According to Ofgem, the typical household in the UK uses 11,500 kWh of gas in a year. Heat networks are an efficient, low carbon method of delivering heat to buildings, so most heat network residents should see lower consumptions than this.
To give you an idea of how much energy you should be consuming based on the size of your property, we’ve pulled together the below averages.
This data is based on an industry standard for energy use within residential dwellings and should only be used as an indicator. Your usage may differ based on the time of year, your building (size, fabric and components installed) and usage habits (how many people live in your home, how often you shower, the temperature of your rooms, etc.). The daily usage bracket has been calculated using estimate consumption from June (lowest consumption) to January (highest consumption).
If you think you’re paying too much for your energy usage, please consider the following potential factors which may have resulted in an increase in your usage:
- There has been a recent change in the weather
- You’ve recently had visitors to stay
- Your personal circumstances have changed
- Your tariff has recently been revised
If your energy consumption still seems higher than expected, here are some steps you can take to check and manage it:
1. Reduce your energy consumption
Did you know that turning down your heating by 1°C can save up to 10% off your bill? You can also save energy by washing up in a bowl and replacing your showerhead with a more efficient one. These and many more tips can be found in our resident guide to heating & hot water. You’ll find energy saving tips from page 13.
2. Request a consumption report
We can provide you with a detailed usage data report, which will show you your energy consumption over a specified period using automatic meter reads sent to us. This will hopefully help you understand your usage better but may not give you answers as to why your usage is high. Please get in touch with us to request a report.
3. Arrange for your system to be serviced
If you’re still concerned about your usage, we recommend contacting your heat supplier about getting your heat interface unit (HIU). You can find your heat supplier’s contact details by searching for your postcode or building name in our development directory.
4. Find out what financial support is available to you
If you’re struggling to pay your bills, we recommend you do the following:
• Set-up a payment plan Direct Debit via ‘my insite’ or by getting in touch;
• Contact your heat supplier;
• Consult our financial support and guidance for residents help sheet or;
• Get in touch with us to explore your options.
If you feel none of this relates to you and you’re still concerned that you’re spending too much on your heating & hot water, take a look at our energy saving tips.
Alternatively, if you’re concerned your meter isn’t correctly recording your consumption, please get in touch.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
If you still need help, please give us a call. To find your dedicated scheme phone number, simply search for your development name or postcode in the top search bar.
You can also contact us via one of our webforms for support with your Insite account.