Confused by dramatic DD increases by Scottish Power

Bolando

I've signed up here as yet another person who is struggling to pay their hiked energy bills and understand where their new figures have come from.

Up till August 2008 we were paying £80.50 per month for dual fuel on the premier plus package. Then in September we were informed it was increasing to £111.50 (38% increase). Another letter two months later informed us that the direct debit now needed to be set at £187 per month (a further 67% increase!!).
Overall thats an of increase of 132% within 6 months!!

Now it seems that the final increase was triggered when I sent updated meter readings via the website. Needless to say I will now be taking readings much more regularly.

But here's where I'm really confused. Within the same letter informing us of the last increase it contained a chart showing our energy consumption compared to last year...
Electric consumption was up by roughly 10% and our gas use had risen by 47%. Fair enough I knew this winter was colder and we would have used more gas for the central heating.

However the DD increase still seems to be way higher than what it should be, even taking into consideration the unit price increases last year.

I have called Scottish Power to discuss this and they seem pretty certain that our account is in debit by over £300!!

So something just doesnt seem to add up. We are an average 3 bed household and £187 a month for energy seems ridiculous!

Am I in a position to send one of Martin's template letters? How do I go about resolving this?

Thanks

Magentasue

Bolando wrote: »

However the DD increase still seems to be way higher than what it should be, even taking into consideration the unit price increases last year.

I have called Scottish Power to discuss this and they seem pretty certain that our account is in debit by over £300!!

So something just doesnt seem to add up. We are an average 3 bed household and £187 a month for energy seems ridiculous!

Am I in a position to send one of Martin's template letters? How do I go about resolving this?

Thanks

Why do you think the DD is too high - you should be in credit or have a zero balalnce at this time of year, but you're owing £300 which suggests your DD is too low.

You're paying a high DD because you use a lot of gas and electricity, prices have gne up and your usage was underestimated until you supplied readings.

I may be missing something, but from what you've said, you need to reducing the amount of energy you use or accepting that you'll have to pay for it.

What letters? Do you feel that you are being charged for more than you have used?

Magentasue

On a more positive note, do make sure that SP have accurate current meter readings, you are on the best tariff and that SP know what sort of gas meter you have (imperial or metric).

McKneff

Now it seems that the final increase was triggered when I sent updated meter readings via the website. Needless to say I will now be taking readings much more regularly.

i think this is the key and you have been underpaying your DD's and by the way a DD is not a bill, its a payment towards a bill. they have worked your bill out properly as soon as you gave them your readings, It seems that you are not only playing catch up but you are paying the high energy prices as now - a double whammy, sorry.

Bolando

Magentasue wrote: »

On a more positive note, do make sure that SP have accurate current meter readings, you are on the best tariff and that SP know what sort of gas meter you have (imperial or metric).

Thanks for the replies. Yes I will be keeping a record now myself of our meter readings.
To be honest I think it was never longer than a quarter before that it went without a meter reading being made either by them or myself.

I accept the price increases but still think its a bit overboard that our direct debit has done nothing but go up over the last couple of years and so sharply recently.

They told me our electricity consumption is pretty average but our gas usage is a little high. However as I said a dd increase of over 130% seems to high for an increase in gas usage of 47%.
Maybe I'm not getting my maths correct but I will investigate with them further.

What should an energy bill now be for an average 3 bed semi detached household with the usual - gas central heating, gas cooker, 2 tv's, fridge freezer, electric shower etc?
Most people I'm speaking to say anything over £100-£120 a month is ridiculous!

Magentasue

Depends on how you live. How many kwh of gas and electricity do you use in a year?

We are a family of six in a three bed house. Since my campaign to reduce waste without sacrificing comfort, we have cut back to about 31000kwh gas a year and about 5000 kwh electricity. We pay £135 a month but would be paying much more if we were living the way we did a couple of years back.

JCB2020

I have been in a similar situation. Just posted on another thread that I am switching. SP want to increase my monthly DD by 134%. I got the email sortly after submitting meter readings.
I calculate the increase should be less than 80% based on actual usage.
I suspect that this is the DD scam. Unless they reduce the DD in coming months, once the the debit has been cleared, then I will be building up a huge credit over the summer months.

eamon

You need to look at your earlier bills and compare how many units you have used in the past. At a minimum you need at least 3 years to give an accurate history. Of course if you have don't have this then you are doing the correct thing by starting a log now. Personally I read mine once a month and record using a spreadsheet. It is likely though that your old DD amount was too low and it has been a long cold winter. But it sounds like SP are perhaps using this as a reason to up their cashflow. What you need now is a long hot summer and this will give you a healthy credit balance for next winter. This goes against all MSE principles but savings % rates are now so low it is not so bad a deal.

Bolando

Just spoken to agent and been informed that our account is still £343.47 in debit!! Most of this is owed on the gas side.

Obviously we are using more than expected but its seriously expensive just to keep warm these days.

Roll on greener renewable energy please!!!

KimYeovil

Bolando wrote: »

Roll on greener renewable energy please!!!

You are looking forward to even higher bills? No reason renewable energy would be cheaper.

colin13

I am with scottish power,unemployed through ill health:( ,,but also heard of these rises,,i phonedd them just about 2 months ago and told them the situation,,they looked at my account and aggred that the £82.50 pm was ok:) and the prices r due to come down , me think me won that battle:)

just got gas/electricty bill on line 3 months£293 owe 67 with another payment of £82.50 due of next week well happy