Puerto Pollensa Travel Guide
Before You Go
Flights
Package Holidays
Latest Special Offers!
All-Inclusive Hotels
Hotels & Aparthotels
Private Villas/Apts to Rent
Villa Companies
Local Rental Agents
Cruises
Car Hire
Airport Transfers & Taxis
Travel Insurance
Late Deals!
Currency
Holiday Shopping
Background Info
Language
Books
Events & Fiestas
Climate & Weather
Art & Culture
Flora & Fauna
Links
Discussion Forum
Once You're There
Maps
Airport Directions
Tourist Information
Eating Out
Buses & Trains
Music & Entertainment
Excursions & Days Out
Shopping & Markets
Kids
Beaches
Walking, Cycling
Boat Charters
Sailing/Watersports
Market Place
Boats & Yachts
Property For Sale
Businesses For Sale
Property Services
Local Services
MouseMats & T-shirts
Computers
Internet Services
Virus Protection
PuertoPollensa.com discussion forums

Go Back   Pollensa Forum > LIVING & WORKING IN POLLENSA > Living & Working in the Pollensa Area

Living & Working in the Pollensa Area This forum is for any comments, questions and advice about living (permanently or temporarily) and working in the Pollensa area. Aimed at ex-pats, property owners etc.

Like Tree10Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 19-11-2012, 15:31
Newbie
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4
Default Electricity Bills

I cannot help but think that my electricity bill is very expensive. I have a 3 bedroomed villa in Pollenca and a large outdoor pool that is NOT heated. I also have an irrigation system in the garden too. My bill for the last year is €1500. How does this compare to anyone else in a similar villa? My energy supplier is Endesa and as far as I know I am not on any special price deal. Is it possible to have other suppliers? Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Hernan
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2  
Old 19-11-2012, 15:54
*****
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Surrey & Puerto Pollensa!
Posts: 299
Default

You're not alone in thinking the electricity bills are very expensive. They are expensive! I'm also with Endesa on a 5.5KW/h potencia standard rate and, in total, my annual electricity bill ends up being between €1400 and €1800

I have a three bedroom 108m2 apartment which I occupy for about 60 days spread throughout the year. Adding my parents additional use, it is occupied for about 10 weeks throughout the year.

In the summer (May to October) the only electical appliance I leave on in my absence between visits is my fridge. In the winter (November to March) between visits I set electric heaters in two bedrooms to come on overnight for 8 hours to counter the effect of winter damp that plights the port.

God knows how much the bill would be if I lived in PP full time! A scary thought - the electricity bill that is rather than living in PP full time!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 19-11-2012, 17:21
*****
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hampshire and Alcanada
Posts: 888
Default

For comparison -

We have a 450m2 house and occupy it about 10 days each month. We also have an irrigation system (May to Oct) and an unheated pool, We leave 4 lights on timers when we are not here. Heating is by oil (€1400 per annum). We have air conditioning in the bedrooms (June to Sept). Last year we spent €1380
on electricity with Endesa and this year it looks like being similar.

I had an heart stopping moment with the last bill which shows a big usage for September when we weren't here at all, then I saw that it was an estimate. Panic over.

Have you check that you have an ICP switch? If not that could give you a high bill. See the previous posts in this section "ICP switch"

Last edited by pollensa; 19-11-2012 at 18:06. Reason: Added link io ICP switch thread
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 19-11-2012, 20:03
*****
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 860
Default

Has any considered buying an electricity monitoring device so you can check the power consumption when back in England ?

( You would need a router with a permanent internet connection and a spare Ethernet port to plug a network cable into)

At home I have a Current cost EnviR with the netsmart device plugged into our router so the data is uploaded. ( No PC needed)

An example screen grab attached:


Ignore the blue line as that is temperature in the room where the device is located. Temperature scale is on the right of the graph in degrees C.

The orange spikey line is power consumption with the scale on the left of the graph in watts.

This was from Sunday and the graph starts at midnight on the left and you can see the overnight background continuous consumption was about 500 watts due to fridge, freezer, outside lights, router,network drive etc, etc, I put the kettle on at about 07:40 ( look at the spike) and we where out in the afternoon from about 14:00 to about 19:00 hence very low power consumption for a few hours in the afternoon.

This graph is also available on a mobile phone browser so when I am working away I can see what is on at home as I have the website bookmarked on my phone.

Individual appliances can also be monitored but that gets a bit more complicated. You can see from the second graph below my PC uses about 45 watts and was switched on at the same time I put the kettle on


I am a Geek and proud of it

Some links.

Current Cost - Reducing your energy bills so you can live a greener life

The Schuko version would be needed for those fortunate to have property in Spain as most of these devices have UK plugs etc.

EnviR:
Current Cost - Reducing your energy bills so you can live a greener life!

Netsmart:
Current Cost - Reducing your energy bills so you can live a greener life!

Also often found on ebay as people get them for free from energy companies and then sell them.

A villa owner that rents out could easily monitor power consumption to see just how much guests use each hour or day etc.

Hope that helps someone and its not an advert and if anyone needs help or links just ask.
El Gordo, Lorenzo and clinkham like this.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 19-11-2012, 21:40
pollensa's Avatar
Founder
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Colchester, UK
Posts: 3,824
Default

Mark,

you're worse than my Dad & my husband

Do you run around turning off lights & telling everyone to wear more clothes if they're cold?!

What happens if someone uses the kettle when you're out?

Sorry about that. I will NOT be showing this to my husband (or my Dad)....

Still, as Xmas presents...
Sparky and eleanor like this.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 19-11-2012, 21:52
eleanor's Avatar
*****
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: on the coast in Essex
Posts: 1,739
Default

My husband too! I need more than a basic skills course here! Gosh a foreign language! My mind took this a step further too in thinking it was a good way to check that no one was using a property without permission lol but that's just me!
Thanks Mark but I think I might just pass on this but great idea for some.
__________________
Eleanor
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 19-11-2012, 23:21
Deanscroft's Avatar
*****
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bonaire
Posts: 542
Default

I live here full time in a 3 bed, 2 bath villa, no pool. Heating is all electric. Last year I paid Endesa 1500 euros. Something to think about - ordinary electric radiators use 3 to 4times as much electricity for the same heat output as reverse-cycle air conditioning.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 19-11-2012, 23:47
*****
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Surrey & Puerto Pollensa!
Posts: 299
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Deanscroft View Post
I live here full time in a 3 bed, 2 bath villa, no pool. Heating is all electric. Last year I paid Endesa 1500 euros. Something to think about - ordinary electric radiators use 3 to 4times as much electricity for the same heat output as reverse-cycle air conditioning.
Hi Deanscroft. Out of interest, do you know what your KW potencia is & do you have reverse-cycle air conditioning rather than radiators? I'm rather envious that your bill is roughly the same as mine despite living in PP full time!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 20-11-2012, 00:22
*****
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ribble Valley
Posts: 896
Default

Geeky maybe, but just the job to nail the cost of Mrs Clinkham boiling a kettle each bedtime to fill the hotwater bottle. (I know: its 3kW x time to boil = xKwh x cost of 1 Kwhour of electricity. If my memory is correct)

Disappointingly I guess the system can't keep tabs on the amount of gas used for the central heating.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 20-11-2012, 09:27
Deanscroft's Avatar
*****
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bonaire
Posts: 542
Default

Reply to James
The Potentia of my supply is 5.75kw, however this doesn´t make a great deal of difference as the standing charge is roughly only 1.90€ /kw/month. I heat with a mix of reverse-cycle air conditioning and modern multi-element panel heaters.
James likes this.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 20-11-2012, 11:36
Newbie
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4
Default

I would like to try and get my bill reduced somewhat and have a better understanding of how my bill is priced. I have tried online to login to the endesa account but for some reason my registration is not getting accepted. The numbers on the website are all 902 numbers and cannot be dialled from the UK. Does anyone have a Pollenca number to call Endesa or another spanish number staring with 971? Either that or an email address where I can send an email to. I do remember there being a GESA shopin Alcudia. Are GESA part of the Endesa group?

All help appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 20-11-2012, 13:30
fil6699's Avatar
*****
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PP and Yorkshire
Posts: 924
Default

Unfortunately Endesa appear to be a law unto themselves as they are the sole provider of Electricity. Combine this with the way they take payments direct from your bank with a strict "No LIky No Lighty" system in operation in other words if you don't pay they simply and instantly cut you off.(no red letters or warning as in the UK) I had a bill I wanted to dispute a couple of years ago and was told by a number of people including the bank to pay and try to fight after but under no circumstances refuse to pay and dispute it as they will simply cut off your supply. As we all know they had no problem cutting of the supply to the council swimming pool and indeed even removed the meter. So imagine the chance we have. Herman I am sorry but its just one of those things but when you put that small negative against all the positives of owning Property in PP the positives always win. A bad day in PP is always far better than a good day in the UK. So bottom line don't let Endesa get you down trust me its not worth the fight
whaleywanderer and eleanor like this.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 20-11-2012, 14:27
*****
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Southampton & Pine Walk Apt
Posts: 1,233
Default Electricity bills

I managed to save quite a bit off my bills after I had a timer for the hot water tank put in. Maybe it's also possible to turn the thermostat down in your place as really hot water in the Summer is not really what anyone wants or needs.

I've also changed all the bulbs over in my place to the mini-fluorescent ones - which I buy in the UK as they are cheaper here

Maybe you could consider putting some solar panels - I know that Paul at Project has good experience of doing that sort of installation.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 20-11-2012, 15:05
*****
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hampshire and Alcanada
Posts: 888
Default

Mark - I like toys too - I have to get one!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 20-11-2012, 16:23
*****
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hampshire and Alcanada
Posts: 888
Default

Mark,

Since you seem to be an expert you have set me thinking. Earlier this year our house was destroyed by burst pipes in the loft while we were away

Is there anyway that I can monitor the UK house (loft) temperature while I am in Mallorca? - and be able to switch on the UK heating while here? Preferably through the UK router which is left on all the time.

Currently I have a wireless temperature probe in the loft transmitting to a panel downstairs, but it not USB capable

It would be great if i can.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Check them bills! Jonsey Shopping 3 17-06-2012 15:28
Electricity Bill Mariquita Living & Working in the Pollensa Area 17 09-03-2009 20:59
annual bills tievenaghtanya Living & Working in the Pollensa Area 4 18-09-2007 02:22


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:14.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
(c) Copyright Holiday Webs Ltd 2011