If you haven't used your heating, it can be surprising to see energy charges on your bill. In most cases, this is because your consumption isn't just linked to heating your home.
Hot water also uses energy
A significant part of your energy usage may come from the hot water you use for things like:
- Showers and baths
- Washing up
- Running taps
Even if your heating has been switched off, any hot water you use will still be recorded by your meter and included on your bill.
Your HIU's keep warm function
Your Heat Interface Unit (HIU) has a built-in feature called the keep warm function (sometimes known as bypass consumption).
This allows a small amount of heat to circulate through the system, helping to ensure that heating and hot water are available quickly when you need them.
Because this function operates automatically, it can use a small amount of energy even when:
- Your heating is switched off
- You're not actively using hot water
- The property is unoccupied
This usage is usually low, but it may explain why you continue to see some consumption on your bill.
Looking to reduce your energy costs?
For practical tips on reducing your consumption and keeping your bills down, please see our How can I save energy? article.