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Child Item

Average Electric Bill

BlackEdelweiss

I think my electric bill is very high but dont have anything to compare it to.

It is usually about €170 per month. We live in a 3 bed semi with a converted attic / office. We have 3 kids living at home. Usual tv, white goods, 1 pc, phones etc.

Is this very high?

If it is very high, what could be causing it?

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Housefree

Is your heating electric?

BlackEdelweiss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117857707#Comment_117857707

Oil.

Electric showers.

2011

Yes it is high in my opinion.

The largest contribution to domestic electricity bills in ireland tends to be from things that heat. This would include but not be limited to immersion elements, cookers, electric heaters, and instantaneous showers.

An air conditioning unit would be an expensive piece of kit to run too if you had it as would a mining rig.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117857743#Comment_117857743

I'm not a fan of electric showers, I'd rather use the hot water in the tank heated by the oil, which is what I do, pump in the hot press then feeds the showers. Use immersion in the warmer months and that usually does the showers and house then for the day with very little left over by night, I know a lot of People say the shower heats only the amount of water you need, true but the heating is on a lot more than it's off during the year so why add to the cost heating water if there's a tank full in the hot-press going to waste ? + as I said we just about get the day from a tank using the immersion in the warmer months.

Out electric bill is around this but I got night rate leccy so all the heavy loads are on during the off peak times which the introduction of the smart meters seems to be doing away with as they introduced a 3rd band called peak band to catch all those cooking the dinner between 5-7 pm and the Government spouting about smart meaters going to make bills cheaper. I've seen companies greatly reduce the night rate time now for those with smart meters. Anyway, for now I will keep my standard day/night meter.

I also drive electric car from Carlow to Dublin and back each day 5 days a week, sometimes get some free charging for half the trip sometimes not. Weekend driving and extra driving is on me.

2011

An oil boiler is preferable to heating the water electricity but it is still quite expensive. A modern gas boiler would be far cheaper to run but better still would be a heat pump or solar panels.

Xcellor

Are you sure that is for 1 month and not 2 months. I have a modest 4 bed wife and baby and the figure you quote is more like 2 month usage.

JimmyVik

Thats very high.

Did you switch to those new smart meters recently.

A lot of people getting caught out by the expensive plans that are the only ones available with smart meters.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859113#Comment_117859113

yeah, my first reaction was also that that is more likely the figure per bill rather than the figure per month.

BlackEdelweiss

Monthly bill, just checked my bank account to be sure.

Gaz

For comparison, my house is a 4 bed detached house with gas for heating (family of 5). Our monthly bill is just shy of €100.

Creamy Goodness

There's something awry there. I'm in a 4 bed semi, with a similar/same load (minus the kids but I make up for it with a lot more electronics) and my bill for two months is €153, heating and cooking is all electric, no gas/oil.

Atlantic Dawn

€170 a month for a 3 bed is a lot, especially considering these are the summer months. Have you checked if any appliances are faulty? I'd be looking at say the fridge is permanently running the compressor due to a leak or fault.

John.G

Well water pump??.

3d4life

I think my electric bill is very high but dont have anything to compare it to. It is usually about €170 per montDo you have a clothes dryer ?

@ OP

Do you have a clothes dryer ?

Do you know what price you are paying per unit of electricity ?

When did you last change electricity provider ?

When did you last visit Bonkers.ie ?

MAULBROOK

Change supplier and get solar PV.

Most expensive bill I had was €114 for two months in the winter, lowest is €50 during the summer.

Solar works,

Wildly Boaring

If you said 170 for 2 months in summer in you situation I'd say it was high.

We've never had a bill of 170 for 2 months.

So for one month, yes it's high

AndyBoBandy

4 bed semi-D, 2 adults (both full time home based), 1 child, plenty of electronics, electric over, Electric car, bill is roughly €100 per month (€1,200 per year).

Wearb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859930#Comment_117859930

+1 One of the biggest culprits, though often more than that. They should always be wired with light that comes on when it runs.

3d4life

We live in a 3 bed semi with a converted attic / office

This doesnt sound like a well water situation.

*** Awaits OP to clarify ***

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859322#Comment_117859322

I'm not doubting you and I know some accounts Monthly but mine is Bi Monthly with Electric Ireland (esb) , might be just worth checking the actual bill, for example mine reads 61 days (2 months). I suggest this as I know some customers set up payments over 12 months on a budgeting type plan/option.

I do think your bill is high if its Monthly and I think the electric showers are the main culprit. Perhaps dryer,Kettle, Emersion etc. Essentially anything requiring an element to heat water very, very costly.

redarmyblues

3 bed semi, gas hob, electric shower, oil and solid fuel, 65 pm, I adult, 1 11 yo.

Darc19

Cannabis grow house in the attic conversion?

My bill just came in. Smart meter, so actual readings rather than estimates.

555 units used in two month period.

€143 bill.

It used to be €230-€250

Biggest use was always washing machine and tumble dryer. Used also for an Airbnb property linens and towels.

We checked settings and moved to one hour or 40 minutes wash cycle. (Absolutely no need for 2hour+ wash cycles)

We Let clothes dry naturally for a couple of hours and finish the drying in the dryer.

Similar to dishwasher. We give particular plates a quick clean under the tap and used the 30minute cycle.

Bills dropped immediately and substantially.

So with 2 adults and 3 children, I would suspect that the big users are washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher.

2011

Agreed, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher all have heating elements and tend to be on for protracted periods hence they consume a lot.

passatman86

About €160 a month here with pre pay power, smart meter..

Question - anyone else with pre pay power in a family home, did you change your rates option or is it necessary..

And anyone on pre pay power broadband - what you think of it, what is the daily or weekly charge

Thanks

OU812

I track costs (for fun, honest - I do nerdy stuff with data so I use this sort of thing to practice with). I happen to have tracked bills from 2008 when I started this gig.

That’s our usage above. We’re heavy users. Full house, lights always being left on despite my best efforts. lots of iot things etc

Washing machine & dryer going most days. Heating is gas (figures also tracked). I do change supplier every year for the discounts though.

magicbastarder

what happened between nov/dec 2014 and jan/feb 2015? that's a 50%+ jump. estimated reading vs actual, i assume?

Darc19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117861172#Comment_117861172

That was the time electricity jumped very quickly to the levels we are currently experiencing.

Prices went on a downward trend after that until this year's increases

spurious

How many kWh per month are you using OP?

[Deleted User]

Seems high all right. It's not your provider, it's consumption. Something is causing excessive usage. Speak with an electrician maybe.

dublin49

4 bed with Attic ,1200 a year sounds right to me.170 a month is way too high.Are you sure it doesnt include your gas?