First home - help! Confused by electricity bills!!

Pauper1

Hi everyone,
We got our first electricity bill for £77 almost a month ago, after having provided E.on with the meter reading for the day we moved in. It's now two months after we've moved, and while we've had one bill and been charged, it's still not showing as a bill on our account on the website, just that we are in credit by £77.
Also, as this is my first home I'm not quite sure how the bills all work. We are paying by direct debit (at £77 a month - how do they calculate that?), but yesterday I had to provide E.on with another meter reading and there's a difference of only 279kw between the first one two months ago and the new one. This is just for electric, the gas is only a difference of 11.
I understand that by paying more in the summer, our gas bill in the winter will be covered, but surely our electric use will stay the same? I can't see our use going up that much in the winter to justify such a huge monthly bill (for 2 people in a 2 bed house?).
Any advice? It may just be of course that as it's my first house, that I've got no idea about the current price of bills!!
Thanks,
Laura

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi Pauper1,

From your post it sounds like you have OneBill for the gas and electricity, this means that your one Direct Debit payment per month covers both fuels. You will also receive one bill to show both the gas and electricity charges.

You should be able to see when your next bill is due on your online account, I would enter reads around this date, this will produce an up to date bill.

You should receive a bill around every three months, this can vary slightly, but you should be able to see the bill dates online.

When paying by Monthly Direct Debit you should build up a credit in the summer, as this then helps to go towards your larger winter bills.

I would make sure all of your bills are charged to accurate readings and also keep an eye on the balance, if you find that the account is in debit after the bill has been produced, through the summer months then the payments will need to be increased slightly.

Also keep an eye on the tariffs, you can see alternatives on your online account.

Hope this helps.

Helena

Ken68

Hi Pauper...in the meantime sign up....

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1718615

Pauper1

Would just like to say thanks to Helena for the post, pm and phone call!! Very helpful!

Vestra

Pauper1 wrote: »

Would just like to say thanks to Helena for the post, pm and phone call!! Very helpful!

I thought they weren't allowed to PM people?

Pauper1

I've got no idea, where does it say that? (It was helpful though..)