill on top.
Had the central heating on for aprox 10 days now, before that we were just using our log burner
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My electric use is similar.
 
Smartbear said:
My electric use only has been averaging just under £90/month, we have an oil burning boiler for heating though so that’s another bill on top.
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Our electric was £100.98 (plus £13.73 standing charge), so it's mostly gas.
We have a gas hob and a gas 'stove' in the main living room. The house isn't very well insulated considering it is quite modern (cos the developers couldn't give a sh*t). 2500 sq ft house, so reasonable size.
I checked that the gas meter isn't letting-by; unfortunately it isn't. :(

I am at home all day, every day and will put the heating on if I'm cold. I ain't going to freeze! :|

BTW the figures are usage. Doesn't include the £66 grant. That is paid directly so doesn't impact on the bill.
 
N4LLY said:
My November bill was £ 3.77 (After the £66 discount)
All electric, i have no gas.
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One light bulb and cook using a fag lighter I presume? :P
 
Pondrew said:
Smartbear said:
My electric use only has been averaging just under £90/month, we have an oil burning boiler for heating though so that’s another bill on top.
Click to expand...
Our electric was £100.98 (plus £13.73 standing charge), so it's mostly gas.
We have a gas hob and a gas 'stove' in the main living room. The house isn't very well insulated considering it is quite modern (cos the developers couldn't give a sh*t). 2500 sq ft house, so reasonable size.
I checked that the gas meter isn't letting-by; unfortunately it isn't. :(

I am at home all day, every day and will put the heating on if I'm cold. I ain't going to freeze! :|

BTW the figures are usage. Doesn't include the £66 grant. That is paid directly so doesn't impact on the bill.
Click to expand...
Again, your electric is similar to mine in a similar sized house and I wfh. Though, most weekends, I'm somewhere else these days. Induction hob and I tend to use the air fryer rather than using the oven.
 
Pondrew said:
I have now started logging my gas and 'leccy usage from 1st to 1st of each month to see what it is actually costing, as the usage is rising.

November was not cold by any stretch, our house is fairly modern (2002), we have 100% LED light bulbs and fittings, all appliances are new and at least 'A' rated, modern condensing system boiler, three rooms in the house heating shut off and doors kept closed. Our heating is off during the night and most of the day. Only 3 people in the house. Heating thermostat set at 17 deg C. The tumble dryer has hardly seen any use yet.

There is not a lot more I can do to cut back. Our November costs (including standing charges and VAT) were £390.92. :o

That is outrageous!

Was paying 11p/ kWh for electric earlier in the year. Now 33p. 300% increase :x
Was paying 2.3p/ kWh for gas. Now 10.24p. 450% increase :x
Click to expand...

I count myself luck to be paying 3.43p/KWh for gas - well until next August anyway. We are 3 in a 1990 4 bed detached, always occupied, with gas for central heating, water and and hob for cooking. Using around 40 - 50 KWh per day when its this cold often less if it's milder. You usage seems to be twice as high or more allowing for the price differential? We used to have hot water on a programmed schedule but now manually turn it on when needed, same with heating - don't know if that explains the difference? We had cavity wall insulation put in a few years ago and I think that has made a really big difference to our heating costs.
 
Currently on duel fuel fixed rate until the end of 2023 which I renewed last December so currently paying £64 gas and £78 for electric per month. This is based on my previous tariff usage and applied to my current tariff. I'm definitely using less gas compared to my old tariff yet my smart meter is telling me I'm going over my set budget each day now it's getting colder. I have the heating on for 1 hour in the morning, hour late afternoon and an hour last thing at night, heating is off over night and water is heated for 45 minutes per day so less than when i was on my previous tarrif. New boiler was fitted last Feb but I reckon its not really that more efficient than my previous 20 year old boiler. I might reduce the boilers flow output temp, currently on 70 degrees and might try 60 and see if it makes any savings. Tend to set thermostat to 19C. House has cavity wall insulation etc. I would be interested to get thermal camera and see how well the house is insulated.

I just have a feeling even though I'm on a fixed tariff around £1600 a year I'm being ripped off by British Gas somehow by massaging my usage to claw back any savings with me being on a fixed rate. I've become a little distrusting of British Gas of late.

Tim.
 
Vornwend said:
I count myself luck to be paying 3.43p/KWh for gas - well until next August anyway. We are 3 in a 1990 4 bed detached, always occupied, with gas for central heating, water and and hob for cooking. Using around 40 - 50 KWh per day when its this cold often less if it's milder. You usage seems to be twice as high or more allowing for the price differential? We used to have hot water on a programmed schedule but now manually turn it on when needed, same with heating - don't know if that explains the difference? We had cavity wall insulation put in a few years ago and I think that has made a really big difference to our heating costs.
Click to expand...

Our hot water is programmed to heat once per night; it takes about 15 mins (I have checked) and is never boosted. I am in the heating/cooling industry and have renewed/ improved everything that is practically possible on the heating system (bar ripping it out and starting again).

Last 12 months cost me £1,500 for gas and leccy. The next 12 months is on track to be £4,200 on the same usage (less £400 of course).
 
I don't have gas, but read that they are forcing oil boilers out by 2025 where you would have to install ground source heat. Estimated costs around £40k average so it seems.

Gas users have another 10 years till 2035, but only need to change if the cost is similar to gas. Not for oil users.
 
Oh, never got the £400 for elec nor the £100 for oil. Still not sorted out by Scottish Power.
 
Bloke at work on Tuesday was going on about it. He basically repeated the same thing to each individual in the office, over and over again.
After about 2 hours of this (seriously!) he got round to asking me what I thought.
I replied "Couldn't give a f**k mate, I'm loaded!"
I'm not, but it certainly shut him up. :D
 
pvr said:
Oh, never got the £400 for elec nor the £100 for oil. Still not sorted out by Scottish Power.
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The oil payment has now increased to £200 since the budget, no news on when or how payment will be made though.
Rob
 
pvr said:
where you would have to install ground source heat. Estimated costs around £40k average so it seems.
Click to expand...

Both of those affirmations sound pretty false (Not to say BS...)

Why would you be forced to go for ground source when there is a list of choices with air source on top? Also, £40k seem like the same kind of estimate as saying "energy bills rise to £3857" without any context of what kWh of electricity and gas it is based on, in this case the amount of earth moving that would be required
 
enuff_zed said:
Bloke at work on Tuesday was going on about it. He basically repeated the same thing to each individual in the office, over and over again.
After about 2 hours of this (seriously!) he got round to asking me what I thought.
I replied "Couldn't give a f**k mate, I'm loaded!"
I'm not, but it certainly shut him up. :D
Click to expand...
:rofl: :rofl: :thumbsup:
 
pvr said:
I don't have gas, but read that they are forcing oil boilers out by 2025 where you would have to install ground source heat. Estimated costs around £40k average so it seems.

Gas users have another 10 years till 2035, but only need to change if the cost is similar to gas. Not for oil users.
Click to expand...

Not strictly true - The Telegraph reported they MIGHT be banning replacement or installation of NEW oil boilers from 2026. Doesn't mean you can't keep using your 10 year old one for another couple of decades.

You can still connect to the gas grid for a few more years yet if feasible. To be honest, by the time we need a new boiler then a domestic solar/wind/battery (for off peak charging) setup and an electric boiler will probably be the way forwards.

A couple of people on here have seen our place - we have a meandering extended long house with a lot of windows (20+) bits dating back to the late 1700s. We looked at an ASHP and the chap said we didn't have enough wall space for the rads we'd need to cope with the heat loss, solid walls, solid floors, sloping uninsulatable roof, etc. To insulate this place properly would cost more than knocking it down and starting again :(

We only heat the rooms we are using and have a gas fire in the lounge, and used 25000 kwH of gas last year, and about 10kWh of leccy every day, all year around, most of which is the fish tank and fridge. Up until a couple of weeks ago our daily gas use was about 30% down on last year, because of the warmer weather. Yesterday afternoon I went upstairs and my breath misted up - it was 10C.

The wife works from home, a plug in car heated seat cover and USB foot wamer has made a big difference to her, and there's a wood burner at that end of the house, and we have a lot of trees :)

But this year, our electric and standing charge will cost as much as our total bill last year, plus another £2500 for the gas.

But we can afford it - I have Shell and BP shares :)

Paul
 
I inhabit your average Bellway 3 bedroom semi with a wife and 2 cats. All lights are LED and appliances are fairly new and energy efficient.

We are both at home all day, with heating set at 20c from 6am to 11pm, bedrooms set at 17c and off at night. Flow rate on the combi boiler set at 45c. Only use the tumble dryer and dishwasher about once per week. I have a bath every night and the wife has a shower.

This month has been out highest usage for dual fuel this year which was £240 less the Govt £67. As we pay an agreed monthly charge of £212 to Octopus Energy we are £500 plus in credit. I expect th cost to increase over the next moth or two but not by much.
 
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