Doubled Gas usage with E-On

bluemez

Hello,
I'm having a problem with my gas usage in that our etre readings are showing that we are using more than double the gas we have used in previous years.
When we moved into our flat in 2006 we gave metre readings for our Gas between September 2006 and August 2007. Then for various reasons they ended up being estimated between August 2007 and November 2008. In my experience Gas companies are normally over generous with their estimates however when we got our bill for the quarter Sept - Nov 2008 (after an accurate reading had been taken) we suddenly got a bill for £385.69! This is based on 337 units

We have now just had our bill for the quarter November to February - again using a reading and it has come out at 372 units! bringing our current total to nearly £800 (including both quarters).

I should point out that we live in a 2 bedroom flat and not a house.

We have never seen bills anywhere near this in our lives.

Having just been back through my bills to "compare and contrast" I can see that in the period Nov 2006 - Feb 2007 we used 172 units This a full 200 units less than the same quarter 2008/2009. Now I know that everyone keeps saying that we have had a colder winter, but I know for sure that we haven't had our heating on more than double compared to 2006/2007 (there simply aren't enough hours in the day)

Although it's not such a fair comparison Sept - Nov 2006 65 units
Aug - Nov 2008 337 units (August was estimated)

Is it just me or is their something wrong with this picture. I'm just not convinced that our usage has more than doubled since 2006/2007.

I don't know what to do and it just doesn't make sense to me logically - does anyone have any suggestions?

BM

KimYeovil

Why would you not think you have used twice the heating you used last year? I suspect many people have used three or four times as much.

It's the temperature not the number of hours that makes the difference. I am genuinely confused why you do not think it makes sense.

Woby_Tide

The fact is unless the meter is faulty you've used that amount. Looking back at my own figures we've used about 50% more this last quarter than the same in 06/07 so it certainly has made a difference. The amount of hours in a day is irrelevant, if in 06/07 the average outdoor temperature was higher then it would have taken less heating to bring it to your expected temperature. Because you set the heating on for 12 hours say, it doesn;t run for the whole 12 hours constant. If the rtemperature has been a lot lower this time, maybe the boiler has had to run for more of those 12 hours this time

albyota

Sorry can’t hold back…**** WARNING****...Sarcasm Mode...ON

Analogy
Went to fill up vehicle with fuel today at garage, planned to put about 20 quids worth in.... not paying any attention or checking the meter......tipped loads all over the forecourt...... went in to pay and was shocked when he asked for 65 quid..... Doesn’t this sound familiar...... “I have just had my winter bill.. its…£xxx.xx I was shocked I haven’t done anything different to last year….wait for it….

Gas and Electric tariffs all up 50% from winter 07/08
The coldest it’s been for over 10 years and for the longest duration
And Mainly…the direct debit, monthly payment, was probably based on previous winter averages…therefore too low
The colder it is out side the more work your heating system has to do
We have had almost 170 continual heating degree days below 10 degrees



come on read ya meters regularly.... know what your paying for.....get your head round the tariff rates..it aint difficult...!

again sorry …had to do it

smokingchills

I would hate to point out the obvious but the price of Gas is more expensive than it was in previous years unless you are on a special tariff (fixed or Capped) then you would see an increase on your bills.

Not to mention the fact that the majority of people have actually consumed more this year than previous years due to the really bad weather.

I would also check that your heating thermostat is not set to high as this may effect the cost.

SC

bluemez

Thankyou for all your constructive comments!

We are not on a thermostatic heating system so if I turned my boiler to ful in 06/07 and I also turned it to full in 08/09 it would output exactly the same. It is either on or off it's not operating on a thermostatic method.

We don't pay by direct debit - so I know what my bills hav cost in the past as I get them quarterly.

I'm fully aware that energy prices have increased which is why I'm looking at the units used and not the prices.

Does anyone have any constructive advice please?

My concern is that we had some major building work done and I'm worried that this has somehow effected things in a detrimental way - does any one have a similar experience?

I know this winter has been cold, but this year we have had a solid fuel open fire and so have had radiators turned off that would've been on in 06/07.

Less of the sarky comments please I'm not a complete idiot

Rusty!

The boilers output wouldn't be the same 08/09 and 07/08, it has an internal 'stat, which is what you're adjusting when you set it too 'full'. It would have used more fuel this year than last to maintain temperatures.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi bluemez,

The advice posted so far is useful, there are lots of factors for increased gas usage year on year.

The most likely of these are the state of the winter we are having, any decrease to the temperature means the boiler/heating has to work harder, this means it uses more gas.

Another factor, maybe less of a strain but still to take into account is the natural decrease to the efficiency of gas appliance (including the boiler), less efficient the more gas things use.

Its also easy to think that nothing has changed year on year in regards to when the heating is on and what temperature it was set at, I personally find it difficult to actually really remember what was used and when!!

If you want me to look at the account for you and give you my opinion on the increase in gas units consumed I would be very happy to help.

Send me a Private Message with post code and house number and I’ll take a look for you and get back as soon as possible.

Brian

bluemez

Ok I take on board what everyone's saying and thanks for info on the internal thermostat.
Can I ask other people out there what kind of gas bills (units wise) that they have had for the quarter Nov 08 to Feb 09 and what sizes of flat/house that reading is for.
You can see mine is 372 units for a 2 bed first floor flat.

This would really help me to get some perspective.

Magentasue

11542kwh here. Which, coincidentally, is about 372 imperial units.

We are a family of six in a three bed mid-terraced house. I would say we like it warm but have tried to be more careful this year. Someone is in most of the time and heating has been on morning and evening every day. We turn it on and off through the day depending on who's here and how cold it is. That's also hot water and cooking by gas.

Last year, we used more - different house and not so careful. More hot water and more heating.

1carminestocky

I think it's not entirely implausible that your usage has doubled. We have just experienced the coldest winter for many years, after a number of incredibly mild ones.

In fact, they say God is good but I'm not so sure because giving us this incredibly cold snap has undoubtedly contributed massively to the profits of the energy industry due to the fact that, even according their best friends at OFGEM, they have been coining it in since the Summer.

1carminestocky (agnostic, bordering on atheist since November )