Guide to running costs

How can I work out how much my appliances are costing me to run?

This is simple to work out, providing you know how many 'watts' your appliance uses. Normally the rating is shown on the appliance nameplate with the serial number (above right). The higher the rating of the appliance, the more electricity it will use. A 1kw (1000 watt) appliance will use 1 unit in an hour. For example, a 1kw heater will use one unit of electricity each hour; a 100 watt light bulb will use 1 unit of electricity every 10 hours.

Click here for more details of running costs for typical appliances and further advice on using energy efficiently.

Could there be a fault with one of your appliances?

If your bill is higher than you would have expected, it is possible that one of your appliances could be faulty. If you think that an electrical appliance may be faulty, you can arrange for it to be checked by a qualified electrician.

Look in your local classifieds directory for a list of electricians in your area. Choose an electrical contractor approved by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC).

You can contact NICEIC for details of approved contractors in your area by writing to:

NICEIC
Vintage House
37 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7UJ