UK Energy Costs

[Golgo]

We're £760 in credit with those robbing swine at Scottish Power and I'm typing this quite contentedly in fingerless gloves. Ordinarily we would have had the heating on by this time of year but we've refused to touch it. The current price banditry has actually led to a useful insight into how little we actually need to burn to be comfortable.

[Super Monkey Balls]

Has everybody who is slagging off their energy providers actually calculated what they should be paying when averaged over the last year? I've had some fishy DD calculations before but nothing that wasn't solved with a phone call and the figures at hand.

[Ouenben]

I was DD with Bulb for £100 a month, (2 bed flat with two occupants) and then since the £66 has been coming in I've been able to lower it to £50 on their app which I did straight away.

[charlesr]

[MENTION=3687]Golgo[/MENTION] I'm doing the same but I worry the house will get damp. Plus I don't have a tumble drier so washed jeans are taking 48hrs to dry, by which time they smell a bit I'm only really doing it to see what it's.

[QualityChimp]

We've not put the heating on yet.
I've been cold the last couple of nights and went to bed early to warm up!

[Anpanman]

I haven't done that much, thermostat down lower, time on and off not as lengthy as last year but boiler temperature is the same and water temperature is up.

All in all I'm estimating lower consumption in units over winter than last year.

I've been Excelling usage for over ten years, more detailed over the last couple when we got a new boiler with better finite controls. Experimented with different heating methods over the last two years and using that knowledge hopefully to good use this year.

Of course it could all come crashing down and we might use more gas then Belgium.

[teddymeow]

We've not put the heating on yet.
I've been cold the last couple of nights and went to bed early to warm up!

Ditto.

[fallenangle]

I've been doing that for years, along with using additional clothing layers, thermal underwear and hot water bottles.

Most winters I rarely use any room heating, I heat myself instead.

What is the killer though is hot water - trying to do without that for washing purposes or at least using significantly reduced temperatures is not fun at all. When the water from the tap is below 5°C bracing is not the word; unpleasantly cold is a better description.

[charlesr]

I don't have any stored hot water (there's an immersion tank electric but I never turn it on. Electric shower heats in real time and for washing up, I just boil a couple of kettles and put some cold in

[Neon Ignition]

I think on the meter we're using just 3 units of gas per month atm which will be coming from the hot water taps mostly when doing the pots or washing hands. Definitely low enough that electric to heat via other methods will be swallowing up much of the difference. Mostly mindful atm of Bulb going to Octopus and them trying to play funny buggers with the DD amount. Jan/Feb really are the concern atm but there should 100% be enough credit stored to cover it so I've no time for DD increases, especially with the price fixed for the moment too

[Asura]

We're using loads. I mean, within reason. We're not wantonly wasteful. But I grew up poor, where lighting and heating were at a premium. Now I'm past that, so I'll find savings elsewhere if I need to.

[BearBoy]

I think on the meter we're using just 3 units of gas per month atm which will be coming from the hot water taps mostly when doing the pots or washing hands. Definitely low enough that electric to heat via other methods will be swallowing up much of the difference. Mostly mindful atm of Bulb going to Octopus and them trying to play funny buggers with the DD amount. Jan/Feb really are the concern atm but there should 100% be enough credit stored to cover it so I've no time for DD increases, especially with the price fixed for the moment too

3 units? Blimey. We used 139 in October (although that's down from the 204 we used the same time last year).

I wouldn't worry too much about Octopus and them messing you about with your DD. From my experience (I've been with them a while now), all the DD increases and decreases have been optional (although you have to opt out - i.e. if you do nothing it will change) and you can amend it any time you like on their website. Not sure if they have limits to you trying to drastically reduce it below what you're actually using but I've never had a problem with them.

[Neon Ignition]

Good to hear, with the Government top ups we've switched to paying a shade over what the monthly cost is. Last night was the first 0 degree night locally, felt it but we're still not at extra wrapping up point so hoping to hold out longer

[Colin]

I wasn't really expecting to come in to this thread and read so much of you going to these extremes, I hope you can all get through this ok if it's this bad now before it even gets properly cold.

[Neon Ignition]

I think I'd be more relaxed about it if the Tories hadn't u-turned on the price freeze from April. I have zero faith they won't inflate the cap