Ultility Bill Knee Jerk

echelon101

Just got back to my rented accommodation, in soton, with 3 other people. Found 2 lovely BG utility bills

Electricity 23 Aug - 9 Dec 08
1511 Kwh
149 @ 24.1p
Rest @ 11.4p
Total = £198


Gas 13 Sep - 9 Dec 08
3406 Kwh
646 @ 7.6p
Rest @ 3.7p
Total = £148

I look on energyhelp price comparison having entered the prices as quarterly, and is says that switching npower would say me ~£330 and switch tariffs on BG would be about £220.Although having checked passed bills these prices are much higher, although I am certain I posted the "cap" letter back in May time. I have tried looking for the tariff on the bills but have not found it.

I know that we are going to have to pay these bills but does anyone have any advice on whether we should switch based on these figures?

Magentasue

It's difficult to say based on one quarter. Do you have annual kwh figures?

echelon101

Yes

Gas

29 Jul - 3 Dec 07 = 2703 @ £93.4 read-read
4 Dec - 27 Feb 08 = 5120 @ £143.6 read-read
28 Feb - 2 Jun 08 = 2757 @ £96.32 read-read
3 Jun - 12 Sep 08 = 282 @ £18.79 read-est
13 Sep - 9 Dec 08 = 3406 @ £148.71 est-read

December 07-08 = 11565 @ £477 incl vat

Electricity

2 Jul - 3 Dec 07 = 1218 @ £125 read-read
4 Dec - 27 Feb 08 = 1030 @ £106 read-read
28 Feb - 2 Jun 08 = 942 @ £109 read-read
3 Jun - 22 Aug 08 = 307 @ £45 read-est
23 Aug - 9 Dec 08 = 1511 @ £191 est-read

December 07-08 = 3790 @ £530 incl vat

Paying £482 for Southern Water for 01 Apr 08 - 31 Mar 09 ~ £53 p/m
BB + Phone = £18.50 p/m
TV License = £23p/m for 6 months

Currently 4 of us are putting up £120 p/m to pay although it's starting to dawn on me that this may not be enough. Although it has been working till now.

Racks up for students

Cardew

echelon101 wrote: »

Yes

Gas

29 Jul - 3 Dec 07 = 2703 @ £93.4 read-read
4 Dec - 27 Feb 08 = 5120 @ £143.6 read-read
28 Feb - 2 Jun 08 = 2757 @ £96.32 read-read
3 Jun - 12 Sep 08 = 282 @ £18.79 read-est
13 Sep - 9 Dec 08 = 3406 @ £148.71 est-read

December 07-08 = 11565 @ £477 incl vat

Electricity

2 Jul - 3 Dec 07 = 1218 @ £125 read-read
4 Dec - 27 Feb 08 = 1030 @ £106 read-read
28 Feb - 2 Jun 08 = 942 @ £109 read-read
3 Jun - 22 Aug 08 = 307 @ £45 read-est
23 Aug - 9 Dec 08 = 1511 @ £191 est-read

December 07-08 = 3790 @ £530 incl vat

Paying £482 for Southern Water for 01 Apr 08 - 31 Mar 09 ~ £53 p/m
BB + Phone = £18.50 p/m
TV License = £23p/m for 6 months

Currently 4 of us are putting up £120 p/m to pay although it's starting to dawn on me that this may not be enough. Although it has been working till now.

Racks up for students

Your gas consumption is excellent - a little over 50% of the UK average - however as students you will presumably not be in the house during the lengthy vacations?

You electricity consumption is pretty high. Not unexpected with 4 students each with their own room and electronic appliances?

I expect some might have an individual heater in their room??

echelon101

During Christmas and Easter everyone is away. During Summer I stay in the house due to work placement.

I don't think anyone in our house has individual heaters as we all have big radiators in our rooms. I will check though, planning to have a utility bill discussion.

Our house has 1 tv+xbox, 2xfridges, 1xtower freezer, 1xwasher/dryer, 1xtoaster, 1xkettle,3xphones,1xwireless modem, 4xlaptops+1xcrt, 2xhi-fi, 1xmicrowave, 1xelectric shower

Most of these things are on, ie plug is switched on apart from toaster, washer/dryer,kettle which get switched off after use. I think we have enough bulbs now switch most of the incandescents over to low energy ones.

Is it worth sitting tight or switching to BG Web (paperless) saves us £220 over one year and NPower Web (paper/less) saves us £271. Although neither our capped but are monlty dd, dual fuel so the hit won't be as hard on the account.

Currently we would be unable to pay off both bills till March :S

Cardew

The trouble with the BG websaver is that it has a penalty clause for leaving - although the penalty is not that high.

It is(was?) widely expected that there will be price cuts soon, so it might be better to wait - or not tie yourself in to a tariff.

However the problems with Russian gas supplies - both short term and long term - might change the situation.

echelon101

Me and one of my housemates sat down with a calculator and worked out the costs of everything per month. Through Winter it's about £50p/m but on average it's £30.60. But that's including the TV license costs which ends in February.

Probably put some extra money in to pay the bills and sit tight till the next bill comes at the end February and see what it is.

Thanks for the help though.

Cardew

echelon101 wrote: »

Me and one of my housemates sat down with a calculator and worked out the costs of everything per month. Through Winter it's about £50p/m but on average it's £30.60. But that's including the TV license costs which ends in February.

.

???

£30.60 x 12 x 4 = £1,469

You spent £1007 on gas/electricity from Dec 07 to Dec 08.

Bear in mind that there was a large increase in price in the Summer so that will be higher.

Water was £482 last year - it will be higher this year.

BB/Phone @ 18.50 a month = £222

TV licence = £140

Seems to me you are in line to spend a bit more.

echelon101

477/12 + 530/12 + 53 + 18.50 + 23 = 178/4 = £44
Gas+Elec+W+BB+ TV

BAH that's the last time I trust a lawyer with a calculator...says the engineer.

It also says Southern Electric Pricing Area on the bill but Npower on energyhelpine is still cheaper :S

Also is there any easy way to tell which tariff we are on as I cannot see it on the bill nor on the online website :S