Electricity costs.

Unless I've missed it, you don't give the split between what your bill is for daytime electricity and cheap rate overnight electricity i.e. what you use on night store heaters, running your washing machine, dishwasher, immersion heater, etc. (you do run them overnight I hope, with time clocks). Comparing the two figures would show you where the bulk of your costs are coming from. There's not a lot of point in trying to economise during the day if it's the night stores that are making up the bulk of the bill. Do your night stores have a 4pm boost, because IIRC that can be at daytime rates and can be really expensive.

We're also in Cornwall, on E7, Southern Electric, paid by DD. 3 bed bungalow with dormer room, DG and loft insulation but no cavity wall insulation, just two of us home all day (retired). Gas CH supplemented by very occasional electric heating (the odd fan heater on in the autumn evenings before the gas CH is switched on), electric cooking (hob+oven, microwave), one fridge, one freezer. Dishwasher run every night, washing machine for clothes say twice per week (no tumble drier), immersion on every night, all three on timers for E7. We have one night store heater but haven't used it for a couple of years (used to have three but I took the other two out years ago). A few low-energy light bulbs, but some filament ones also. Excess hot water from the kettle is stored in a big thermos flask for next time (must save a penny or two!).

FWIW, our total electricity bill for May 2009 to May 2010 was £642, less about £30 for DD discount. The units/cost breakdown between cheap rate and daytime rate was 2773 units/£151 night rate against 3116 units/£491 day rate. Night energy rate currently (oops, sorry!)

5.45p/unit, and day rate 18.83p/unit for first 1000 units/year then 14.33p/unit thereafter.
Reply to
Chris Hogg
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In message , tim.... writes

It's subsidised by the council ( if that still happens) or the power companies.

We had ours done via nPower in the December 2008. For a 250mm topup it cost £229 for the max 80m^2 allowed under the offer (plus jackets for two cold water tanks). We paid an extra £65 for an extra 10m^2.

My parents had their done for free a few years ago - either because they are pensioners, and/or my Dad gets disabled living allowance.

Reply to
chris French

Have you had a look at 18185 as a way of reducing phone costs? Works very well for me.

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Reply to
Chris J Dixon

Has he got the money to spend?. Sounds like if your getting chest infections because of mould then thats a serious problem. Perhaps either too much moisture in the building or too many cold surfaces for it to condense on..

FWIW we have a rented property and the occupant of one of the rooms always had a mould condensation problem but then again she'd never open the windows to ventilate the room. However we did, as this was solid 9" brickwork line the external walls with Gyproc board, cost around a couple of hundred pounds plus my time but these made quite a difference overall combined with a vent in the window...

Reply to
tony sayer

Deja Vu? This seems identical to a question some months back?

I asked about condensation some months back and about electricty prices in general

With the insulation you have AND the electricity spend you should be getting higher temperatures than that.

No, OH has taken the fact we are insulated as an opportunity to drop the heating down so we dont have them on very high - to save money. But he still says we are paying too much and using too much, but I cannot see how ( and I dont know where he gets his figures unless its money box on radio 4)

How many 3.3kW storage heaters do you have?

- 3.3kW NSH charging 100% for 120 days (Nov Dec Jan Feb)

- 24 units @ 5.5p inc VAT x 120 = £158.40

- Typical charge

Reply to
sweetheart

No I didnt give the spilt but its roughly half and half . The night usage being slightly higher ( I guess that covers the fact I do mostly - occassionally I need to run a dishwasher or washing during the day if I need things in a hurry) .

I am beginning to think the only things left to be running this bill up are the fridge and the freezer and such which have to run all day and all night. I only have a fridge and a freezer, so I guess its them? They are new so they dont run away with the electric.

Do your night stores have a 4pm boost,

No, we are straight E7 at night.

Thanks for that. It gives me some sort of guide.

Reply to
sweetheart

This is moot. He says we havent. He scrutinises all the bills and claims we cannot afford them.

However, I work , although its only part time. I get about £906 month take home in a standard month. If I work overtime I can get maybe £200 more sometimes but that cannot be counted on.

My husband retired a couple of years ago and gets a pension of £830 month after tax from his ex employer. He also has an interest payment of £121 month coming in from investments.currently ( but that cant be totally relied on either as it could go down in the future - but not for at least 12 months) . We do not get any benefits and he is not old enough for a state pension and cant claim pension credit.

We have no mortgage. The electric bill is as I said. No other fuel. Our biggest monthly bill is the council tax at £128 a month and the house insurance at £20 a month ( just gone up) We run a car ( I have to go to work).

If you are asking do we have money in the bank to pay the bills - then , yes we do. But other half believes we have to save as much as possible because one day we will be bankrupt because we spend it.

I am not sure what ( other than christmas presents ) we do spend it on. In fact, we dont. The bank balance shows that but OH is a "saver" . He wont spend on anything. He has become more obsessed since he retired.

Reply to
sweetheart

As others have said, your power use doesn't seem excessive, and the penny-pinching you report your OH as imposing appears unreasonable.

Are you seeking evidence to enable you to discuss matters rationally, or simply moral support? I'm not sure that being right keeps one warm.

From the tone of your postings, the chance of OH being persuaded that he is wrong, even in the face of logical evidence, seems remote.

As one who has often been accused of behaving logically, when an emotional response might have been more appropriate, it seems to me that your choice comes down to accept the situation or change it.

Chris

Reply to
Chris J Dixon

I think this is sounding more and more like a relationship problem than a diy problem.

Allowing your partner's health to suffer because of a reluctance to spend money is despicable. Your partner's health and wellbeing should come *first* above all other concerns.

But perhaps the root of this is about adjusting to retirement (an early medical retirement?), whilst you continue to work and bring in money?

Perhaps your relationship is different, but I think for most people financial planning and spending priorities are mutual decisions.

Reply to
dom

In article , sweetheart scribeth thus

Seems to me you he and thee need to talk..

OK thats not the easiest thing to do but seems it needs to be done.

You said that he helps out his sisters, if so how does he do that on a pension?..

Reply to
tony sayer

Sigh. If under 20yrs old they would have been fine (money saved).

Which means charge is set to #1. The difference between #1 & #6 is quite substantial when it is cold. Worse, it means the fabric of the house can not get warm (heat store).

Ok, 2x 1.5kW + 2x 3kW =3D 9kW

- Maximum winter bill is 120 days of 100% charge (#6 & supercold)

- 9kW x 7hrs x 120 days =3D 7560 units =3D =A3415.80

The difference between running at #1 v #6 is about =A3100 at most.

Ah, that will be 6p/hr to run, and does very little.

6p/hr gets you 0.5kW during the day. 6p/hr gets you about 1.2kW overnight on E7 - better value. Thus forcing you to use peak heating is not economic.

It would, but they draw about 250W (0.25kW) or 2.5p/hr. Buy one with a humidistat, run for 6hrs/day over 120 days =3D =A318. Problem is he will turn the humidistat to "turn on only if 90% humidity" :-(

Hmmm... What ventilation do you have re wall vents? Are your floors solid concrete or wood - if it is wood you might have a wet underfloor problem? I assume the gutters are all clear and not overflowing onto the walls.

Reply to
js.b1

Allowing your partner's health to suffer because of a reluctance to spend money is despicable. Your partner's health and wellbeing should come *first* above all other concerns.

But perhaps the root of this is about adjusting to retirement (an early medical retirement?), whilst you continue to work and bring in money?

Perhaps your relationship is different, but I think for most people financial planning and spending priorities are mutual decisions.

Its not a relationship problem. Its DIY because I love him to bits. I wanted comparisons because I need to know whether I am being profligate and what sort of figures are realistic. DIY is a good place for information like that. After all everyone is anonymous and its a cheeky question to ask people what their bills are.

Reply to
sweetheart

They plead poverty , he gives them money from our savings. Simple.

Reply to
sweetheart

You need two separate bank accounts.

Reply to
S Viemeister

In that case, is there anywhere to fit a wood burning stove? There's normally plenty of scrap wood around you can burn so running costs are low and they can chuck out plenty of heat.

Matt

Reply to
matthelliwell

I feel that getting some 3rd party to assist might work. Someone who OH would listen to and respect and who would see both sides of the story.

If OH listens to his sister's requests, can you talk to them about what seems to be a very real health problem and use them to persuade him to change his ways - even a bit.

You say you love him to bits but it does sound rather that this is not reciprocated with his attitude to money and your health?

Do you have the same GP? Would he listen to the GP if he was told your health was suffering?

Bob

Reply to
Bob Minchin

Ah. So its like the labour government, in miniature.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

wood burning stove in bedroom, is fantastic.

Dries air, ventilates room, warms room. MMM.

AND is cheaper than CH because it only heats that room by and large.

HOWEVER installation is generally a grand at least, to be SAFE. And beware burning too much scrap or you will soot up the chimney.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Do you put your dishwasher, washing machine, and drier all on timers so that they use the Economy 7?

If not - you need to as it will make quite a difference.

Reply to
JMS

Yes, they do all go on during the cheap rate except very occassionaly in an emergency

Reply to
sweetheart

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