Is 3500 kw per month a lot??

Level 2

TBox

19-02-24

1952 views

Hi All & thank you for your patience in considering my question.
We moved house last October & are now using gas for the first time to run central heating off a combi boiler & fuel a 5 ring hob.
Heating is on for a couple of hours in the morning & 4 hours in the evening. We are spending nigh on £257 per month on gas/3500 kWh.
I'm just gobsmacked at the usage & - while I'd love to think there's a fault somewhere - just wanted to ask if that usage is considered normal for 2 people in a medium sized house?

19 Replies

Best Answer

Level 91

meldrewreborn

20-02-24

Best Answer

@TBox

You'll immediately see from the above that we're all different.

My computation is that i used 2,750 kwh in January. My cooking and heating is gas fired through a 36 year old boiler, which isn't the most efficient! (however its not cost effective to change!). My temperatures vary through the day from 19 to 21, and 17 overnight. We live in an extended 3 bed semi in suburban London, and have full double glazing, cavity wall insulation and loft insulation.

Annually I'm at about 13,000 kWh per annum, and that's helped by a solar thermal panel that heats our hot water - particularly in summer.

I still think some accurate information is required and then some investigation if the results are still on the high side. You've got lots of tips to check through. Please keep us advised of your discoveries as they emerge, even if that means the situation is much better than you feared.

Current Eon Next and EDF customer, ex Zog and Symbio. Don't think dual fuel saves money and don't like smart meters. Chronologically Gifted. If I offend let me know by private message, but I’ll continue to express my opinions nonetheless.

Level 91

JoeSoap

19-02-24

@TBox

I have a standard gas boiler feeding a hot water cylinder, central heating and a gas hob. My usage last month was over 3600kWh. We are three people in a 4 bed detached. When no gas appliances are being used check that the meter doesn't advance.

I'm an Eon Next dual fuel customer with no particular expertise but have some time on my hands that I am using to try and help out a bit.

Level 2

TBox

19-02-24

@JoeSoap Thanks so much. I've checked my meter and there is no display on it at all.

Level 79

WizzyWigg

19-02-24

Hi @TBox I have a combi which is used for DHW/DCH only. Cooking is all electric. There's 2 of us in a 4 bed detached built in the 1970s. January gas was 2276 KWh.

Level 91

JoeSoap

19-02-24

Originally Posted by TBox

@JoeSoap Thanks so much. I've checked my meter and there is no display on it at all.

Is it a smart meter? Modern gas meters run on a battery so the display is normally blank and needs waking up. You can try an internet search to see how to read it or you can post a photo here or let us know the make and model and we'll try to help.

Level 79

WizzyWigg

19-02-24

Originally Posted by TBox

@JoeSoap Thanks so much. I've checked my meter and there is no display on it at all.

These links might help: https://www.eonnext.com/help/metering
https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/article/meter-readings

Last edited by WizzyWigg; 19-02-24 at 15:43. Reason: Extra information

Level 91

JoeSoap

19-02-24

@TBox

Another thought, as you’ve recently moved in, do you know when the boiler was last serviced?

Level 2

TBox

19-02-24

I believe it was a month or two before we moved in. It is a very old boiler to be fair so perhaps that has a bearing on the bill?

Level 79

WizzyWigg

19-02-24

@TBox Have you checked the flow temperature of your combi? Ways to do so can be found here: https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/arti...ow-temperature