Selfsufficientish.com

I have stolen this idea from neeps (shirley won't mind ) I am sure that other forums must do it too.

So if we put in our electricity usage every Monday so we can follow how much we use, and compare to other peoples usage.

I have never followed my electricity usage and I think doing it together might encourage me.

We have storage heaters in 3 rooms, and a plug in heater for the kitchen, so I'd imagine our usage is higher than average.

We are on ecnomy 7 though... so I'll give 2 readings
1. 14692
2. 05335 (this is the cheaper tariff.... I hate economy 7, note that it is about a third of the higher tariff)
total - 22573



Who is going to join me?

It sounds a great idea but I have no idea how to decipher meter readings. Can somebody explain? And to be honest I can only take part if my lovely husband agrees to read the meter weekly - it is so high up that I can't see if even if I'm standing on a chair!

With mine, I have to press a button (it says 'display' beside it) I have to press it 3 or 4 times for it to cycle through the settings, then it shows the digital display with all the 8s (you know, like the whole display is lit up) then the next press of the button is reading 1, then press again for reading 2, then once more for the total.
But that is an Economy 7 meter, I don't think others are that complicated.

Take a photo of your meter and we'll show you how to read it, cos we're nice like that

Woop! just got confirmation through that we are moving onto a fixed tariff rate (I set it up in August before the bog price hikes, but it has taken them this long to sort it) Our Electricity costs have just gone down by about 25% - don't have the figures to hand but it is around that

Come on who else is going to join in?

mostly gas here - but will have a go - I think our meter is clockwork though!

Can't really say too much, but our Economy 7 timer is on the blink,so we are currently getting cheap-rate electric from 06.15 to13.15. ......oops, i won't tell anyone if you don't!

I will,

we only have electric here, and no heating as the house is heated on wood. My washing machine works rather hard - and seeings as the rayburn that my husband put in the kitchen last weekend isn't connected yet, so does the knackered electric oven i am currently using. I am with a 'green supplier' as we have plenty of turbines round our way - so I accept that my prices can be a bit higher than average - but we don't have a gas bill so thats something.

Lorna x

I took some readings on Thursday 27th, my electric was 45651. (I have gas too). I have used 111 units since 10 November. This will cost about £16.

It is an interesting idea to see how much other people might be paying for fuel bills.

As it is nearly Monday this is my reading as of now: 45677 - 16 units in 4 days (£2.37).

How's everybody else doing?

Invisible piper - if your dial is between 2 numbers you read the lowest - what you need to watch out for is that they alternate between clockwise & anti clockwise..

I'd like to join your club!

Current meter reading (same as invisible piper's) is 12826.
12465 was the last reading on 27th Oct (ish) so we've used 361 units in 34 days.
That adds up to roughly £48
Oh dear!

I'll try and play. Not sure what our usage has been up till now but our monthly DD has just gone down to £4.60.
Today's reading is: 65565.

1 - 14771
2 - 05351
Total -22721

1 - 79 units
2 - 16 units

total 95

This is the first time I have ever followed my weekly usage..... It looks awfuly scarey

Baring in mind that this has been the coldest week, temperatures not getting above 0oC for the last 4 days... and I have had to pull a second plug in electric heater out of the cupboard. I have also hung fleeces at most of the windows and in front of the front door.

My biggest worry is the difference between peak rate and cheap rate is so huge...... I am going to start a new thread....

OK - starting now cos I've been busy. 62595 - and scary cos I can see the numbers ticking over - and all I have on is the washing machine ( I know - a heavy user of energy).
Thanks for the tip Ellie!
Yes Annpan - its freezing! ( sorry - couldn't find an icon for freezing and ice cream is more positive anyway!)

i shall watch this thread with interest, but cant take part til next year....am moving out of this flat on wed and wont be in a new one til feb/mar time, as going to oz for a month in 3 wks....will be there in 3wks!!.......moving out is a great way to solve the gas and eleccie bills.....