How Much is the Average Electricity Bill in the UK ?
So you have received a higher than average bill for your electricity and want to know if this is higher than the national average then read on to see if you are being charged more than you should.
If you go onto any comparison website you’ll probably notice that there are quotes for the average electricity bill for each household around the UK and this is derived from set figures that the energy regulator ofgem have provided for all electric suppliers should use.
It’s fairly basic in its measure and is as follows:
- Average electricity usage of 3,300 kWh for standard single rate electricity that’s averaged across all regions and
- Average gas usage of 20,500 kWh per household
Most companies will then quote prices for paying by monthly direct debit which generally lowers the charges and current rates for British Gas standard tariff works out to be a yearly bill of around £1,127.
So what if your electricity bill is higher than this ?
The average annual electricity bill worked out on the above numbers on a British Gas standard tariff equates to £327 per year which if you are like any of us seems really cheap but our bills are usually higher that we receive each quarter but these figures are of course averages.
Most people in a 3 or 4 bedroom regular house would probably pay around £30-£40 per month and if you are in a 1 or 2 bedroom flat you should be paying less.
However there are areas in which these figures can be higher and if you’ve just received a higher than average bill here are possible reasons as to why and how to sort it out.
- You are on standard tariff – if you are on a standard tariff from any of the main electricity suppliers then you are paying too much. There are easy ways to switch from your current provider and if you pay by direct debit as well you should see savings of between 10-20%
- You have been on estimated bills – one of the problems in this country is estimated bills which tend to be on the conservative side. Then all of a sudden someone comes to read your meter and then the real readings are in place and your bill is too high. It’s always best to check the readings on your bill or actually provide your provider with the readings so you don’t get a nasty shock. Most of the electric providers allow you to submit meter readings online and British Gas has their energy smart programme which ties all this together. If you have been on low estimated bills for many months your electric company will then want to increase your monthly direct debit
- It’s winter – of course we use more electric heating and lighting in the winter months so bills will be higher
- You have electric heating – this can be expensive so watch how you use this and if you can benefit from the lower priced economy 7 tariffs
- You use an immersion tank and heating too often – this is one of the most expensive ways to heat water so if you have a gas heating system try to use this first and avoid using the immersion heating. This is like boiling electric kettles and is not energy efficient at all.
- You need to save power – although more of us are aware of wasting energy it’s all to easy to leave lights on, not having the new energy saving lightbulbs installed or simply not thinking about what is switched on in your home. Simple changes in your lifestyle can save a ton of energy during the year.
The best thing is not to worry but if you find your bill has increased to an amount you are not comfortable with or you have trouble paying it then contact your energy supplier right away who can discuss anything with you and hopefully put things right. The average electricity bill for a household in the UK is only set to increase over the years so ensure you find the cheapest electric supplier and try to save what energy you are using on a daily basis.
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