Excessive electricity bill (£801 for 4.5months)

lyndeno

We moved into a 2 bedroom flat in Leeds on the 27th November. The flat was supplied by NPower but we chose to move to Scottish Power in April.

During the change over NPower sent through the closing bill (the only bill we have had from them since I moved in). Anyway it was dated from 27/11/09 until the 14/04/10 and totals at £801!

Looking at the unit usage it states that we have used 5746 units which would equate to around 1276 units per month. The flat is only supplied with electricity and both readings were taken from the meter not estimated.

Is there any chance that the meter could be out as this seems a bit excessive?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Lynden

KimYeovil

The price is excessive because you are on their standard tariff over winter. Unfortunately all suppliers are trying to vie for the best customers through gouging those left on standard tariffs.

That's an average of 13.9p per kWh (about right for nPower's standard prices). If you had switched immediately to an online direct debit tariff that useage would have cost less than £600 on nPower's cheaper tariffs or less than £500 on a different supplier's best tariff.

KimYeovil

And are you sure it is a good idea to switch to Scottish Power? They have perfectly decent dual fuel tariffs but they aren't great for electricity-only prices (unless you live in an unusual region - possible.)

lyndeno

Wow I guess that Npower just robbed me then!

When Scottish power came round I looked at their tarrif and they have put us on 13.9p for the first 225KWh each quarter and then it drops down to 8.5p per KWh after that so looking at that last bill it would have cost £532 with Scottish power saving me £269! Oh well, I have learnt my lesson to look at the tarrif straight away!

Thanks for the advice Kim