Gas usage, advice please

elainehanlon

We have just increased our direct debit as we had a statment through from scottish gas saying we owed £467. Now we knew it was going to be high as when they first put up our direct debit it was to nearly £90 so we phoned they appologised and said that £35 was more appropriate. We questioned this but they said oh no this was correct. So cold winter etc etc gas heating on we knew it wasnt going to be the cheapest statement ever.

We have now incresed the direct debit and should be paid off in a reasonable time etc. However when we asked how they had arrived at the dd amount they said we were currently using £3 - £4.00 a day in gas. I am confused a little as the heating isnt on but the hot water is on for mabye an hour or so. Is this figure right for just using hot water?

How can i best monitor this, could there be a meter issue?

They said they have read our meter but have never seen anyone it is outside. For the last 84 days they say we have used £176.19 or 4308.55 kWh or 135 units.

Just some advice would be good thank you :huh:

Magentasue

Several things:

the £3-4 a day sounds like a winter or annual average. You could work out a more meaningful figure by reading your meter and calculating yourself.

4308kwh in 84 days averages 51kwh a day. Check a couple of things. First, on the statement, does it say that the opening or closing readings were estimated? Next check your meter. You are being billed for an imperial meter so, somewhere on it, you should see ft3 or cubic feet. Do you?

Now read your meter every day for a week and work out your daily summer use. We have an imperial meter and use about six units in seven days - roughly 26kwh a day. That's hot water for six and cooking.

If you can find two accurate (not estimated) readings a year apart, you can work out how many kwh you use a year. You need to monitor regularly so that you know how much you're using. Have a look at https://www.imeasure.org.uk