Quarterly Gas Consumption Excessive? Ruined my weekend

LittleMissAspie

mrdantheman wrote: »

the fitter said it would be cheaper to just keep a constant temperature rather than just blasting it out on an evening.

I don't think that's true. I tested it out in my old flat and it was way cheaper to blast out 4 hours of high heat in the evening, than to keep it on the lowest setting all day.

Why don't you take a reading now, and another reading in 24 hours time? See how many units you use and if this matches to the usage on your bill. While you're at it, you could then change the timer to only come on in morning and evening, and check the reading 24 hours later again, see how much you could save.

I presume they took a reading from the old meter before they took it out? Do you know how much you used from Nov to 1 Jan?

1carminestocky

If you live alone there's a definite case for only heating the one room you spend the vast majority of time in. Yes, it defeats the object of having central heating but so does the current rip-off gas prices (which appear to be not on the downward spiral we all believe they should be). Although financially I am luckier than many people and can afford to heat my house like I always did, I take the view that I am unwilling to give these companies a penny more than I really have to. It's a powerful incentive to get your usage down, believe me.

Vestra

mrdantheman wrote: »

Hi All, (Please help!)
I really need the opinions of others who may know more about general gas usage. I have just received my quarterly gas bill which is in excess of £750 for the period of Nov-Feb (86 days)

I live in a small end terrace, back to back. I have a new worcester bosch boiler and 7 single radiators. This is a 2 bedroom property and I live alone. I try maintain a temperature of 19 degrees whilst in the property on an evening and weekends.

The bill I have just received says I have used 1668 metric units over 86 days and their conversion is 19184.29kwh over the same period.

The year before I used 225 units for the same quarterly period converted to 6625.17 kwh. This to me seems more realistic.

British Gas say that my bill is correct as they are both actual readings but I cant understand how it can jump that much. They have said that it is because of the bitter cold winter we have had. My parents live in a 4 bed detached and dont use this much gas. I wouldnt mind but my house isnt even red hot but just average.

My only thought was that they installed a new gas meter in Jan 08 and this was reset to 00000. It is now at 01800 so I guess this is the amount I have used and the bill is correct.

I cant think straight at the minute and find it hard to liaise with BG on this matter.

Anyone else think this is excessive? And can give me advise me what to do?

Thanks to all who read and pass comment.

Dan

I don't understand, it appear you have a metric meter? But your meter shows since Jan 2008 to Feb 2009 you have used 1800 metric units, but your bill shows you have used 1668 metric units in the last 3 months?

On your bill what was the from/last reading (did it have an E next to it?) and what was the reading now.

woozywendy

This does seem high to me personally, I have just been working out my bills for the whole year nearly. From 4 march 08 to 12 february 09 my gas bill is £575 and I use the heating a lot. My electric bill for the same dates is £700. These were exact meter readings as well. I live in a 3 bedroom semi.

Kavanne

I have a ground floor 2 bed flat (but built in the 1930s) and I got my bill, but it was based on an estimate. Is yours? They said I owed them £487 but I phoned with my REAL reading and I've calculated the revised bill should only be around £300 for the quarter. Should receive it sometime next week so will let you know.

Cardew

mrdantheman wrote: »

Hi All, (Please help!)
I really need the opinions of others who may know more about general gas usage. I have just received my quarterly gas bill which is in excess of £750 for the period of Nov-Feb (86 days)

I live in a small end terrace, back to back. I have a new worcester bosch boiler and 7 single radiators. This is a 2 bedroom property and I live alone. I try maintain a temperature of 19 degrees whilst in the property on an evening and weekends.

The bill I have just received says I have used 1668 metric units over 86 days and their conversion is 19184.29kwh over the same period.

The year before I used 225 units for the same quarterly period converted to 6625.17 kwh. This to me seems more realistic.

British Gas say that my bill is correct as they are both actual readings but I cant understand how it can jump that much. They have said that it is because of the bitter cold winter we have had. My parents live in a 4 bed detached and dont use this much gas. I wouldnt mind but my house isnt even red hot but just average.

My only thought was that they installed a new gas meter in Jan 08 and this was reset to 00000. It is now at 01800 so I guess this is the amount I have used and the bill is correct.

Something is not right here.

If your consumption was 225units(6625kWh) for the same period last year(Nov 2007 to February 2008) that means you had an Imperial meter(cubic feet)

Yet you state that a new metric meter was fitted in January 2008.

Now if the meter is reading 1,800 now, that can only mean that you have used 20,700kWh since Jan 2008. So it simply cannot be possible that you only used 1,516kWh from the date the meter was fitted to the start reading in Nov 2008. Therefore that start reading could not have been an actual actual reading and must have been estimated.

Then there is the dicrepancy in dates between the old neter and new meter.

Chester_Draws

I would agree with Rian in post #14, there is something odd about your readings.

If it was 00000 in Jan 2008 and it is 1800 now, with usage of 1668 in the past 86 days, that means you only used 132 from Jan 2008 to appx Oct 2008 ?
Isnt this a bit too low if you are heating water etc, even if no rads were on in summer months?
What was the ACTUAL meter reading on your last bill ?

applemella

stupid question!Can anyone please tell me how I can tell if my gas meter is metric or not?
Thanks

Cardew

applemella wrote: »

stupid question!Can anyone please tell me how I can tell if my gas meter is metric or not?
Thanks

On the dial in small print it will have something like 'Cu Ft' or 'Ft3' - the 3 is small meaning cubed if Imperial.

If Metric it will normally have M3 (metres cubed)