My Latest npower gas bill - all units charged at higher rate?

humfer · 29 September 2007 at 11:07AM

Just had my latest bill from my favourite gas suppler npower:rotfl: . Just noticed that all the units have been charged at the higher rate and none at the lower rate. Is this normal? I really cannot be bothered to phone them yet again this year, so any help appreciated. I also noticed that on the basis of this bill they have put up my monthly payments - am I just being cynical that they have only charged everything at the higher rate to make my bill appear larger and therefore justify higher monthly payments.....

Cardew · 29 September 2007 at 1:23PM

Most tariffs have the tier1(lower rate) for the first 1,143kWh in a quarter(some slightly more) Some also have it variable over the year.

Might it be possible that you have you have used less than1,143kWh this summer quarter??

If the billing period is not an exact quarter the 'allowance' is pro-rata.(approx 12.5 per day)

corsagirl_2 · 29 September 2007 at 4:38PM

My closing bill :j from npower was the same, wasn't expecting much as summer period, so obviously didn't go into the lower rate.

Fully understand why you can't be bothered to ring them!!! Every time i had a bill with an accompanying letter saying put DD up, which results in me ringing and usual conversation along lines of "You've reviewed my account using standard tarriff not online v4 haven't you?" Reply "oh yes you are right I'll put the dd back to what it was"!!

Final straw was them saying I was on the online tarriff but in fact the rates charged were the standard ones - their answer was you'll be better off in winter and they couldn't change it back, he couldn't understand that worse off in summer when don't use as much, so my reply was they'll be worse off as won't be with them! Watch out and check bills and their tarriff prices per higher/lower rate compared to what you think or bill says you are on.

At least my credit has gone promptly back into account, only thing they've done right!

I've gone to powergen, at least calls are freephone, when I signed up they were cheapest, but now npower are slightly, tempted to go back...er NO.

humfer · 29 September 2007 at 6:08PM

Cardew wrote: »

Most tariffs have the tier1(lower rate) for the first 1,143kWh in a quarter(some slightly more) Some also have it variable over the year.

Might it be possible that you have you have used less than1,143kWh this summer quarter??

If the billing period is not an exact quarter the 'allowance' is pro-rata.(approx 12.5 per day)

Yep, have only used 1,048 kWh in the last quarter. I assume it all averages itself out over the year and I need not worry? Its just that with npower I do tend to worry:mad:

corsagirl_2 · 29 September 2007 at 6:26PM

Is this based on actual reading or estimate? If actual I shouldn't worry, but again understand your concerns with npower!

I only used 364 kWh for period 8/7 to 18/9, so just over 2 months if thats any guide for you.

If you do switch the call you get asking why you are leaving is great fun, asked her how long she had got as wanted to use as much of their time and their phone bill moaning as I had in calls to them previously!

Cardew · 30 September 2007 at 10:16AM

humfer wrote: »

Yep, have only used 1,048 kWh in the last quarter. I assume it all averages itself out over the year and I need not worry? Its just that with npower I do tend to worry:mad:

I am not quite sure what you mean by 'evens itself out' in this context.

Each remaining quarter will still have a tier1 'allowance' of 1,143kWh so assuming in your next 3 quarters you use in excess of 1,143kWh will only pay for 4,477kWh at the higher tier1 rate in the year(3 x 1,143 + 1,048) instead of 4,572kWh.

Having this system of charging works greatly to the advantage of those who use very little in some quarters. I have a little used annex with a separate gas and electricity supply. It is only in the winter quarter that I will use in excess of the 1,143kWh.

I have read of some people with Gas CH and Economy 7 who turn of their gas completely(including pilot light) in the summer and heat water with an immersion heater on E7. So they can have a zero gas bill for at least one quarter.

Possetjohn · 3 November 2007 at 9:26PM

I have had some communication with npower on this. Since my gas account does not have a formal settlement quarter, I have kept an eye on the rolling 12 month maximum of 4572 kWhr per year that should be charged at the tier one tariff. Since April 30th when they reduced their tier 2 tariff down by 18% (but left the tier 1 unchanged!) the amount charged to the tier 1 tariff has increased. Year to July was 4802 and year to October was 5552
According to their own customer service, they are supposed to charge in the following way (% of 4572kWhr per month) in order to even out for seasonal consumption. (info from Feb 2007)
January 13.8
February 13.6
March 12.2
April 9.8
May 7.1
June 4.2
July 2.4
August 2.4
September 4.2
October 7.3
November 10.3
December 12.7
When I queried this they claimed they were migrating billing systems and to make it easier (for them!) they were charging everyone a flat rate. They also claimed "The secondary p/KWH rates we set in April are much lower than they would have been if the normal, seasonally weighted application of primary block units had continued throughout" and that "When the migration programme is completed in the near future we will revert indefinitely to seasonally weighting gas primary block units."
I am not convinced. If this was so transparent why did they not tell everyone? Also for those of you using very little gas through the summer the tier 2 charge has no effect. Everything is charged at the unchanged tier one rate, so why didn't they change that!!
Also if they switch back to seasonal in the near future, then you end up paying all the increased seasonal weighting through the winter which will for sure mean you will pay much more at the tier one price.
I have complained and am awaiting a response, but suggest anyone else with npower should check this up and complain :mad:

Cardew · 3 November 2007 at 10:46PM

Possetjohn wrote: »

I have had some communication with npower on this. Since my gas account does not have a formal settlement quarter, I have kept an eye on the rolling 12 month maximum of 4572 kWhr per year that should be charged at the tier one tariff. Since April 30th when they reduced their tier 2 tariff down by 18% (but left the tier 1 unchanged!) the amount charged to the tier 1 tariff has increased. Year to July was 4802 and year to October was 5552
According to their own customer service, they are supposed to charge in the following way (% of 4572kWhr per month) in order to even out for seasonal consumption. (info from Feb 2007)
January 13.8
February 13.6
March 12.2
April 9.8
May 7.1
June 4.2
July 2.4
August 2.4
September 4.2
October 7.3
November 10.3
December 12.7
When I queried this they claimed they were migrating billing systems and to make it easier (for them!) they were charging everyone a flat rate. They also claimed "The secondary p/KWH rates we set in April are much lower than they would have been if the normal, seasonally weighted application of primary block units had continued throughout" and that "When the migration programme is completed in the near future we will revert indefinitely to seasonally weighting gas primary block units."
I am not convinced. If this was so transparent why did they not tell everyone? Also for those of you using very little gas through the summer the tier 2 charge has no effect. Everything is charged at the unchanged tier one rate, so why didn't they change that!!
Also if they switch back to seasonal in the near future, then you end up paying all the increased seasonal weighting through the winter which will for sure mean you will pay much more at the tier one price.
I have complained and am awaiting a response, but suggest anyone else with npower should check this up and complain :mad:

Welcome to the forum. Excellent first post - if that doesn't sound patronising!!

Your point on variable monthly tier 1 charges by NPower(I believe they are the only company to use this method) have been raised before on this forum; as has the fact that did not reduce tier 1 prices.

However I haven't seen anyone pick up your point about the increase in the total for the rolling year to Oct.

Unfortunately a lot of consumers have no idea about the implications of tier1/tier2 prices, and are unlikely to pick up on the sharp practice you have pointed out.

Terrylw1 · 3 November 2007 at 11:41PM

Hi Possetjohn - that sounds like an excuse from them. They have been migrating all of their previous systems into one that was newer (the Northern Electric new world system). All the previous systems related to the originating companies that they bought out.

They have not done this on any of the electricity customers where blocks are charged. They had to make migration 100% transparent to customers to avoid an eye from Ofgem on them.

The new world system had to be constantly upgraded to deal with tariffs that were not available when it was Northern Electric.

Adding a system of blocks isn't exactly rocket science for a programmer anyway. So, I expect that it could be a fob off from them.

Terrylw1 · 3 November 2007 at 11:44PM

Hi Humfer,

As Cardew says, your allowance is for that quarter only. So, consumption in any new quarter is judged seperately. They have always billed their 2 tier rate tariffs that way since removing standing charges.

Remember, they abolished standard charge and just switched to a system of higher rate tier 1 pricing to get more money back. Swings & roundabouts.

Terrylw1 · 7 November 2007 at 10:16PM

Ah, does this mean by any chance that you now will have a higher tier 1 block in winter but lower in summer???

My Latest npower gas bill - all units charged at higher rate?

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