The Big Switch
Posted in Blog by: Lottie
Our latest ESB bill arrived this morning and I do love getting mail so I tore open the envelope like a child on Christmas morning. The ensuing feeling could only be compared to that of a parent who awakes on that Christmas morning to find that the house has been robbed.
Our ESB bill for the period of 18th December to 20th February is €342 flat (€42 of which are arrears). That is the highest it has been yet, usually coming in around the €240 mark.
I’ve said before, we live in a small two bed-room apartment.
We are rarely here during the day and the majority of our power is consumed between 7pm and midnight. We don’t own a tumble drier. I put on the washing machine no more than twice a week. However there are two laptops running most evening, we have the emersion on for a few hours early in the morning and the bedroom heater runs for three hours over the late evening/early morning.
Out of interest I went down to our meter room. For some reason our meter is oscillating at approximately 4 times the speed of any of the others despite there not being a thing turned on in the apartment. I have reported a fault previously. I have went to the ESB on my hands and knees asking that they check it out because this high usage just doesn’t make sense. I have recorded our use and it doesn’t add up. According to our bill (which is not an estimate) we have used 100 day units and 100 night units in 4 days. Does that make sense to anyone? Clearly there is some questions over unit usage an issue which I am going to continue to investate.
However,Bord Gais announced their entrance into the electricity market last week and today I begin The Big Switch. They promise a 10-14% decrease in the amount of a bill so it’s worth a try. It all seems relatively straight-forward. The application is available online. The forms are very well laid out and easy to navigate.
To change over you will need your ESB bill with your MPRN number and you have an opportunity to submit a meter reading if you wish to do so. The whole application process has taken no more than 10 minutes.
PS: There is an additional 2% discount if you set up a Direct Debit however I want to give it a few months to see the size of the bills. They are still a semi-state body after all.
I have also chosen not to waive the cooling off period and the change over should take effect within 20 days.
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February 25th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Well,it sounds to me like either you are leaving something electrical on standby that is atin’ the power up..or ..someone is piggybacking your supply..
You may want to get an electrician out to check it…
February 25th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Christ on a bike!!!!! My bill isn’t that much even in Yummy Mammy Towers, and I have small child that never turns a light off, has a tv on in every room and the dryer never stops. Add everything else in, computers, various gadgets on charge all the time, sunbed, power showers, oven etc and I only pay €51 a month on the monthly budget scheme.
I’d get someone out to check that meter cause it doesn’t sound right to me.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
That definitely doesn’t sound right to me, are you sure somebody isn’t living in your apartment while you’re out? I’ve been waiting for someone else to make the switch first because I hate complications with forms and consent and all that… they say it should take about four days so good luck!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Holy hell. I’m with the Mammy – we have a 4 bed det (bourgoisie, dahling) and ours isn’t always that much. Hubby wonders if someone’s nicking your lecky…
February 25th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Sounds well dodgy alright. I think our biggest bill was over 200 but no way 300 – and we have much more space, and tv and the computers on a LOT and my husband leaves all lights on at all times.
So bad!
I hope the problem doesn’t folow you to an Bord G.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Crikey that sounds like a very big bill for a small apartment? I got a bill today for pretty much the same amount and it’s for a busy house AND a recording studio with tons of geeky equipment!
Will the ESB not check it out for you?
I’m definitely going to switch, it’s too door. Oh, and you should see the size of my gas bill. It’s even bigger.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I’m doing this. I had to explain the whole thing to my mother who was confused by the concept.
It’s about time we had options.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Definitely get this checked out. I live in a 4 bed det (like English Mum above) in the countryside, and my last bill was the largest I’ve ever had, €239.
I’ve just made the switch (well, it is very difficult to say no to Lucy Kennedy, mmmmmmm!), and I expect to save about €140 p.a.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Lottie, it’s all these apartment blocks. My place is the exact same, 2 bed and our bill for the winter months was 280.
I do four washes a week (ish)
2 laptops and one pc on all evening
An amp at times
Telly on most evenings
Storage heating during the night and then we have been boosting them for an hour or two every evening to keep the place toasty.
We’re definitely switching.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Definitely get this checked out. We live in a 4 bed det (like English Mum above) in the countryside, with her indoors and 3 children under 10 who don’t know the meaning of “turn it off” or “close that door”. Our last bill was the largest we’ve ever had, €239.
I’ve just made the switch (well, it is very difficult to say no to Lucy Kennedy, mmmmmmm!), and I expect to save about €140 p.a. We’ll see how it works out.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:55 am
I’ve already switched so waiting for Bill number one to see how it compares. I’m in a 2 bed apartment too but in a townhouse type set up. I’m here most days, laptop running, two laptops most days/evenings, have a washer-dryer which is used from time to time (AA rated though luckily).
The last ESB bill I got was my biggest ever since I moved in 4+ years ago and it was €84! I’d die if it even hit €100!!
You should definitely get that checked out Lottie especially the way you said yours is ticking along so much faster than everyone elses, sounds like something is amiss.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I was shocked when my last bill (same period as yours) came to around €150. It’s usually €100 or a little less. Definitely going to look into the old pickle-switch.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Word of caution – I deal with both the ESB and Bord Gais every single day in work and Bord Gais are useless in getting anything done, or done correctly for that matter. I have absolutely no faith in them and I would be very wary of changing over to them, of trying to get an accurate reading, to set up an account, of paying by Laser, anything. And best of luck getting an operator on the phone within 6 or 7 minutes.
If I were you I would take some work headed notepaper and write a sharp letter listing when the fault was recorded etc etc. Make sure this is sorted before you even think of changing over.
I’m sticking with the ESB for the time being. I pay €50 per month so I’m always in a little bit of credit with them.
ps: Make sure your booster switch for the emersion isnt broken and therefore on all the time. We’ve have that a few times in apartments. Also make sure the pump for hot water etc isnt broken & left on, v expensive too. Try reduce those storage heaters usage in evenings, they’re lethal if not used correctly.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:35 am
PS: Make sure your booster switch for the emersion isnt broken and therefore on all the time. We’ve had that a few times in apartments. Also make sure the pump for hot water etc isnt broken & left on, v expensive too. Try reduce those storage heaters usage in evenings, they’re lethal if not used correctly.
February 26th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Folks thanks for all the comments & emails with tips and advice. I will be looking into the matter further in the coming days. A bit under the weather today (damn migraine) so will respond properly when I can see the screen again.
Thanks!
Lottie
February 27th, 2009 at 9:29 am
heard on the radio today that esb are going to lower there prices now too
February 27th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
@ most of you – So I rang the ESB again. They have told em to get an electrician to come out and if there does appear to be a fault with the meter that we have to get an electricians cert and then the ESB will come out and repair it and reimburse us for the cost of the electrician.
I am trying to get someone to look at it next weekend. In the meantime I will do that test again to turn off everything at the mains (Jo the mama’s idea) and see if the meter is still running.
The bill is telling us we used 1973 units of power in two months – so it seems a bit weird. Would people mind letter me know what their unit usage is for the similar period?
@r – we only use 1 heater on an ongoing basis (in the bed room for about 3 hours each day). Storage heaters are dreadful though I do know that.
And I’ve had so much hassle with he ESB that I will give Bord Gáis a chance for a while.
@T Cup – Just goes to show you. They could have dropped the prices long ago – it’s only when there is a commercial gun to their head that they do anything.
@The.Q – you would though wouldn’t you?!”
@Sinead – You have a recording studio?! I want one of those. Can’t sing or play music mind you but it would definitely have to up my ” cool status” by at least 3 points.
February 27th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Our bill from Nov to Jan was €116 that’s with 3 storage heaters, a washer/dryer on about 3 or so times a week, tele on a good lot, emersion on and lights left on.
I’d get it checked out ASAP as ther’s definitely something wrong with it, that doesn’t sound right at all.
On moving to Bord Gais they said to read the fine print in the contracts very carefully as the percentage of savings goes down dramatically in the second and third year and so on.
February 27th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Hmmm I’m definitely gonna recheck my bill too after reading this – ours was around €250 for a similar situation to you two – two people, one apartment, storage heating, nothing on standby, only a few washes/drys a week. And I thought that was bad, so if ours was that then yours has definitely been overcharged I’d say.
Hope you get it sorted out!!
February 27th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
If the electrician gives the meter a clean bill of health, get her to take a look at the plumbing.
If you have water based /boiler heating it has a separate grounding, which might be feeding a lot of power in to the ground rather than in the apartment..
Somehow a friends house got their plumbing wired. Huge bill and somehow lucky that an electrocution didn’t happen.
Broken immersion switch, heating, electric shower, washing machine connections.
Anywhere that the power and water meet.
Then… the neighbours stealing power is always an option. Any unaccounted for cables on the balcony?
If all else fails, you could flip the fuse switches before leaving every day. If you get complaints, you have liggers.
February 27th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
@Mary – on it.
@Will Knott – First off “get her to take a look”. That’s very PC and forward thinking of you.
Thanks for all the tips. There is so much to consider and clearly there is something wrong.
I don’t see any cables hanging around but ill turn off the switches now when I can.
Thanks again!
February 27th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
@Sweetoblivion – Sorry Im slow on the approval today. Let me know how you get on.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Lottie, that sounds like the heaters to me. If they are storage heaters, they’re working during the day too.
It’s either that or there is a half floor in your building populated by the Miggles who are small people who use half of everyone else’s stuff. It’s true, I saw them last night.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
That bill sounds huge! We had this before with the ESB and no amount of complaining changed their stance. The meter doesn’t lie apparently… they calculate things in such a way that you can’t even really argue with them as you haven’t a clue! (well, I don’t anyway…)
I’ve just moved into a new place, and still haven’t quite figured out the storage heater situation, and I’m a demon for the boost on the hot water every night…I am now very nervous. €342 is serious cash to a poor impoverished poor person like me!