Advice on massive nPower Elec/Gas bill

Gaskie

Hi all,

I moved in to this property on the 17th of October last year. When I did nPower were given accurate readings for my gas and electric. On the 28th of Jan I phoned up to give accurate readings and awaited an accurate bill for the period.

When it came through today I was more than a little shocked. I have (apparently) used 585 units of gas which works out to 19047 kWh and has come in at a whopping £644.26. I work that out to be over £6 a day on gas alone. My girlfriend is at home during the day with a child, so yes, the heating is on a fair bit, and we live in a reasonably large 3 bedroom bungalow... but still it seems obscene. Having spoken to my brother who lives in a similar size house, his combined bill comes out to around £120/month, whereas mine is closer to £300.

Then there is my £396.74 electricity bill.

I spoke to my electricity supplier for my previous property (Southern Electric) and they advised me that my electricity bill for the 3 months I was there was around £130. I can tell you now that I haven't bought anything else since I was in that property that would increase my bill, and I also behave no differently with regards to how much electricity I use.

Initially I queried whether the correct numbers were given when I moved in to the property, and I believe they were in light of the fact that in the last 6 days I have used 38units of gas, which even if all charged at the lower rate comes out to £34.37.

I have phoned nPower who have advised me to take meter readings every day at the same time for a week and then phone them back, but the problem now is I'm terrified to turn on the heating because of the cost so the readings won't be accurate. I really have no idea what to do, can anyone help?

Apologies for the length of the post, but this has really rocked me and I wonder if there is anything else I can do.

TIA,

Gaskie.

Miggie

Check the Watchdog website - they had a programme about gas meters reading in cubic feet but gas companies charging as if cubic metres. I can't remember the exact details, sorry.

Magentasue

Firstly, gas, you are being charged for imperial meter units so make sure your meter is cubic feet.

Gaskie

Magentasue wrote: »

Firstly, gas, you are being charged for imperial meter units so make sure your meter is cubic feet.

Thank you. I have looked at my bill and it says:

585 (100's cubic feet) = 19047 kWh.

Cat695

Gaskie wrote: »

Thank you. I have looked at my bill and it says:

585 (100's cubic feet) = 19047 kWh.

you need to look at the meter to NOT just your bill

Magentasue

Yes look on the meter - you're hoping to see m3 or cubic metres.

prudryden

If you have the gas on for most of the day - it could use that much. E.Q. During the same period, I will use about 1000m3 = @11180 kwh. My gas is only on for about 6-6 1/2 hrs/day. Water only on for about an hour during that time.

kazwookie

Is the roof insulated?
Are there draughts windows / doors
Do the doors fit the frames

if not this might be a reason why the bills seem so high.

Gaskie

Hi all,

I have checked the meter as well, and it sats ft3, so it is using cubic feet also.

Is it worth checking, for example, how much gas a bath of hot water takes to run? Is this something I could compare with someone else to see if it makes sense?

The house isn't fantastically insulated, it is quite old. It's just the fact that this is such a vast increase compared to anything else I have ever paid. I compared bills with my brother who lives in a similar house and he's working out at at almost a third of what I'm paying, so I'm sure something has to be wrong. I think I will actually have to move house if the bills continue to be this high.

Magentasue

Well, that's a lot of gas. We have an old, poorly insulated Victorian house and heat hot water for six. You're averaging 180kwh a day, we're on about 110kwh average this winter although it's been more these last few weeks. Highest has been 150kwh on one day.

foxglove666

My advise would be to complete a 7 day meter test as npower advised and ask to speak to either their SLS department about a possible meter fault. Take care though as if they check your meter and it's not faulty you do get charged for it! so please be careful. I found the energy efficency team very helpfull at npower they can tell you how much it should cost to heat your home and use appliances etc. Its a 0800 number i got from their website.