twice the electric?

[Two_Sheds]

How on earth can I be using twice as much electric as this time last year? (our CH is gas, so it's not that)

My bill has just come in: I expected it to be less than last time, because I've been getting up at midnight to switch on the dishwasher (once a week) and washing machine (twice a week).

It was only slightly less though

What is really puzzling me is why we are using more than twice as much lecky as this period last year? I just don't get it. The only new appliance we have is a chest freezer (I'm currently working out how much lecky it uses).

any ideas? Is someone hacking our supply? can lecky leak? (like our new plumbing, grrr)

[zazen999]

Is this REAL readings or estimated?

[Two_Sheds]

Real - the man comes round every month to take readings, it's really annoying because the meter is underneath about 6 suitcases.

[zazen999]

Can you check he has read it right - i'd be taking a reading once a week to be honest to log your useage.

Might have to get Mr S to move those suitcase until it is resolved.....

[Two_Sheds]

I'm going to go back through all the bladdy statements then to see when the huge increase occurred.

(where do I put all those suitcases?)

[zazen999]

Under the bed? Can you put seed trays on them for a while round the house???

[Capsid]

Are you basing this on cost or usage? Are you really on Economy 7 to benefit from the night rate? Although the CH is gas, the water has to be pumped round the system which will use electric.

[SarzWix]

Chest freezers are notoriously bad for guzzling electric...

Is it possible that last year's bill was an estimate, so that it's this year's which is more accurate?

And as Capsid says, electricity is only cheaper after midnight if you have the right sort of tariff - it isn't automatically just cheaper after a certain time. (The risk of an electrical fire in the night would be enough to put me off running the washer while I was in bed...)

[Two_Sheds]

Are you basing this on cost or usage?

Both. The cost is up, as are the units used.

Are you really on Economy 7 to benefit from the night rate?

Yes, but our night rate is pitiful (about a tenth of the daytime usage. It really puzzles me, because we aren't here daytimes Tue-Fri.

Chest freezers are notoriously bad for guzzling electric...

Oh dear. I did get a fairly frugal one: 238kWh/year. What's that in money?

Is it possible that last year's bill was an estimate, so that it's this year's which is more accurate?

No, they all have my own readings.

(The risk of an electrical fire in the night would be enough to put me off running the washer while I was in bed...)

I have smoke alarms, plus 3 noisy parrots in the kitchen to alert me
I won't turn them on if I leave the house though

[Two_Sheds]

Thanks all for your advice and pointers.
I've had a look through my bills, and they average out like this: (all actual readings)

Winter 09: £17 pcm (290/170)

Spring 09: £23 pcm (438/101)

Summer 09: £19 pcm (310/80)

Aug 09: £26 pcm (562/118)

Winter 10: £33 pcm (682/151)

figures in brackets are day rate/night rate

[zazen999]

Need units though......

[quark1]

Do you have a 'modern' meter?

Some years ago mine got stuck (fortunately) on the night-setting - not sure how many weeks - but sometime between readings.

I received a number of estimated bills which I couldn't be bothered to check at the time. When I did get a reading from the 'man' and saw that daytime usage was nil - I realised what had happened. I informed them immediately and they replaced the meter and luckily did not charge a pro-rated extra amount for the stuck meter. As they supplied a meter which failed it was their fault. Now I'm not sure what would have happened had it been the other way round - but assume the same good faith would have given me some amendment from historic usages.

Is it possible your meter has stuck (or is sticking) on the daytime setting?

Has the timer been set correctly by the meter installer?

Fuel prices have gone up horrendously over the last couple of years - so financials alone are not really much good - you need to compare units for day/night. It is entirely possible that a near 100% rise may well be valid depending on your supplier and the timings of any price changes.

[Capsid]

Check the actual KwH usage on the bill and then check what the charge is for that. The cost per KwH has shot up.

[northepaul]

I have been puzzling over our huge increase in electricity costs since last June when we moved house - we actually changed to a lower tariff, the best rate one BG do. Still our electric used to be about £70 a quarter in the winter and £30-40 in the summer. Now its £60 a month summer or winter....??!!
The ONLY different item we have now is an electric shower...

[Two_Sheds]

Well, I've found out why my night rate isn't very impressive:

Economy 7: "The discount hours are usually 1am to 8am during winter, and 2am to 9am in summer"

But that isn't definitive, I've found varying answers on the web, ranging from 0030 start to 0200 start.
I thought it started at midnight!
v.v. cross now

(I found that by Googling, there is no info on my bill, nor can I find it on EDF website)