BG calc of number of higher rate kWh

Nod1234

For most if not all its gas tarrifs, British Gas sets one price per kWh for the first 670 kWh per quarter and a second (lower) price for the rest. BG tells me that for partial quarters the 670 figure is reduced in proportion, a figure of 7.342kWh per day being used. That correctly adds up to 670 for a whole quarter. However several of my bills involving partial quarters often as a result of price changes. For such partial quarters, the number of high priced kWh is much higher than it should be when calculated on the above basis. For example, a 40 day period had 501 kWh at the higher rate when on the basis of 7.342 per day it should be 294 kWh. BG on the phone was unable to explain this and has gone away to consult a higher authority. Does anyone understand how this all works and thus explain the discrepancy ?
Anther gripe - the Essentials tariff, available to those on certain benefits, is described in general terms on the website but the numerical details are not there, unlike BG's other tariffs, so there is nothing to check the bill against. I would have thought the regulator would insist that all gas suppliers display all their tariffs on their sites.
Many thanks.

Gerrard_8_lfc

I am sure because the quarter may not be a full quarter I am sure they do it to charge you the correct amount based on pro rata.

You may notice the tweak how much you pay on your tiers be it higher or lower charges. my websaver 3 tariff tier two should be about 3.125 for gas but they may lower this as last month I was pro rata but I noticed my Tier 1 gas price was higher than shown in my welcome pack.

SwanJon

Nod1234 wrote: »

For most if not all its gas tarrifs, British Gas sets one price per kWh for the first 670 kWh per quarter and a second (lower) price for the rest.Does anyone understand how this all works and thus explain the discrepancy ?
Anther gripe - the Essentials tariff.. .

There's the issue. The essentials tarrif (when I last checked) had a higher threshhold for tier 1 (but an adjhusted t1 price) - no idea why,
501 kWh for 40 days looks about right for this threshold.

Premier_2

Nod1234 wrote: »

...Anther gripe - the Essentials tariff, available to those on certain benefits, is described in general terms on the website but the numerical details are not there, unlike BG's other tariffs, so there is nothing to check the bill against. I would have thought the regulator would insist that all gas suppliers display all their tariffs on their sites.
Many thanks.

You won't find many, if any, suppliers who advertise their social tariff details online as such tariffs are only eligible to those that meet their criteria.

You will be given details if you are eligible.

The acceptance criteria for social tariffs varies between suppliers

KimYeovil

Premier wrote: »

You won't find many, if any, suppliers who advertise their social tariff details online as such tariffs are only eligible to those that meet their criteria.

You will be given details if you are eligible.

The acceptance criteria for social tariffs varies between suppliers

Sorry, can not see any logical connection.

Premier_2

KimYeovil wrote: »

Sorry, can not see any logical connection.

There's no point in advertising tariffs that the majority of punters cannot apply for - that would probably cause much confusion and anger.

Cardew

Nod1234 wrote: »

For most if not all its gas tarrifs, British Gas sets one price per kWh for the first 670 kWh per quarter and a second (lower) price for the rest. BG tells me that for partial quarters the 670 figure is reduced in proportion, a figure of 7.342kWh per day being used. That correctly adds up to 670 for a whole quarter. However several of my bills involving partial quarters often as a result of price changes. For such partial quarters, the number of high priced kWh is much higher than it should be when calculated on the above basis. For example, a 40 day period had 501 kWh at the higher rate when on the basis of 7.342 per day it should be 294 kWh. BG on the phone was unable to explain this and has gone away to consult a higher authority. Does anyone understand how this all works and thus explain the discrepancy ?.

Your assumption that all BG tariffs have 670kWh per quarter on tier 1 rates is incorrect, and I suspect the reason for the apparent discrepancy.

Some of the older BG tariffs charge 4572 tier1 units per year(mine for instance) So that pro-rata is 12.562kWh per day.

So 40 days = 501kWh.

urbanuprising

According to two members of BG staff I have spoken to , the BG Tier 1
tariff is 670kWh per quarter. I am currently in dispute with BG because of the
way they vary the amount of units allocated to Teir 1 tariff over the quarter. There is no logic to it and they seem to shift units into Teir 1 without any underlying reason.

These tariffs were fixed in 2007 as part of their duel fuel payment plan. They should not vary, and whatever amount is calculated should be a proportion of the quarter (approx 90 days) in relation to the units in tarriff.

For example if 45 days that is approx .5 of a quarter hence 335 kwh.

This is not the issue.

For 90 days quarter BG have been charging me 1300 kWh at Teir 1

Also they have doubled Teir 1 from 125 -250 kWh on electricity.

Have rung Consumer Direct (before going to OfGem) and staff are recording high volumes of this practice. It is a con as far as I'm concerened.


If someone from British Gas wants to come on here and dispute this with me please feel free to do so.

Have Pdf of 2007 electricity tariff.

Will hapily track down 2007 gas tariff.

There is no clear billing , and what arrives is deliberately misleading and an attempt to confuse the customer.

Interstingly: the amounts of variance between the charge in the tariff is about 29% - we've got you number.:)

littletommytucker

Yes. I would like to dispute this. Your a bit thick. Its quite easy to understand.... Previously, BG charged twice as many units at the higher rate each quarter.
The essentials tariff that you were on expired on 1st of June if I remember correctly, and now you are charged the new tier rates of 670 per quarter for gas and 125 per quarter for electric. As your bill covers part of the old tariff and part of the new tariff, they have proportioned the units correctly. simple maths. get your calculator out.

Cardew

urbanuprising, are you the same person as nod1234? (the OP - see post #1)

Without question the allocation of tier 1 units on all the BG current tariffs is 2,280kWh pa(670 a quarter for gas) and 500kWh pa(125 a quarter) for electricity.

However that is a fairly recent change and for many years it was 4,572kWh pa (1143 a qtr) and 900kWh pa (225kWh per quarter)

I have the old 2007 BG booklet and it firmly states that the following tariffs have the higher allocation of Tier 1 units(i.e. 4572/900kWh)

Price protection 2009,
Price protection December 2009
Price Protection 2010
Price promise Tariff
Discounted electricity & Gas Tariff effective 4 Sep 2006
Former employees of BG
Standard tariff effective 4 Sep 2006
Click energy (note; this is the original click energy, now referred to as Click energy 1)

Some time after that date they changed to a lower tier 1 allocation of 2680/500kWh and increased the price of Tier 1 units.

However regardless of you being on the higher or lower Tier 1 allocation, it should be worked out pro-rata per day. i.e 12.53/2.47 gas/elct kWh per day or 7.34/1.37 gas/elect kWh per day.

So for your 2007 tariff you need to ascertain if that was before or after the change in tier allocation.

urbanuprising

No-not the same person.
Have Pdf from 2007 ( saved and printed out BTW- ) show in 125's for electric.

My gas bill has some funny numerical logic ,yet the ealy half actually calculates out at 670 units at the unit price quoted even though the number of units in the tarrif varies, the price seems to relflect the agreement cost had per unit x 670 .had been maintained. .

Later it goes beserk.