Energy bill increases

[fossyant]

I think I'd be dead if I suggested the 'boss' wears an extra jumper and a hot water bottle ! when I'm working in the conservatory, she comes in and switches on the fan heater, in addition to the oil radiator - she's in the house with central heating. I am dressing accordingly for the conservatory, a nice warm jumper and winter walking trousers.

We have noticed though, by boarding the last half of the attic, it's made a huge difference to heat in the bedrooms.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I think I'd be dead if I suggested the 'boss' wears an extra jumper and a hot water bottle !

Yup - I tried that

didn;t go well!

 

[mjr]

I think I'd be dead if I suggested the 'boss' wears an extra jumper and a hot water bottle ! when I'm working in the conservatory, she comes in and switches on the fan heater, in addition to the oil radiator - she's in the house with central heating. I am dressing accordingly for the conservatory, a nice warm jumper and winter walking trousers.

We have noticed though, by boarding the last half of the attic, it's made a huge difference to heat in the bedrooms.

Why not just check that she's happy to pay extra to the energy giants not to put a jumper on, instead of making suggestions that apparently come from nowhere?

 

[gavroche]

Our thermostat is never set higher than 18 degrees and radiators turned off in rooms we don't use much including our bedroom. Neither of us like a warm bedroom.
We don't use CH on a timer either but manually when needed.
Lights on only in the room we are in.
Can't see what more we can do to be fair.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

When Octopus Energy sent me their renewal for a fixed rate for two years in early august it had gone up £45pm to what i was paying so i jumped ship and went to Avro Energy who then went bust and hey ho i was back with octopus except now i was on their flexible tariff.
Last summer there was no hint that utility bills would go sky high and if i had an inkling i would have stayed with Octopus........Gutted!

 

[mjr]

Our thermostat is never set higher than 18 degrees and radiators turned off in rooms we don't use much including our bedroom. Neither of us like a warm bedroom.
We don't use CH on a timer either but manually when needed.
Lights on only in the room we are in.
Can't see what more we can do to be fair.

More insulation?
Lower CH radiator temperatures?
Predictive weather-compensating radiator temperature control instead of reactive on/off thermostats?
Solar thermal and PV?
More efficient CH system?

Of course, some of those may not pay back in any sensible time, even with the next year of high prices.

And is your thermostat accurate? Lots of old ones are out by a degree or more, or sited in a place that is colder than the areas people actually use, but that does allow a good bit of "well we only have the thermostat set to..." bragging.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

The position of your thermostat is critical

Ours used to be in the hall - which is normally quite cold
When I replaced the boiler I moved it into the lounge - after all I only really care about lounge temperature
WHne it was in the hall it could be set to 17/18 and the lounge would be far warmer because the hall has the stairs so all the heat goes upwards to the landing
The lounge is far warmer - so the thermostat is set much higher - but the hall is colder - but no-one cares about the hall

 

[MrGrumpy]

I have one of those Nest thermostats, last winter I had it set to 21c in the evenings and then to 19c through the day. However autumn last year when energy prices had gone up it’s been dropped and locked at a maximum off 18.5c . Also showed my boys what I’m paying a month as they seemed oblivious to energy costs and my moans and groans .

Can we afford a price rise yes we can but I’m not for wasting money either. It’s going to hit some folk really hard this is .

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I think I'd be dead if I suggested the 'boss' wears an extra jumper and a hot water bottle ! when I'm working in the conservatory, she comes in and switches on the fan heater, in addition to the oil radiator - she's in the house with central heating. I am dressing accordingly for the conservatory, a nice warm jumper and winter walking trousers.

We have noticed though, by boarding the last half of the attic, it's made a huge difference to heat in the bedrooms.

Have you asked her to put some clothes on, once it gets past 7am?

 

[johnnyb47]

What would your average yearly gas/electric be.
Mines around £1000
The heating is only used during the winter evenings and everything is off whilst I'm at work. The tv is left on standby (tut tut) as well as the microwave. Obviously the fridge freezer is left on but everything else is unplugged.
The only thing I could do to keep my bills down during these expensive times is to lower the thermostat a few degrees.
As for cooking I never use gas oven as it seems over kill using such a large thing for a small meal for one. I use a small halogen cooker instead

 

[cyberknight]

What would your average yearly gas/electric be.
Mines around £1000
The heating is only used during the winter evenings and everything is off whilst I'm at work. The tv is left on standby (tut tut) as well as the microwave. Obviously the fridge freezer is left on but everything else is unplugged.
The only thing I could do to keep my bills down during these expensive times is to lower the thermostat a few degrees.
As for cooking I never use gas oven as it seems over kill using such a large thing for a small meal for one. I use a small halogen cooker instead

i wish more like £1400 , the joys of a house with 2 kids and mrs ck has the tv on all day

 

[midlife]

Don't really keep track as I just pay it. Electric about £600 a quarter and oil about £2000 a year.

 

[oldwheels]

My living room sits at 19 or 20C and is difficult to make quick changes as I use storage heaters and if they cannot cope I have a solid fuel stove. That makes the room too warm so used infrequently. In mid season I only have the solid fuel when needed with no storage heaters on and summer nothing but a calor gas patio heater as a standby.
This is the first year I have used the living room storage heater as I think you need more heat as you get older. In past years I only used solid fuel in winter but the work involved is getting wearisome. The rough estimate for current use of electricity is around £35 per week for heating alone.

 

[PaulSB]

My living room sits at 19 or 20C and is difficult to make quick changes as I use storage heaters and if they cannot cope I have a solid fuel stove. That makes the room too warm so used infrequently. In mid season I only have the solid fuel when needed with no storage heaters on and summer nothing but a calor gas patio heater as a standby.
This is the first year I have used the living room storage heater as I think you need more heat as you get older. In past years I only used solid fuel in winter but the work involved is getting wearisome. The rough estimate for current use of electricity is around £35 per week for heating alone.

WOW. That's £750pa more than we pay for gas and electricity in a poorly insulated stone cottage.

Are you sure everything is working as it should?

 

[MrGrumpy]

I’m not far off that . However this a 5 bed house. Gas is about similar price . Put it this way my DD has doubled since last year . However strangely enough I’m in credit during winter ? Was clean slate when I started this new deal