EDF electricity prepayment meter

elaina79

I have had a prepayment meter for my electricity since 30th October. When they said they were going to put it the advised it would take £12 per week for the debt that I have. However since my little key thingy arrived and it has been topped up twice there doesn't seen to be any charge for the debt.
I am currently using about £2.50 a day for electric which is a lot less that what I had bugeted for.
Should the charge have been taken by now. I have checked the meter and there is no figures on there that are close to the debt that I owe them.

Also with my gas account EDF have said that I cannot have a prepay meter due to the gas network that I am on. They have also said that I can have the money taken straight off my benefits but I have to go into the benefit office and arrange this myself. That seems strange as my water bill and council tax are taken straight from my income support and they sorted it out themselves.
EDF have also said that I am using about £56 per month in gas, so is this a normal rate or am I using to much or is my gas usage lower than average.

macman

It's not possible to advise you on your gas usage without knowing what you use your gas for. I'm assuming from the level of consumption that you have gas central heating ad hot water, possibly a gas cooker? How large is the property, when do you heat it?
You need to analyse your consumption on usage, not on what EDF are guessing at, by comparing your last (actual not estimated) and current meter readings and working out your approx daily usage in kwh. Then post the figures here and more advice can be given.

elaina79

I gave EDF my meter readings and thats how they got the figure of £56. At the moment I have the central heating on for about 8 hours or so per day and the hot water is on all the time. I have a 3 bedroom house but only use 6 radiators as the house is usually quite warm and it's always quite warm upstairs.
I have a gas hob which I use everyday for roughly 1 - 2 hours depending on what I'm cooking.

Joyful

For your Gas you contact the benefits to request payment by Fuel Direct. This always needs you to deal with.

macman

I don't think your gas consumption is that high based on your usage, but the only way to check properly is to calcuate your actual consumption as advised, dont rely on EDF to do it for you. Then when you have your figures, you can use the comparison sites to see if you are on the best tariff. If you are on the standard tariff, that is usually the most expensive.
It's not really necessary to leave your hot water on 24 hours day, better to use the controller to set it for morning and evening peaks.
If it's too warm. use the room 'stat or TRV's to control the temperature better.

elaina79

It seems strange then that unless I go to do this and have the money taken from my benefits they can't do anything to make me pay the debt as such. I can't have a prepayment meter due to the gas network aparently. I am planning to pay about £85 per month for my usaage and to start clearing the debt. If I have anymore then I will pay it but what other powers do they have if they want to get the money quicker.

elaina79

I was wondering about the hot water and I did ask on here before but I was advised it doesn't make much difference that having it on all the time. Obviously if I can reduce the cost of the gas I am using then the money I pay will got towards the debt to clear it off quicker.