twice the electric?

[julesapple]

We're with EON and they pointed out to us that people who have economy 7 tarriffs usually pay more for their daytime units, so it's actually false economy.

We switched to a tarriff with cheaper daytime units and our bill has gone down, even though the dishwasher and tumble dryer (when we need it) go on during the day now.

Jules

[leoblackcat]

I phoned up our Electricity supplier to find out what the hours are for Economy 7 and even they couldn't tell me definitely. I did try sitting up to watch the meter to see when it switched over but it got too late and i got bored

[lizzylemon]

Hmmmm, some vry interesting info. Our house also has super high leccy consumption. We have storage heaters so know one of the reasons, but it doesn't explain the massive summer usage but no one wants to help us at all.

Ive been told the average house uses between 11 - 18 units in 24 hours, our house consumes on average 49 units.

I've wondered if the fruit cakes next door have hacked our power but my electrician cousin says no it's too difficult to hack into a mains supply (they'd have to do it from the outside and we can see the supply cable).

Sorry to be of absolutely no help to you.

[green thing]

if you have an old eco 7 mechanical time switch /meter it might be out of time if you have been having power outs
the new meters are controlled by a radio time signal ?

also depending on how your house is wired up some circuits may not be on eco 7

[Gwyndy]

Ive been told the average house uses between 11 - 18 units in 24 hours, our house consumes on average 49 units.

lizzylemon - that is a huge figure!! In 2009 my average usage was 9.1 KWh per day, and that includes electric heating in the greenhouse (for frost protection only). Main heating is gas but everything else electric.

I think that you should insist on having your meter changed or,at least, checked.

[Two_Sheds]

You get the rate from your energy supplier

I know what my unit rate is. What I don't know is how to work out how much electric each appliance is using.
eg. my chest freezer is attached to the monitor, and it says 0.14 kW. So what's that in pounds and pence?

I have logged my electricity and gas usage every week for around two years. ... You should think about doing the same.

Er, no, I don't have time for that... I do it monthly already.

We're with EON and they pointed out to us that people who have economy 7 tarriffs usually pay more for their daytime units, so it's actually false economy.

I did a comparison on USwitch before I went to EDF: the Econ 7 was my cheapest option

I phoned up our Electricity supplier to find out what the hours are for Economy 7 and even they couldn't tell me definitely. I did try sitting up to watch the meter to see when it switched over but it got too late and i got bored

I just got up at 6am and it was on Night Rate, so I quickly put the dishwasher & the phones on to charge ! It went off at 7am.

if you have an old eco 7 mechanical time switch /meter it might be out of time if you have been having power outs

We do. There is no clock on the unit, so how would I know ?

also depending on how your house is wired up some circuits may not be on eco 7

that's interesting ... and how would I know/find out?

Thanks for your input, and everyone else's. This whole thing has led me to conclude that Econ 7 is a bit of a con: because the elec. company won't tell you or doesn't know when it comes on.

EDIT: I just found this buried in the small print: "Eco20:20's off peak electricity unit rate (which applies between 10pm until 8 am BST (or - 9pm until 7am GMT)". We're not on Eco wotsit, but Econ 7 must be the same times surely?

I'm going away now to sit in a darkened room

[Pies]

.
eg. my chest freezer is attached to the monitor, and it says 0.14 kW. So what's that in pounds and pence?

naff all, its less than 3 60watt light bulbs,but you need an accumilation as the freezer will use more when the compressor is running and less when not


if your electricty costs 10p per kwh you can run the freezer for 7.14 hours or 10p

kw x cost per hour = kwh


If you compare the daytime cost and night time cost, if the problem was the freezer id expect it to raise consumption day and night and use more in the summer than winter


"figures in brackets are day rate/night rate" i suspect they are units used not cost
I think your leccy usage could well be either an oven or Central heating,i know you have gas CH but it still has a pump which is used to circulate the water it shouldnt use much,are you still using old lightbulbs

high usage items are

ovens and hobs
certain tvs
kettles and irons
washing machines
dishwashers
and the worst by along waybeing tumble dryers

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)

[green thing]

the timer is inside the meter is and cannot be change by the householder .if your not happy with the meter you need to get it checked out . you need to contact the local utility company (it will say on the meter this is the property of ******** ) not the electric supplier, if its a very old meter they may just swap it for a new one (it should be free of charge) ,if not ask for check meter to be put on if you think the readings are out .
the timing is controlled by the utility company not the electric supplier
if your not using storage heaters and have CH it may be cheaper to have a normal meter fitted and do away with
the econ 7
most electric supplier have a more expensive day rate if you are on econ 7
I would find out how much a normal rate is and if it works out cheaper
then you can put your dishwasher on any time you like

[dexterdoglancashire]

If you don't keep your freezer full, TS, it eats up the lecky. Just stuffing small boxes or crumpled newspaper into it helps to reduce the amount you are using. Not saying that this is the primary reason for your bigger bills, and your freezer may be stuffed to the top, but it could help.

Forgot about that!................Bernie (two freezers DDL) goes off to totally empty second freezer that has just garlic bread in it.............unplugs it ready to defrost and give to someone Mr DDL works with.

Bernie (just the one freezer, how on earth am I going to manage? DDL)

[PAULW]

Garlic bread

[PAULW]

Garlic !!!!!!!!!!!

[PAULW]

Bread !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Two_Sheds]

kw x cost per hour = kwh

ah! that simple!

are you still using old lightbulbs

No, we have dim bulbs throughout

high usage items are

ovens and hobs Oven rarely used, hobs every other night
certain tvs it's big, but old-style
kettles and irons but they aren't on for very long
washing machines it's A rated, used twice a week on Econ 7
dishwashers used once a week, full
and the worst by along waybeing tumble dryers int got one

thanks again, very helpful

[Bramble_killer]

old style crt tv's use more energy than the new lcd tv. but if you don't watch much tv that shouldn't really affect your energy consumption that much.

[ammi]

I know you say that your central heating is gas but the pumps in those things use electricity and due to the extra cold weather the pump we have had the pumps have had to kick in at least twice as often as last winter. Our electric is showing more usage at the meter as well but it is mostly due to the central heating pump and ignition.