View Full Version : how much is your gas and electric costing you?
Having just moved we've just got our first bill. For a WEEK we've used £36 worth of gas alone and having just gone checked we've used about the same again! Just how the funk
meritlover
22-01-13, 09:54 PM
well it is often the case that people who have similar routines on a weekly basis will have energy bills that are consistent or similar week on week.
iam not overly surprised by your discovery
You got a leak or something? lol
I live on my own in a 2-bed semi, I pay DD of £25 a month electric and £50 a month gas. Haven't had an electric bill yet (due one end of month), but gas I'm basically overpaying by double on that amount. Keep meaning to lower it but meh.
I am fairly frugal with my central heating, have a gas stove and get a bit anal about making sure electrical stuff is all turned off when I'm not using it though lol
meritlover
22-01-13, 09:59 PM
if you have empty sockets, make sure you turn the switches off or the electricity leaks out during the night and gets wasted. this leads to high bills.
if you have just moved in, phone round for a decent tarriff, as your likely on the bog standard pay-the-highest-default-tarriff.
Jack - I would love to come round and see your semi.
My you are a genius merit!
A leak is what im thinking jack although can't smell anything. Im kinda hoping it is the case
My you are a genius merit!
A leak is what im thinking jack although can't smell anything. Im kinda hoping it is the case
You would smell it.
Tumble dryer? Kettle boiling alot for baby bottles? immersion tank? Biggest lecky caners they are
meritlover
22-01-13, 10:01 PM
electricity has no smell so leaks are hard to detect.
I used to pay £80 month for gas and electric .
It then went to £122 a month
And it now been put up to £140 .
Im at work 6 days a week and its only a 2 bedroom house. :cry:
meritlover
22-01-13, 10:03 PM
Im at work 6 days a week...
just as well with the price of your energy.
We were paying £120 a month but were overpaying so in credit.
Now pay £60 a month and tbh i couldnt care less what we use.
The heating goes on when were cold,electric used when we want.
Metit is correct about tariffs .
My work one was 15.9 per unit and ive got it down to 11.1 for the electric.
We have 3 bed semi, 3 of us, cost us £110 last month, drops to £40-50 a month in summer. We're with British gas, only pay for what you use. Submit a meter read once a month. That's for combined energy use.
just as well with the price of your energy.
Lol
When I questioned them it has increased so much apparently because I now have had a new smart meter fitted and was informed that the older meters run way too slow and I along with most of the country have been very lucky to have been paying for the old meter reading .
Southie
22-01-13, 10:12 PM
Burgo, your probably on an estimated reading, I suggest you get actual readings ASAP and contact your provider with the numbers.
I've missed a couple of readings throughout the year and it doesn't half mess my bill up, I went from £110 a month for my gas and electric combined to £140 the following month... It went back down after actual readings and thus I was in credit ;)
Jeff16v
22-01-13, 10:14 PM
2 bed flat, British gas, combined gas and lelectric, last quarter, 180. Iiiiiiiittttttttttssssssss ffffffrrrrrrreeeeeeaaaaaaaaazzzzzziiiiinnnnnnggggg ggg iiiiinnnnnnnn. Mmmmmmmyyyyyyyy. Hhhhhhooooooouuuuuusssssseeeeee though,lol
I'm actually surprised at how many people know how much they spend on utilities!!
I hardly ever look at bills, it's like petrol, if it's needed then I buy it, it costs what it costs and thats about it
Southie
22-01-13, 10:16 PM
Bazil, I check mine online regularly as I need every bloody penny, it's my money so feck them stealing it lol
meritlover
22-01-13, 10:17 PM
you should try checking the P.F of your appliances with a high inductive load or low P.F which may lead to high apparent power. your meter may be showing incorrect power consumed instead of real power.
try adding more capacitors if you have a P.F problem.
Suppose mate, I did check my house insurance last year and saved £300 !!!
There maybe somthing in the myth about shopping around I suppose,
Southie
22-01-13, 10:22 PM
Suppose mate, I did check my house insurance last year and saved £300 !!!
There maybe somthing in the myth about shopping around I suppose,
With the extra money they've got off you then you may get that silver GSI actually finished when you get a refund lol... get it checked out ;)
meritlover
22-01-13, 10:22 PM
There maybe somthing in the myth about shopping around I suppose,
no, the myth is that loyalty to big companies saves you money in the long term
brainsnova
22-01-13, 10:23 PM
Sell the nova, the welder is drawing all the power lol. What boiler as a combi saves loads as there no pilot light burning all day
Nope they are actual readings. Just submitted the readings for the old place and now owe them £280 for that as well.
Its a baxi solo3. Its ****e but irs rented so not a massive amount I can do
meritlover
22-01-13, 10:34 PM
is your H.W cylinder on a immerser as well as the boiler?
Southie
22-01-13, 10:36 PM
Well that's scandalous, are your neighbours growing cannabis and hooked upto your electric lol
The electric is fine its just th gas. Yes have an immersion as well merit but its tuned off as well dont use much hot water
Markd89
22-01-13, 10:40 PM
I pay £65 a month for gas and electric for a 2 bedroom house with pretty much the tv on all day and the heating on 5 hours a day. Im with eon fixed price plan for 3 years
meritlover
22-01-13, 10:56 PM
sometimes i make more gas than i use.
have you set up the HW and CH clocks properly with some well spaced programs so that its not on all the time?
sometimes i make more gas than i use.
have you set up the HW and CH clocks properly with some well spaced programs so that its not on all the time?
Ch is thermostatically controlled. Has to be with two 3 month old babies in the housing. Hw is just there when we need it
phunkynova
22-01-13, 11:26 PM
Spend about £166 a month on gas,electric,heating, hot water,up keep of the building and get back about £700 a year from them.
Comparing to the old house at worst we were using 50kwh per day compared to averaging 130kwh per day here. Almost 3 times as much
ash.blue
23-01-13, 06:59 AM
Hi burgo, yours is same as my moms .. She dnt get quarterly bills its a pre pay bag of s**t machine .. Chews a fiver per day. Even puttin in like 15 its burns it in like 2 days :/ just economy for ya.
But, kettles and boilers are the biggest gas swallowing machine (as said by someone) ..
Electric wise its oki, just the gas all down to tarrif.
Mom had letter sayin "from nov '12 - nov '13 you will use £785 in gas" .. Their calculator must obviously be bust cuz £35 x 52 is waaaaaaay over the figure they got.
CorsaBBoomer
23-01-13, 07:03 AM
Get everything checked mate, you can't be too sure with that. Surely if you have doubts of gas...
I'm paying a lot more since the misses came to live with me... But our prices are a bit higher then yours... (160 euro a month for gas, 80 euro a month electrics for a 2bedroom house)
I think we pay too much and thats £80 a month for both gas and electric lol
The mrs uses the ****ting tumble drier all the time and never at night on eco7 grr and the washing machine runs a couple of times a day too.
Should be better once I finish the utility room as the tumble and washing can be run at night without disturbing us.
turbojolt
23-01-13, 09:43 AM
if your renting your landlord will have to have his gas safe checks every year, you should have been given this paperwork (you have the right to withhold rent if this isn't done), them checks will insure you dont have a leak
you cant always smell gas leaks, Ive had countless people moaning to me about there excessive bills and it turns out to be a leak caused by them getting some tit in to work on there gas,
how old is your gas meter? post up a picture, your with in your rights to demand some one checks out your meter, the meter will be sent off and checked if its running fast, alot of the time if the meter isn't running fast you would incure the cost of these checks!!
whats the condition of the house, double glazed windows, loft/cavity wall insulation?
there arte some cheap things you can do to help save on heating get some cardboard wrap it in loads of tin foil (not the expensive stuff, get supermarkets own brands stuff) and slide it between the radiator and wall, you wont be able to see it and it helps the wall not soak as much of the heating, also turning down the thermostat 1deg can save 10% a year
also what kind of meter are you using card or credit (billed)?
I think we pay too much and thats £80 a month for both gas and electric lol
The mrs uses the ****ting tumble drier all the time and never at night on eco7 grr and the washing machine runs a couple of times a day too.
Should be better once I finish the utility room as the tumble and washing can be run at night without disturbing us.
How theres only 3 of you. I do one wash a day at night for the 5 of us
Its got a gas safety certificate but that doesn't mean he meter is reading right.
Its got cavity wall insulation and about a foot of loft insulation. It's only a bungalow as well.
Its not a card we get a bill on submitting a reading and we only have it set to 19 degrees not turning it down any more
(you have the right to withhold rent if this isn't done),
Need to go careful with that though, it's a bit contradictory, I looked into it as there was dangerous amounts of mould growing and other kinds of crap with one of our uni houses. Technically in certain situations you have some rights to withhold rent, but you also break the contract you signed at the same time, so they're well within their right to kick you out. Basically they either have to allow you to live there and fix it, or kick you out... and one of those options is far cheaper if they're likely to get another tenant quickly that won't complain.
I'm actually surprised at how many people know how much they spend on utilities!!
I hardly ever look at bills, it's like petrol, if it's needed then I buy it, it costs what it costs and thats about it
Haha I'm exactly the same, everything is a DD, I just use my card until it gets declined lol lol
Wouldn't have a clue on how much I spend on anything to be honest...
meritlover
23-01-13, 01:44 PM
Its got a gas safety certificate but that doesn't mean he meter is reading right.
Its got cavity wall insulation and about a foot of loft insulation. It's only a bungalow as well.
Its not a card we get a bill on submitting a reading and we only have it set to 19 degrees not turning it down any more
'only a bungalow' means there is probably more wall and roof area than say a flat or semi. So it is very likely to need more energy to head.
phone round and get a better deal, if you cant then that is as cheap as its going to get as you already say you are doing as much about your consumption as possible and you can start to suck it up and except it.
turbojolt
23-01-13, 01:52 PM
i can help you save loads on your bill, pm me if your intrested.
I was in a bungalow before though. Ive gone from a 2 bed to a 3 bed bungalow and my gas consumption has trippled! I dont think so.
That's a no brainer TJ. Send me your secrets then
The mrs likes to wash stuff all the sodding time... bedding, towels, tiny clothes washes etc... grrr
i can help you save loads on your bill, pm me if your intrested.
Dont just pm,should be a bastad sticky! lol
pikey1986
23-01-13, 05:45 PM
/\ this, id like to know as i too am a tightar5e lol
turbojolt
23-01-13, 06:06 PM
pm'ed, pm'ed and pm'ed
BENDOGGER
23-01-13, 06:51 PM
pm me too because i'm sick of it too £121per month for both
We pay £74 a month for both. Thats standard British Gas tariff, and that amount is pretty much bang on average over the year.
I could easily drop that down but my missus also likes running the washer for 2hours with 2 tea towels in it, and then a 45min tumble dryer session :roll:
Tropical fish tank and De-humidifier doesnt help either.
3bed house, just the 2 of us.
meritlover
23-01-13, 08:25 PM
3bed house, just the 2 of us....
you only have one fish?:confused:
Dan Stanley
23-01-13, 08:33 PM
Dont just pm,should be a bastad sticky! lol
Agreed, share please...
The electrickery is easy for me to save, but the gas is still mysterious.
Just spoke to eon and they recon 10units a day is normal. Cocks are bound to say that just to ty shut me up
you only have one fish?:confused:
Ha ha ha ha!
16v Nova Kev
23-01-13, 08:44 PM
We used to have a card gas meter ( prepay) to all you middle class folk on here. Anyway in the winter from sep to April lol we were a tenner a day in gas and It used to run out during the night
pottersrebel
23-01-13, 09:12 PM
yeah and me tj wud be nice get one up on the missus for a change
meritlover
23-01-13, 09:24 PM
Just spoke to eon and they recon 10units a day is normal. Cocks are bound to say that just to ty shut me up
the consumption is going to be controlled entirely by you. its the tariff, standing charge and unit price that is the important thing to drive down.
That reminds me actually TJ, you'll have to pop over mine soon ;) pm me your number please.
How are electricity bills calculated, is it a simple flat rate units x cost thing?
My first bill from when I switched to Southern Electric was for a week only, 20th July - 27th July and reckons 6201 - 6193 = 8 units @ 19.9p = £1.59 before VAT and discounts. Just done another reading now and figure since then I've used a further 142 units (meter now at 6343).
For the sake of arguments we'll say they use the same rate for this period, so is it going to be just a simple 142 units x 19.9p? As I make that about £28 which is almost what I pay them each month on direct debit. lol
How are electricity bills calculated, is it a simple flat rate units x cost thing?
My first bill from when I switched to Southern Electric was for a week only, 20th July - 27th July and reckons 6201 - 6193 = 8 units @ 19.9p = £1.59 before VAT and discounts. Just done another reading now and figure since then I've used a further 142 units (meter now at 6343).
For the sake of arguments we'll say they use the same rate for this period, so is it going to be just a simple 142 units x 19.9p? As I make that about £28 which is almost what I pay them each month on direct debit. lol
They use a sliding scale mostly :(
X rate for the first Y units then Z rate for the next A units and so on.
the consumption is going to be controlled entirely by you. its the tariff, standing charge and unit price that is the important thing to drive down.
This is exactly what you need to get down to reduce costs, i recently moved to edf and im saving a good bit of money each month, thing is not everyone takes the time to read up on all the fine details on how much things cost in general and these companies love it, i also understand that they also make it difficult for people to understand what they are paying for hence the confusion when bills drop through the door. I've saved a lot of money this year with changing nearly everything (pet/car/house insurance,internet & phone,mobile contract etc) in order to get costs down, also at night i turn down every radiator to 1 or so and then open the ones up in the morning in the rooms im going to be in, its a pain in the hoop but needs to be done to save cash. I wish i still had electric storage heating as it seems to be the cheaper option now to keep your house warm all the time. Also as has been said before, check wall/pipe/tank insulation, make sure windows & doors are up to standard and lay good thick underlay on the ground floor at least, all these things ive changed this year and ive certainly noticed a difference in my house.:thumb:
Mrs Hobbit
24-01-13, 10:44 PM
I wish i still had electric storage heating as it seems to be the cheaper option now to keep your house warm all the time.
I'm surprised by this... We struggled with storage heaters, our house was damp to the point that after 6 months we had mould and the plaster had burst round plug sockets. They didn't seem to have any effect during the weird -16 degrees we saw a few years back :(
Are they better designed these days?
I'm surprised by this... We struggled with storage heaters, our house was damp to the point that after 6 months we had mould and the plaster had burst round plug sockets. They didn't seem to have any effect during the weird -16 degrees we saw a few years back :(
Are they better designed these days?
You can get oil filled/gel storage hybrid heaters now which are really efficient.
you only have one fish?:confused:
No idea what you're on about but hey ho. As useful post as ever.
The storage heaters in my old flat were poor to say the least, but they were the old stylee ones.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.