Utility Bills

[EcclesCake]

There are frequently posts about how high utility bill are.

I pay £67 a month for gas and electricity and £17 for water.

It is a four bed house with two occupants.

I know I get a better deal for the electricity but wonder how my charges compare with others?

[hc4361]

I pay much the same as you.

[factor-fiction]

That's extremely low for energy and pretty low for a water meter.
Is that the charge for the energy you use or is that your monthly DD which may have been reduced because you have a credit balance)?
We are very careful with energy use, we use as much electricity on economy 7 as possible (washer, dishwasher done at night), avoid the tumble drier where possible, avoid use of standby), and yet for a similar size house we pay double that for 2-3 of us.
Our water is down to £22 a month now on a meter (usage is nearer £26 but we were in credit), but we couldn't get it much lower because of fixed charges

[hc4361]

I don't have a water meter and I don't have a clothes line, either - everything goes in the tumble drier

[factor-fiction]

I forgot to add that each year I move to the cheapest tariff on the market too, and get all the discounts for DD, dual fuel and paperless bills.

[factor-fiction]

You don't have a water meter, hc, but may around £17 a month for water? We were paying £70 a month for water before we got a meter, so £17 seems extremely low

[factor-fiction]

Pay, not may. Sorry- typing in the dark here to save electriciyy

[hc4361]

That made me laugh. My keyboard is illuminated so I don't need the lights on, either .
My water bill is just over £220 a year.

[rockyracoon]

I pay £100 a month for gas and £50 for electric in a 3 bed detached 1930 ungreen house. Water is about £450 a year.

My last gas bill was just over £300 and the elec was £160 :(

[factor-fiction]

I assume you mean you pay a TOTAL of £67 a month for gas and electricity combined?

[hc4361]

Yes indeedeee. I have economy 7 too and make the most of that, and gas central heating.
3 bed semi.

[factor-fiction]

Well isn't it wrong, hc, that one person with a 4 bed house pays £220 without a meter whereas someone else (me until 2 years ago) paid £800. Changing to a meter has saved a fortune, but it has meant cutting out the hosepipe, some flushing and shorter showers

[factor-fiction]

What % of your electricity is Economy 7, hc? I can't get ours above 50%

[hc4361]

Blame the councils and water companies. Water bills are set at the rateable value of the house and every water company has different tariffs.

[factor-fiction]

Ah sorry, I thought you had a 4 bed house and assumed it was a semi.
Maybe having a detached makes a difference. After trying lots of things over the years to keep costs down I have concluded we cannot possibly get our energy bill below £1300 a year

[factor-fiction]

Grr- I assumed you had a detached. Time to put a light on

[hc4361]

Well to be fair I have been complaining for years that my electric meters are wrong but the electric companies insist they are not. I get my economy 7 during the afternoon and evening so even the dinners are cooked on the cheap and of course all the appliances get used during that time, as far as is possible.
We have electric showers and even shower during the evening. So 60% on average.


My house is very warm and I have the central heating on for one hour in the morning and put the gas fire on at night if needed. We don't use the central heating in the warmer months and heat our water on economy 7 - one hour a day is plenty.

[diddlydo]

4 bed detached house, just the 2 of us. Gas and elec £125 per month, water 220 per year (on a meter which has saved us a fortune)

[Caran]

We pay £126 per month for gas and electric and £25.24 for water, we have a water meter and have a 2 bed detached house.

[vodkancoke]

I'm £110 a month for gas and electricity combined for a large 3 bed flat,just me, and I don't have the heating on much at all. I think we,up here, pay our water within our Council Tax.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks all in view the feedback I don't think I'll bother going through the hassle of looking out a better deal for gas and electric then.

FF, yes £67 represents my DD but it aligns quite well with consumption over the year. My water is metered and I think I'm actually in credit to the tune of 3 months worth of payments.