Monthy Gas Direct Debit?

Henry_Hoover_2

I'm with NPower for gas and have lived the property since March. Due to a gas meter mix-up with my neighbours, I haven't been billed for gas. I have set-up a direct debit and I am paying £30 a month to stack up a credit for when they eventually do sort the issue out and send me a bill!

(The problem is that when the building was originally converted into apartments in 2002, the meter serial numbers were logged incorrectly with XOServe. I have done a burns test and know which one is mine but because it concerns 46 meters they can't just change it and have to get it checked)

I was hoping for some advice on how much the direct debit should be?

It is a studio aparment, two adults live there, we have roughly a shower each a day and around 3 baths a week. The oven/hob is electric so it is only the water and central heating that uses the gas.

We haven't been using the central heating yet but now the weather is getting colder I want to switch it on but i'm petrified of having a huge bill when they eventually sort out whose meter is whose!

We would probably have the heating on for 5 hours a day and the gas is on a standard tarrif.

Any advice appreciated.I understand that it is impossible without a reading, but a rough figure would be brilliant.

Premier_2

As you know which meter is connected to your property, even if the supplier doesn't yet acknowledge that, simply take regular meter readings and calculate how much you are consuming

Putting the figures into an online site such as imeasure may also be a way to help you monitor consumption & cost

Cardew

The problem with npower is their gas tariff is 'seasonally weighted'(sculpting).
This means that they charge far more in winter for gas as they charge you for more higher priced tier 1 units.

£30 a month is possiply a little low - £40 might be nearer the mark.

If you don't get a bill, they cannot backdate the bill more than 12 months.

KimYeovil

If you know which one is yours why can't you just read it and monitor your useage ?

Henry_Hoover_2

As you know which meter is connected to your property, even if the supplier doesn't yet acknowledge that, simply take regular meter readings and calculate how much you are consuming Putting the figures into an online site such as imeasure may also be a way to help you monitor consumption & cost

Thanks, but I'm not quite sure how much we are supposed to be paying per unit or anything, neither do Npower as they say they will sort that out when the issues are resolved!

The problem with npower is their gas tariff is 'seasonally weighted'(sculpting).
This means that they charge far more in winter for gas as they charge you for more higher priced tier 1 units.

£30 a month is possiply a little low - £40 might be nearer the mark.

If you don't get a bill, they cannot backdate the bill more than 12 months.

Thats good to know! I bought the property in Dec last year but didn't move in to March, so it nearly has been a year. As much as I would like to get a few months free gas, I would like it to be resolved, but they are dragging it out a bit. I will increase the DD to £40 I think, just to be on the safe side.

If you know which one is yours why can't you just read it and monitor your useage ?

Because I don't know how much is is per unit, and wont until the serial numbers are corrected so that an account can be opened properly. I was hoping someone would tell me how much thier gas is, if they have similar living conditions...

KimYeovil

Look up the prices on their web site.

It should be about £20 per month standing/tier 1 charge plus 2.7p odd per kWh.

To convert metric meter reading units to kWh multiply by 11.2. For imperial meters multiply by 32. (Approximately.)

Premier_2

Henry_Hoover wrote: »

Thanks, but I'm not quite sure how much we are supposed to be paying per unit or anything, neither do Npower as they say they will sort that out when the issues are resolved!
...

Put your postcode in here and it gives you the unit charges.

https://www.npower.com/at_home/applications/quoteandswitch/UnitPrices.aspx?workflow=UnitPrice

If you don't have any agreement to the contrary, they'll probably bill you based on their standard tariff.

dogshome

Hi Henry_Hoover - The biggest problem you have is that you have no record of what 'your'
meter reading was when you moved in. I would advise that you immediately start a diary, doing your best to remember what conversations you have had with n'power so far, and from this point forward, you record 'your' meter readings on a weekly basis