British Gas massive bill!!!!

Stinky_McFeet

Our cost for electricity used over the last 6 months is £1003.81. Is this not ridiculously high for two people who work full time so are out half the time?
There have been 3 estimated readings and 1 actual reading in this time, the last reading being actual.

dannymccann

Based on 10p / kwh you have used 10000kwh in 6 months, not sure what national average is. Depends if you are all electric. I would consider even as an all electric during the summer months that that is too much, but maybe an immersion heater is stuck on 24/7 or something like that.

Flick your fuse box off with the big switch so you cannot possibly be using any power and see if the meter is still going round. We are 2 person household with gas for heating and water and its £20 a month...

ollski

Average is 3300 kw per annum, but if your running plasma tvs, computers, big american fridge freezers, halogen spotlights etc you can go well over. I live in a 3 bed semi and use about 30kw a day according to my smart meter so thats about 11000 kw pa (£1100).

mattcanary

Was the reading estimated at the start of this period? If it was, it was probably vastly underestimated

dogshome

Hi Stinky Mcfeet - Yes, £1003 for electric over 6 summer months is off the scale.
The first thing to do is look the the bills prior to this period to check just how long "Estimated Bills" were being issued before you got the recent actual reading
If these bills for 6 months cover only the time from when you moved in, then it is highly likely that the 'Start' reading on your account was wrong - Or that you are being billed for the wrong meter entirely

Check that the meter number on your bills matches that on the meter, and if your home is a flat in a block that has all the meters fitted in a service room, check that it is the one supplying your flat.
Turn off everything in your flat, then with communication by mobile have a mate switch the kettle on and off whilst you watch the meter which should be stationery until the kettle kicks in.

Not withstanding the present problem, take control of your billing from this point forward - Keep a monthly log of your meter readings and always phone in your meter reading the moment you get an Estimated Bill