WEEAC
Electricity has typically been more expensive than most other forms of heating in the UK and currently still is expensive by comparison. However, this situation is slowly changing, with other forms such as gas, oil and fossil fuels becoming rarer commodities and therefore more expensive. This unfortunately has not led to the price of electricity reducing but simply narrows the price gap between the energy sources. Electricity is still one of the most expensive ways to heat your home.
Economy 7 or 10 are the most common tariffs used by people with electric storage heating systems. These systems have cheaper tariffs for off peak times when demand for electricity throughout the UK is reduced. This is usually between the hours of 12 midnight and 7am. It is during this time clothes washing, dishwashing and tumble drying should take place.
The main ways to help you stay warm with an electric storage system are as follows:
Turn the input dial (charge control) to a low setting when it is warmer outside and to a high setting in cold weather
Turn the output dial (room temperature) to off when you go to bed at night and when you are out during the day. Only turn the dial up when you are in the room. That way you are unlikely to run out of heat in the evening
Keep all doors, draughts and windows shut, to ensure heat does not escape and get wasted although some storage heater systems do rely on heat from one room circulating through the others
There are other types of electric heating system including direct electric boilers. These heat water which passes through a radiator system. However, the running costs of this type of system will be very high unless you are on a very favourable electricity tariff such as Economy 10 and you have an exceptionally well insulated home.
Ensure your roof space and cavity walls have been insulated so you have the best chance of retaining the heat in your home and draught proof and insulate your loft hatch
Install photovoltaic panels which generate electricity into your home. This will have a positive effect on monthly bills, however it is important to assess exactly how much you will save before going ahead. Photovoltaic panels are expensive to install and the location of your house will depend on what output you will get
With the advent of renewable energy, electricity could become the UK's main power supply for household needs. This is still a long way off but if you can generate your own free renewable energy, there is no doubt you can reduce the cost of heating your home if you are tied to an electricity fed system.
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