Asst needed with gas bill price hike

RiderOnTheStorm

I need help / advice with my gas bill. We have just recieved a bill for well over £600 for the period covering the winter till May which increases our direct debit from £27 p.m to an excess over £90 p.m.

The background - 2 people in a 1930's 3 bed semi. A new energy effecient boiler fitted (1 year ago)

For the winter period previously Nov 2007 to Feb 2008 - We used 95 units (estimated) and our monthly d.d payments were pretty much covering the bill.

For the next winter period Nov 2008 to May 2009 (obviously a longer time span than the previous winter billing period) - we have 742 units being used (again an estimation).

So thats nearly 8 times more.

We are partly responsible as we havent given an actual metre reading ourselves but our supplier ( Southern Electric ) have not took a reading for a year or not longer. How can they estimate that we would use so much more in comparision to last year? Oddly enough, our actual meter reading is higher than the estimated bill despite there being no change in my living arrangements from the first winter period till the second one. Have I really used sooooo much more energy?

We have contacted them and they have basically said that as no actual readings have taken, we are fully responsible but it just seems that there must be an error somewhere along the line.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated !!

Thanks in advance.

jimexbox

There is no mystery as to why you have used more gas this winter as opposed to last winter, even though your living arrangements have stayed the same. It was a cold winter, so if you left your thermostat at the same temperature, the boiler would have to work longer to achieve a similar temp than in a milder winter, ie, the previous year. Coupled with massive price rises and estimated bill for so long. Im hardly surprised that you are seriously in debt.

You certainly get my sympathy, I was in the same boat once. I learned the hard way as you are that submitting actuall readings and paying a monthly DD that reflects your usage causes less stress.

Premier_2

Why don't you supply an actual meter reading now and then the southern electric will bill you for what you have actually consumed

... but this may be even more than they have estimated you consumed!

RiderOnTheStorm

Premier wrote: »

Why don't you supply an actual meter reading now and then the southern electric will bill you for what you have actually consumed

... but this may be even more than they have estimated you consumed!

Thats exactly what we have done.

Premier_2

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

Thats exactly what we have done.

Sorry I didn't realise you have now given an actual reading.

Could this large bill be as a result of catching up on previously under estimated amounts?