Energy prices

[wiljoy]

My gas and electric are due for renewal soon. Almost all providers won't give a quote any more. My present provider is looking at a significant increase as has been forecast in the news. This time last year electricity was 15p/kWh, now it is 27p/kWh and soon to go up to 65p/kWh.

Some interesting thoughts on this.
1. Thank god I didn't buy an electric car!
2. I wonder how many people will still leave their van plugged in all winter with the heating on low?
3. Campsite fees will be due for another significant increase next year if one opts for EHU.
4. My booked Spanish winter holiday will certainly help with these fuel bills over winter.

Anyone got other thoughts, other than stocking up on thick jumpers and blankets?

Our campsite in Spain has dramatically increased electricity prices for the winter. Normally we pay about 15 euros a month and now they want nearly 5 euros per day which is 150 euros a month. Ouch.

 

[Westrow3]

Hoping we will be ok this year. Have 4kw of solar and 16.4 kw of batteries. Also managed to get on a tariff which provides 4 hours at night at 7.5p a kw. Should put enough in the batteries to supply most if not all our electric in the winter.

The tariff I'm on is called Intelligent Octopus and gives up to 6 hours at 7.5p (between 11:30pm - 5:30am)

 

[Silver-Fox]

Octopus do an excellent EV tariff which charges the car overnight for 7.5p/kWh (just increased from 5p) filling then car up now costs £5.25 rather than the £3.50 I've been paying for the previous 12 months.

Out of interest what range do you get for your £5.25 “fill up”

 

[Westrow3]

Out of interest what range do you get for your £5.25 “fill up”

There are lots of variables but a safe average would be around 210 miles of motorway speed (I always know I'm safe if I plan to stop every 3 hours), 260 miles of urban roads.

 

[Silver-Fox]

There are lots of variables but a safe average would be around 210 miles of motorway speed (I always know I'm safe if I plan to stop every 3 hours), 260 miles of urban roads.

Pretty good compared to the average diesel per £5

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[Minxy]

You've just gotten me thinking.
My van lives on my drive.
How much would we save if we moved into it for the winter?
A few LPG refills. Free solar electric and connect onto EHU if needed .WiFi from the house.
Occasional bath night's
What else do we need?

Strangely I had the same thoughts a few days ago.

You could cook and stay in the house on warmer days and off to the Moho at night

We've had the same conversation.

I've suggested that when we need to charge up our phones, laptops etc,, we use the camper to do so!

 

[Silver-Fox]

I've suggested that when we need to charge up our phones, laptops etc,, we use the camper to do so!

That should save you about £5











A year

 

[busby]

Agreed, but environmental concerns come second to keeping your family warm

Te the government that,,BUSBY.

 

[Dutch 68]

Or have the heating system totally drained down as we are doing before leaving for Spain
So 3 months of zero gas consumption and only a small amount of electricity used should help keep the energy bill down .

No dampness in the house?

 

[Neil S]

No dampness in the house?

Nope not last time we drained it down but that was winter 2020 just before Covid got bad
We do leave a few widows open slightly for ventilation , my nephew lives across the road so he watches the house , comes in every second day to intercept the mail .
My other neighbours a Gas safe registered plumber so he comes in
4-5 days before we get home refills the system and fires the boiler up
Set the temp at 20c and leaves it .
The house is nice and warm when we get home

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[gus-lopez]

when we need to charge up our phones, laptops etc,, we use the camper to do so!

We've done that since long before electric price went up.

My mate has always gone away in autumn/winter just turns off heating and locks the doors.

 

[Neil S]

You've just gotten me thinking.
My van lives on my drive.
How much would we save if we moved into it for the winter?
A few LPG refills. Free solar electric and connect onto EHU if needed .WiFi from the house.
Occasional bath night's
What else do we need?

That’s what we are thinking of doing although we have a caravan now
But we have ALDE heating , EHU if needed
2 x 10kg Safefill cylinders , LPG station within 15 mins
Onboard 40 litre water tank if it gets really cold
Good terrestrial TV reception and comfy seating and beds , what’s not to like
Be cheaper than running the gas central heating in the house

 

[Neil S]

You either need to keep it on low during winter, or drain all the water, including the water in the central heating system.

Only if it really cold , the froststat will kick in if the heating is off but it drops below zero

 

[Stealaway]

You've just gotten me thinking.
My van lives on my drive.
How much would we save if we moved into it for the winter?
A few LPG refills. Free solar electric and connect onto EHU if needed .WiFi from the house.
Occasional bath night's
What else do we need?

We've done that since long before electric price went up.

My mate has always gone away in autumn/winter just turns off heating and locks the doors.

I've recently downloaded the BG app for gas and electric usage.
I turn off the gas (& water) when we leave the house empty.
I leave the electrics on to keep the fridge freezer running.
I only have to pay 27 p a day for the gas standing charge.
The fridge freezer costs about a £1.00 a day
Im wondering if it's worth it, do we really keep £36 worth of frozen stuff in it.(a month plus holiday in Europe)
I doubt it.
I would be better chucking any thing we don't take with us in the bin and turning off the electric as well.

 

[Gaston aires]

I think shutting off the rads in 3 bedrooms and a guest room is the way to go for us.
Even if you go to a warmer country for your 90 days you will still have to pay daily charges at extortion prices.
Phil

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[Steve and Denise]

I think shutting off the rads in 3 bedrooms and a guest room is the way to go for us.
Even if you go to a warmer country for your 90 days you will still have to pay daily charges at extortion prices.
Phil

We’re not coming to stay at your cold house then

 

[Gaston aires]

We’re not coming to stay at your cold house then

You’re welcome but you will have to share a bedroom with us.

 

[DavidG58]

I tried turning off three bedrooms last winter, set rads to frost, the rooms were definitely really cold but it barely changed the gas consumption

Seriously considering our MH as well , turn the heating to frost for house

We have smart meters at home and it has highlighted we have a daylight consumption of around 800W, 1400W overnight, we leave a lot of lights on so accept the difference but never really resolved the 800W other than 300W pond pump at least daytime use is free as long as the sun shines

 

[PaulOH]

I know it's not possible to go back, but I think it is instructive to think about how it was perfectly okay and maybe even a bit racy to have a double socket in your living room, which was conspicuously added to soon by an adaptor after adding the VHS and your mum wanted to keep the betamax or the lamp on the telly.

I believe everyone needs very soon to think about how we can reduce our electrical consumption very much and very quickly. If you have a private electrical solar setup then very good - use it fast!

I don't yet have panels on the van cos their too dear for me, but I was thinking of a portable system till I can afford something.

 

[Old Gibber]

I tried turning off three bedrooms last winter, set rads to frost, the rooms were definitely really cold but it barely changed the gas consumption

When you do that, heat from downstairs simply goes through the ceiling, where there is no insulation, to heat the bedroom anyway.

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[Minxy]

We’re not coming to stay at your cold house then

You’re welcome but you will have to share a bedroom with us.

 

[Old Gibber]

Or have the heating system totally drained down as we are doing before leaving for Spain
So 3 months of zero gas consumption and only a small amount of electricity used should help keep the energy bill down .

Just checked my bill for last February, I left the thermostat on holiday mode set at 10 degrees. During the month I used just £6 of gas. Draining and filling the heating system and adding inhibitor (a requirement for the boiler guarantee) would have cost far more than that, even if I'd done it myself.
Electricity, I used 1.5kWh per day. Not bad to keep the stupid American fridge freezer, boiler, internet and sky box on.