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Why have I received a bill covering energy used before I moved in to my new home?

  • July 11, 2022
  • 60 replies
  • 11257 views

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60 replies

M.isterW
Rank 6
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  • Rank 6
  • February 6, 2025

If you've got those heaters throughout the house then you've got the most expensive heating system possible. Changing to a flat rate tariff will improve things a bit but there's no way to make those heaters cheap to run. They use a resistive heating element (similar to the one in a kettle or immersion heater) so are 100% efficient... For each kWh of electricity you put in you get a kWh of heat out. I don't know how big your house is but 40kWh doesn't seem unreasonable with those heaters.

If you're planning to stay in the house long term you might consider a more efficient heating system.


  • Newcomer
  • February 6, 2025

If you've got those heaters throughout the house then you've got the most expensive heating system possible. Changing to a flat rate tariff will improve things a bit but there's no way to make those heaters cheap to run. They use a resistive heating element (similar to the one in a kettle or immersion heater) so are 100% efficient... For each kWh of electricity you put in you get a kWh of heat out. I don't know how big your house is but 40kWh doesn't seem unreasonable with those heaters.

If you're planning to stay in the house long term you might consider a more efficient heating system.

Oh wow I’m here for a year due to the contract. Sounds like I’m in a huge ditch I cant climb out of smh. Thanks for the information tho. Let me call Ovo and switch to a flat rate first. If you have anymore advice please let me know. 


Bradley_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Leader
  • February 6, 2025

@chigboking Just an FYI that I edited your image above to remove your MPAN and MSN from being visible to the public 😎


  • Newcomer
  • February 6, 2025

@chigboking Just an FYI that I edited your image above to remove your MPAN and MSN from being visible to the public 😎

Much appreciated. Thanks for the help. 
I’ll call ovo now hopefully things should improve abit. 


M.isterW
Rank 6
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  • Rank 6
  • February 6, 2025

The one advantage those heaters do have is that they can be controlled individually. That means you can lower your costs by heating rooms selectively. For example, you could shut your bedroom door and keep the heater off in that room during the day and warm it up and hour or two before you go to bed.


Nukecad
Super User
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  • Super User
  • February 6, 2025

Not that I think I could have added much  - it looks like the issue has been identified, electric heating can be expensive, sometimes very expensive.

As I understand E7 the off-peak rate is 7 hours overnight for “filling”  storage heaters. (heating bricks). Making it pretty usless for instant-heat types that you use during the day.

So a single rate tariff would be better for ‘instant’ heaters, if you are stuck with using them.

You say “contract” so I assume this is somewhere you are renting while on a work contracr?

Suggestions I could make would include only having those heaters on in the room(s) you need and only at the times you need.

Perhaps leaving those off and getting a 1kw portable electric heater just for heat where you want/need it.

Maybe even a portable calor gas heater?

I suppose it depends on if you are on your own or have a family with you.


juliamc
Rank 20
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  • Rank 20
  • February 6, 2025

Can you see a manufacturer’s label on the heaters ? Could they be storage heaters with a booster fan ? ​I see the label Airmaster in the bottom corner but it would be a bit odd for an economy 7 supplied property to have non storage heaters installed.

Take it back ! It looks like a plain old panel heater… sorry 🤦‍♀️


Emmanuelle_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • February 7, 2025

Hey ​@chigboking 

Welcome to the OVO online community 😊

I can see our community members have already given some helpful advice here. I just wanted to add the following topic you may find helpful:
 

 


  • Newcomer
  • February 8, 2025

Not that I think I could have added much  - it looks like the issue has been identified, electric heating can be expensive, sometimes very expensive.

As I understand E7 the off-peak rate is 7 hours overnight for “filling”  storage heaters. (heating bricks). Making it pretty usless for instant-heat types that you use during the day.

So a single rate tariff would be better for ‘instant’ heaters, if you are stuck with using them.

You say “contract” so I assume this is somewhere you are renting while on a work contracr?

Suggestions I could make would include only having those heaters on in the room(s) you need and only at the times you need.

Perhaps leaving those off and getting a 1kw portable electric heater just for heat where you want/need it.

Maybe even a portable calor gas heater?

I suppose it depends on if you are on your own or have a family with you.

Okay thanks for that. I’m very new to these so it’s stressing me out haha. I believe my heaters are actually panel heaters btw could be wrong. Still trying to workout the different types of heaters. 
it’s only a 2bed just myself and my partner. 
The 1kw yes I’ll consider getting it as well. 
 

is there a plan that offers cheaper day rates? Yes it’s a contract with ovo which I’m still in the cooling off period then the house is a 1 year contract. I mean the ultimate goal for me will be to drastically cut down this bills I’m currently seeing on my ovo account. 


Blastoise186
Super User
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  • Super User
  • February 8, 2025

Cheaper Day rates is a tricky one tbh - the closest I can think of is Economy 10 but that could punish you with even higher Peak rates. Most of these tariffs are intended to push your usage out of the day!


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