Electricity Bill

Hi

We had 64 euro taken from our account on 28 August by Iberdrola - we had not been in the apartment since 2 July so would have assumed we were up to date!

We spent 16 days in the apartment in September and have just had 214 euros taken from our account!!!

We turn off at the mains before we leave each time we visit - is this not a bit high - never had a bill like it and we usually visit about 5 times a year.

I also moved to the basic tariff a couple of years ago.

Any views welcome please.

Thanks

MG

did you use air con in sept?  seems about normal for 2 lots of standing orders and 2 weeks holiday

Aircon used during sleeping hours only in one bedroom.

I am fairly new to Condado so am monitoring electrictiy usage to get an idea of the ongoing costs.  Its not easy when I cant get access the meter so have to use data from bi-monthly bills, which can only produce an approximation as I just have three bills to work from..

The monthly standing charge is about 25 euros, which has gone up quite a bit since early August.  Obviously that is not within our control.

My daily usage appears to be in the order of 2 to 2.5 euros.   So based on these figures, you should be expecting a bill somewhere in the region of 50 standing + say 35 usage, 85 in total.   You need to see the paper bill to see if there has been some adjustment to account for the extra, or if it comes from usage charges.

While we're on the subject, my water usage is in the order of 0.35 euros/day of occupancy.

Clearly everyone's usage is different - here are some things that may affect usage.

Do you keep the hot water very high, for example?  I have mine set to just need a little cold water for a comfortable shower, ie about as cool as I can get away with.  

My A/C usage is similar to yours, do you have a 'quiet' or 'economy' mode for it?  

We use the washing machine probably every 2 days.  

I've installed low energy bulbs everywhere.

When you do get the bottom of it, I'd be grateful to know what caused it.

Hope this helps

MG,

I have just complained to Iberdrola about high bills and asked them to explain. Since we bought the apartment in 2008 we have used it for varying periods using air con etc and have always had reasonable sized electric bills. The last two have been a massive 236 euros and the last one 122 euros when it was only used for 10 days in that last period. These are by far the highest we have ever had so something drastic has changed here. I have signed up for an online account so I can monitor it more closely but the answer is probably to install a meter system for the electric so people inc family and friends pay for what they use. Water, whilst slightly higher has remained in the reasonable zone for the time being.

Dakey

Thanks Dakey

It is good to know that we are not the only ones!  Nobody else uses our apartment - only the two of us!

Our 64 and 214 euro bills covered a total of 26 days in the apartment so something has definitley drastically changed - am just glad I had enough money in the account to cover it as I was budgeting for half the amount and that was me airing on the cautious!!

Grateful if you would let me know if you hear anything back from them.

How do you go about signing up online?

thanks

MG

I think we all will have noticed the increase in electricity charges in the last year or so. I have the same view about the banking charges (noted on another thread) which seem to have shot up when you look a little harder at your statements.
We have not got over much this year, but I can definitely see that the bill over 12 months is going to end up higher. We have not even used the air-con that much, as we have fan type lights in the bedrooms and only put air-con on if is unbearably hot.
We see the latest protests at home over the 'big 6' but I think Ibedrola top the lot ! Just got to think a bit more about wasting electricity and remember that it will come back andot you in the pocket if you don't. I am sure those living at CDA full time have certainly noticed the difference.

I wonder if Mileniun could purchase the electricity for us?  I purchase my company's annual gas and negotiate the price every year and there are several resident's co-operatives in the UK that buy their collective energy at big discounts.  The resort must use a huge amount of electricity so the companies would vie for the business I'm sure.  Any thoughts?

MG,

The number for Iberdrola english speaking customer service is 0034 902 322 044. They talked me through registering online.

Cheers, Dakey

As someone who lives here permanent, with no aircon....and 2 young kids....my last electric bill was 104...and the one before 85 euro.

We are on tariff Noche/ white metre...similar to economy 7.. With a rate of about 5c from midnight to noon and 20 c from noon to midnight...these times are a rough guide...

Hi,

Air con or not air con, the latest Bill was the highest ever! Almost 160 euros.
Is it a case of Iberdrola needing some money?

Zidane

Mine was within 5 Euro of the same bill last year....so i personally think it's the users not Iberdrola....could someone else be wiring into your supply???

Our bill was €61 at the end of Oct and €47 at the end of Aug

We have been out for a week in June & September so roughly a 30% increase on more or less the same usage but not the horrendous figures some others have seen

Definitely a price hike has taken place but the big rises need investigating

If you are a Scottish Power customer in the UK (now owned by Iberdrola) you could get a better rate and a discount  from Iberdrola on your Spanish property.

I said could as I am not sure if this is still available, worth checking though.

On our last bill we got a discount of about 3.5%.

I just rang the english speaking customer service line and gave them my UK account number.