£400 gas bill for one bedroom flat!

rabbitsmush

Just got a gas bill from Scottish Hydro for £400 for the quarter! We have a one bedroom flat and restrict turning on the heating as much as possible by using our electric fire (electric only £100) and we are not even in the house full time. Can someone tell me if this is normal as we had electric storage heaters in our old house? I am going to call them with a meter reading but until the bank holiday is over I am panicing as I have budgeted pretty tight this month.

Mrs_Thrify

Hiya, it does seem high. What have you got using the gas?

Doom_and_Gloom

That is very high for a 1 bed place. I haven't been living in my place very long but my partner and I have used around £7/week so far on our gas (we are on pre-payment for gas) so that would work out as £91/quarter. Our gas only does the hobs and the heating and I'm in basically all the time (although we limit the usage on the heating). I'm confused as to how your gas could be so much when you are not even home all the time and not on pre-payment either.

macman

The usual question then-estimated readings or actual? Forget the bill-what is your actual unit consumption over the quarter? Remember that heating by electricity is 2 to 3 times more expensive than heating by gas.

dannymccann

macman wrote: »

The usual question then-estimated readings or actual? Forget the bill-what is your actual unit consumption over the quarter? Remember that heating by electricity is 2 to 3 times more expensive than heating by gas.

Original post states they are going to call with a meter read which to me sounds like this £400 bill is based on estimated readings...

rabbitsmush?

olly300

That is a very high reading.

As macman says:
1. Check that it's an actual reading

2. If it is an actual reading then:
a. check that the meter reference number corresponds to the meter reference number on the bill - often in flats the meters can be mixed up
b. that only you are using that meter - again some flat owners find that they are not the only one using that meter

WhiteHorse

olly300 wrote:

2. If it is an actual reading then:
a. check that the meter reference number corresponds to the meter reference number on the bill - often in flats the meters can be mixed up
b. that only you are using that meter - again some flat owners find that they are not the only one using that meter

Very good point. This really does happen.

You also have a right to challenge the accuracy of a meter, although there can be a charge if you are wrong.

rabbitsmush

The bill was sent to my partner electronically and he is abroad so I dont know for sure if it is estimated, but I assume it must be as it is the first one for this house. It seems mad even for an estimated one as I do not see how the previous occupants could have spent that much:eek:. I will have a look into the 'other people using the meter' thing, the flat is part of a set of semidetached cottages so it is possible.

oh and the gas is used to heat our water and central heating but nothing else. Cooker is electric and fire too. I know electricity is a bit more pricy than heating but the fire keeps the main room we use toasty when on for 5 mins, instead of heating the whole house with the gas and our electric bill is very low.

dannymccann

Estimated bills are high as the utility company will want you to pay for what you have used in a worst case scenario and also start building up a credit buffer fund for when it starts getting cold again. It is also likely they do not know your circumstances with regards to exactly what you use your fuel for (they tend to ask on the phone on a first time call) and how many people are living at the property. By all means check the meters and everything but get a look at the bill asap and provide a meter reading even quicker over the phone, or online as nowhere will be open today.

notbritishgas

rabbitsmush wrote: »

The bill was sent to my partner electronically and he is abroad so I dont know for sure if it is estimated, but I assume it must be as it is the first one for this house. It seems mad even for an estimated one as I do not see how the previous occupants could have spent that much:eek:. I will have a look into the 'other people using the meter' thing, the flat is part of a set of semidetached cottages so it is possible.

oh and the gas is used to heat our water and central heating but nothing else. Cooker is electric and fire too. I know electricity is a bit more pricy than heating but the fire keeps the main room we use toasty when on for 5 mins, instead of heating the whole house with the gas and our electric bill is very low.

I hope you took a reading when you moved in and gave it to your supplier.
Check that the start reading on the bill corresponds with the reading you took.
There must be something amiss with the readings as £400 for a quarter is too high for the usage you describe.

kippen_noedel

rabbitsmush wrote: »

The bill was sent to my partner electronically and he is abroad so I dont know for sure if it is estimated, but I assume it must be as it is the first one for this house..

lets hope you submitted meter readings when you arranged to take over the property, otherwise you could be paying for the previous occupants usage.