My last ESB bill (I think covereing Jan/Feb was the biggest on eI have received by a long way. Now, I'm pretty damned anal in my 2 bed apartment about keeping all lights off etc, and as usually spend most of my time in my living area, the only real things on are three lamps, TV and SKY box when I'm at home. Due to sporting committments, I don't get home until 9pm 2-3 days a week, so to be honest, apartment isn't occupied a lot.
However, on asking my mother (who has a 4 bed semi-d with 5 people versus me and my partner in my apartment) our bills were the same. How, in the name of my bank account, is this possible? The only thing I can think of is the emersion, as I don't have an electric shower and this usually gets maybe an hour or two a day (at the very most). Do emersions really use up that much extra electricity? As I said, I was gob-smacked that my bill could be as high as a house with three times the people in in, usually occupying 3-4 rooms, several TVs etc.
My last bill was exact reading to exact reading, so there were no estimates involved.
Anyone have any ideas on the emersion?
Be very careful when using the Immersion. There is an urban myth out there that suggests it's just as cheap to leave it on all the time. Rubbish!
My advice is (a) make sure it's fitted with a lagging jacket if it doesn't already have a heat retaining covering (all new ones do) and (b) switch it on for no more than a half hour before you require hot water and make sure it's switched off afterwards. A timer is ideal for this. However, it seems you are already very careful with its usage (but if it doesn't have a timer maybe there have been times when it was left switched on all day).
The type of TV you have could make a big difference. For example, a traditional 21" CRT screen TV running for 40 hours a week will cost about €4 per two-months. A 42" plasma on the other hand will cost €23 for the same period.
If you have any plug-in heaters my advice is to throw them out or else use them only to heat up a room for 30 mins or so and then switch them off. They are very heavy users of electricity.
Other than that, the only other appliances I would keep a close eye are the washing machine (use only for a full load), the tumbler dryer (ditto), and make sure all appliances with standby mode are fully switched off at the mains after use.
You mention your last bill was based on an actual reading. Are you certain about the previous one? If that was estimated then the units you actually used during the previous billing period but which were not charged for because of the under-estimate are now being charged on your present bill.
Look at the number of days you have been billed. Some winter bills cover more than the usual 60 odd days and could be 70 days or more. That can make a huge difference at this time of year.
If you are still mystified try switching off all appliances and look at the meter. The revolving dial should come to a stop after a couple of minutes. If it doesn't it means there is still something causing it to revolve and if you can't isolate it call in an electrician and have him check your installation. You might have a wiring fault.
If it does stop as expected then take a meter reading every day around the same time for a week or so. That will give you your daily usage and knowing which appliances are in use you should be able to pinpoint the heavy users and hopefully be able to make economies.
Regards,
Fnergg
Thanks, all sound advice which I try to implement as much as I can. Imersion, yes, sometimes gets forgotten, a timer could be ideal. However, I have another query here. My central heating panel has a "hot water" setting which can be used to heat the water as well. Could this be a cheaper alternative (does it use gas to heat it?!) or is it the same as just clicking the imersion?
Checked last bill, was an accurate one, however, as you mentioned, my expensive bill was for 77 days....so that does account for some of the increase.
To get a timer fitted to the imersion, do I call a professional, or is it something that can be done yourself?
What sort of ocsts are involved?
I feel it is estimated readings which often give rise to large bills. Would it be an idea if esb and bord gais did the estimated readings at a time when usage is low which show lessen possibility of a large bill after a meter reading
The Liveline shows on the ESB were a disgrace. Various individuals phoned in to complain about the size of their bills and the impression given was that they were being ripped off by an unscrupulous utility. There was no challenge to some of the claims made, no probing as to why their bills had been so high. .
Many people will have bought large screen TVs in the recent past without realising that they cost *significantly* more to run than the old style cathode ray sets. The average household is now using much more electricity than 10 years ago.
Was this mere coincidence or a cleverly manipulated event by Bord Gais or its agents? Make up your own mind but I have no doubt whatsoever.
Well I think we're entitled to the 'unscrupulous utility' viewpoint for several reasons:
- the astronomicial ESB salaries (on average over 72k p.a. reported recently, and voer 100k p.a. in one of the generating stations)
- the continued obstructionism, by the ESB, of things such as commercial, micro generation, and until recently, wind
- I'm not sure your statement vis-a-vis TV's is correct (but I will check it). This is the sort of stuff we saw advertised with regard to the Power of One, and turning off all those red LED appliances. I monitored my broadband router - which is on 24/7 btw - and it has consumed a mere 0.05 inside the last month.
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