The UK’s householders could be paying more than double the amount they need to for their heating systems, ending up more than £2,600 out of pocket over a 10 year period, according to the latest calculations by electric heating market leader Dimplex.
Dimplex calculates that some gas users are spending £6,300 on their system over an average lifetime of 10 years, compared with just £3,640 for a similar electric system over the same period. The Dimplex research analysed the annual costs of installation, maintenance, fuel prices and safety checks, comparing a typical installation of six electric or wet radiators with their lifetime expectations.
Other recent research using information from the National Landlords Association and British Gas Servicing has already highlighted the fact that gas heating is 17 per cent more expensive to own and run than electric systems and 46 per cent more expensive for landlords and social housing developers. But now, the new Dimplex calculations have revealed an even greater ‘fuel divide’, says Chris Davis, marketing manager.
“Because electric heating is cheaper to install, maintain and lasts an average of 50% longer than a gas system, the true ownership costs will be a nasty shock for gas users,” he says.For specifiers and landlords, electric heating has always been a relatively low cost installation and management option and now that gas kWh prices are rising, it’s prompting the end users and particularly those on lower incomes to re-evaluate their heating, adds Davis.
“With dwindling supplies and soaring energy costs, the cost of heating is re-emerging as a topic of conversation as consumers, and especially those in fuel poverty, are feeling the pinch in their pockets. It’s forcing people to wake up to the fact that the crucial figure with heating is the total lifetime ownership cost and it’s where electric makes sense as the first choice for heating systems,” he says.
The latest Dimplex calculations have used the 2006 figures from BRE (GPG345) for annual fuel costs for heating and hot water. They showed that a typical 2 bedroom flat has an average annual fuel cost of £264 for electric and £138 for gas but once all the ownership costs are calculated (including capital costs, annual mandatory safety checks, maintenance) the actual lifetime cost per annum adds up to £630 for the gas-heated flat, but only £364 for the electrically heated dwelling. And using the same calculation criteria, a typical terraced house has an average annual heating cost of £731 for gas and £493 for electric.
“One of the few good things about the rising energy prices is that consumers are now having to re-focus on their heating systems, taking a more holistic view. Combine this with the longer term drive towards the use of renewable energy and the latest Building Regulations which require more controllable heating with higher levels of insulation and the odds for electric heating have never looked better,” says Davis.