High usage using Off-peak electric

[GrieveCube]

Hi everyone, was hoping for some expertise. I have no knowledge of anything in this post so please don’t laugh at me lol.

Moved into a new flat (2 bed all electric no gas) and we have an economy 7 meter set up with an off peak system for the boiler and heating.
I’ve never used this before and am a bit confused by this.
I received an expensive bill and the usage states that I’ve used 2719kwh over the night time, and 822 over the day from the end of November to today.
This seems like a lot to me and the only thing I can think of is I haven’t programmed the hot water or the heaters correctly.
I had the timer in the fuse box pictured below set to on all day, if it was off I wouldn’t even get one hot shower before it went ice cold. So I’m fairly certain I’ve done something wrong with that.

I have attached photos of both as well as a timer I’ve found on the fuse box.

Could anyone out there please indicate me as to what I’ve done wrong or even how to properly use the off peak correctly?

 

[flameport]

That Gledhill junk will cost a fortune regardless of what settings it may or may not have.

 

[GrieveCube]

Wasn’t my choice, property is unfortunately rented

 

[SUNRAY]

Were you given a copy of the EPC [energy performance certificate] before signing up?

 

[GrieveCube]

Yeah everything was fine on the EPC

 

[GrieveCube]

I’m getting a smart meter installed next so I can hopefully monitor our usage better.
I’m almost certain it’s something to do with the immersion heater, I leave both on/off peak switches on all the time (on peak switch also has a timer). There’s another timer that states off peak in my fuse box that if left off I get half a hot shower. So I left that on to get constant hot water and now I have a £500 electric bill for 2 people

 

[SUNRAY]

Yeah everything was fine on the EPC

What was the overall performance figure?

Typically off peak useage is about 4 times the that of peak so you're right in the ball park but I'd definitely only run the immersion heater during off peak times if you can.

 

[GrieveCube]

What was the overall performance figure?

Typically off peak useage is about 4 times the that of peak so you're right in the ball park but I'd definitely only run the immersion heater during off peak times if you can.

The Current performance figure was 79 on the EPC.

 

[Lectrician]

Thats around 30 units per night, £3-£4 per night depending on supplier rates. Not particularly unexpected for electric heating.

 

[winston1]

I’m getting a smart meter installed next so I can hopefully monitor our usage better.

Bad move. Smart meters are for the benefit of the supplier not the customer. They are not free nor do they save money, they cost everyone money by way of increased bills.
You can monitor the usage on a non smart meter easily.

 

[GrieveCube]

Thats around 30 units per night, £3-£4 per night depending on supplier rates. Not particularly unexpected for electric heating.

Do you think my usage is correct then? From what I’ve looked at online it seemed quite high. Never been in an all electric property before so all I have for reference is what I’ve seen online

 

[Aragorn84]

3500kwh total from end of November until now, so about 3 months?

That doesnt seem like a "big bill" to me for an all electrically heated place. I use about that amount of electricity and i have gas heating

If you've come from a gas-heated place, bear in mind electric heat is around 3 times the price of gas.

 

[GrieveCube]

3500kwh total from end of November until now, so about 3 months?

That doesnt seem like a "big bill" to me for an all electrically heated place. I use about that amount of electricity and i have gas heating

If you've come from a gas-heated place, bear in mind electric heat is around 3 times the price of gas.

Oh really? Am I just over reacting then? Like I said I’ve never lived in all electric place before so I am a bit dense with this type of thing

 

[Aragorn84]

Gas is around 3p a kwh. Electric is around 15p. Your economy 7 will have a cheaper night rate, perhaps 10p but probably a more expensive day rate.

Gas ofcourse isnt 100% efficient, so electric closes the gap a little there.

Also worth remembering those are the coldest three months of the year, so will produce the highest bills. Most people on direct debit have it configured so that you overpay somewhat in summer where heating use is low, and this offsets the higher bills in winter.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Bad move. Smart meters are for the benefit of the supplier not the customer. They are not free nor do they save money, they cost everyone money by way of increased bills.
You can monitor the usage on a non smart meter easily.

Whilst there is a cost to everyone, it costs an individual no more, no less to have one fitted. Seeing as we are all paying for them, there is no point to refusing to have one. So really that is a none argument.

The potential is there, to more easily and instantly see what you are using and when, in order to modify your behaviour and consumption. This can be done with older meters, but it requires much more effort and inconvenience - especially if your meters are outdoors. The Smart Meters come with an indoor display, which show your consumption and cost, minute by minute.