Help with pre-payment please

michelefauk

I hope someone can help, I am very confused!

We are currentlywith Ebico on prepayment meters for both gas and electricity. I have recently received an annual statement which states our usage for the previous year

3/12/2008 - 2/12/2009 Units used 1091.00 (GAS)
2/12/2009 - 2/12/2009 Units used 5397 (ELEC)

I am assuming this is coorect as they recently came to read the meters.

I have been looking at a comparison site (uSwitch) where you fill in your annual usage, when I do this is says:
"You are currently paying £40.09 a year for gas and £725.36 a year for electricity" There is no way that the gas calculation is correct, just in the last week I have put £27 in the gas meter! I would say over the year the gas averages out at about £35 a month and the electricity about £60 a month.

I am desperate to get rid of the PPMs but have spoken to Ebico and they said no, as I failed the credit score (but only just apparently!). there is no debt on either of the meters.

KimYeovil

1091 kWhs of gas do cost £40 from Ebico. But your gas meter units are not measuring kWhs - if it is an imperial unit (with 'ft 3' or 'cubic feet' written on it) you have to multiply the 1091 by about 32. Or if it is a metric meter multiply by about 11.2.

As you have no debt you should be able to switch to another supplier - there are many of them with less stringent credit checks. (Since Ebico do not charge you any less for having a credit meter they should not be wasting money changing meters free of charge in the first place (though they do.))

michelefauk

Thanks for that, have recalculated it!

The units for gas should be 34148.3 (multiplied it by 31.3)

Will have a ring around to see if any of the other suppliers will let us switch to them and remove the meters
Thanks

KimYeovil

But if you have only paid £35 per month that would correspond to you having a metric meter, not an imperial meter. ((£35 x 12) / £0.0375)) -- 11,200 kWh per year.

DING_DONG_4

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any of advice for me. I have recently moved into a flat which has compulsary Gas prepay meters run by a company called switch2. I have been told by them and my housing authority that I cannot switch supplier, however I think they may be telling me porky's ! !

It is a smartcard one and is relatively new to these flats.

It is very cold even with the heating on full. There is even a petition to get an extra radiator put in every livingroom as they are soo cold. All other rooms are warmish, i've tried turning down other rads and turning up the thermostat, but to no avail. It seems to be set not to go above 17 degrees, no matter how high or long you have it turned up. So even trying that has in actual fact made it even colder.

The worst of it is the cost, we have all had letters saying that the charges have been increased as of 18th Jan 2010.
Increased from 6.13 per KWh to.... 9.22 per KWh

As you can imagine it is costing a small fortune!!

I am going to ring EBICo tomorrow, but just wondered if anyone has any advice.

There is no amount owing to anyone, but the prepayment meter must stay as stated in my tenancy aggreement :mad:

Any advice would be appreciated as I have tried to search the net with no joy.

Thanks in advance, Adele

markharding557

9.22per kwh is actualy quite good and is lower than the lowest rate available in my area

DING_DONG_4

Oh No!!

I thought this was really expensive?!?! Is it not then?!?!?

I used £5.50 from 6pm last night and 1pm today?!?!

I am still cold and have plenty of layers on?!?!

I am in the manchester area, anyone else in any area what are your rates??

Thanks

KimYeovil

markharding557 wrote: »

9.22per kwh is actualy quite good and is lower than the lowest rate available in my area

For GAS?!? Where do you live?

SwanJon

Landlords cannot profit on energy that they sell on to you (there'll be more details in another thread somewhenre - would have to search).

Although having googled Switch2, I'm not sure if it would apply. You could try contacting them directly.

http://www.switch2.com/residentHome.html

Edit: Looks like that won't help. The site suggests you are not buying gas, but hot water, and I've not seen anything like this before so won't be of much help.

markharding557

KimYeovil wrote: »

For GAS?!? Where do you live?

you're right thought is was electric for some reason:embarasse
my apologies to ding dong.
in which case 9.22 is very expensive:eek:

DING_DONG_4

Yeah, that is 9.22 per KWh Gas, sorry should've made it a little clearer.

Thanks, I have tried contactin switch2 and Irwell Valley (housing authority) to which both have said they don't think I can change supplier.

Surely there must be some option?!?!

Gonna have a ring around and dig a little deeper tomorrow.
It is a new thing to these flats and have heard a lot of residents aren't happy!
I am the first person to live in this flat for many years, as it was used for offices and the caretaker of the block. I have had it checked to make sure it is on the correct residential rate, but may ask them to come and check the system again!
I don't think i'd mind the cost so much, if the livingroom would get warm!!

Thanks adele:)