Conspiracy theory on fixed prices!

milliejon

I fixed my dual fuel bill with British Gas in September last year. Since then I have received two bills, and the usage on both bills is over double that of the same time last year and the year before (both of which were around the same)!

My theory is that they've fixed the prices but somehow increased the speed that my meters read at! I have the meters read, or send in a reading, every quarter so I know that the numbers were correct.

My DDs for the electric and gas have increased by approx £27 per month between them since I fixed my prices! I'm so annoyed - that's another £324 per year. I know that fuel is expensive everywhere but I didn't expect my usage to increase by that much. We have had a baby this year, but we generally wrap him up to keep him warm as it's easier to cool him down.

Has anyone else had the same kind of problem?

irnbru_2

milliejon wrote:

Has anyone else had the same kind of problem?

Five things it could be:

1. Your meters are faulty.
2. Your usage has doubled.
3. Your appliances are causing the usage increase.
4. Your not on a dual fuel fixed tariff.
5. Your gas is being read in imperial/metric instead of metric/imperial.


I doubt both meters would go wrong at the same time.

Not in a gas household but previous advice here has been about checking the efficiency of your boiler.

Check and confirm your tariff? Are you in credit on DDs?

Read your meters daily for 14 days and see where the usage is occuring.

milliejon

Irnbru - thanks for making me think about things! I've put some comments below.

irnbru wrote:

Five things it could be:

1. Your meters are faulty - don't think so.
2. Your usage has doubled - quite possible.
3. Your appliances are causing the usage increase - no changes over the past year and regular land lord check carried out.
4. Your not on a dual fuel fixed tariff - double checked and it is.
5. Your gas is being read in imperial/metric instead of metric/imperial - it's usually read by the gas man.


I doubt both meters would go wrong at the same time.

Not in a gas household but previous advice here has been about checking the efficiency of your boiler - the boiler is old it was installed in the 70s when the house was built. Trouble is that we rent so we have no chance of changing it.

Check and confirm your tariff? Done Are you in credit on DDs? Not now!!

Read your meters daily for 14 days and see where the usage is occuring. This is a fantastic idea - I'm the sad, control freak type, so a little book the write down what appliances etc have been used and checking the meters would be right up my street!

One quick question regarding heating costs. I have a very old boiler and wondered if it is more energy efficient to keep the hot water on all day, so that it's continually keeping the water hot, or to put it on once a day and hope the water lasts to wash the dishes and have baths etc. Any advice would be great.

Thanks in advance.

smartie1976

Ah, the age old debate. And I don't know the answer!
My OH was told by the engineer that to keep it on and low was better, but I saw her gas bills soar the first year after she had her new boiler in.

Personally I favour the on twice a day method as I don't use much water.
I guess it depends how much you use.

irnbru_2

milliejon wrote:

the boiler is old it was installed in the 70s when the house was built. Trouble is that we rent so we have no chance of changing it.

When was it last serviced?

milliejon

irnbru wrote:

When was it last serviced?

It gets serviced every year, and on Friday we're having the gas safety check done. Will this do the job?

Cardew

milliejon wrote:

Irnbru - thanks for making me think about things! I've put some comments below.



One quick question regarding heating costs. I have a very old boiler and wondered if it is more energy efficient to keep the hot water on all day, so that it's continually keeping the water hot, or to put it on once a day and hope the water lasts to wash the dishes and have baths etc. Any advice would be great.

Thanks in advance.

If you do a search you will find this question has been asked and answered many times.

To save you looking, it is always more expensive to have the the hot water on all day.

If someone said you should keep the kettle boiling all day, so it is ready when you want a cup of tea, you might think it strange advice. Or the oven fully heated so it is ready to cook. Same principle.

milliejon

Thank you! I did do a search, but couldn't find anything - perhaps I'll look more carefully at the advanced search option!

Anyway, that you for the advice. I hadn't thought about the kettle or oven like that. I'm going to heat the water once a day and see how I go.

Thanks again.