Is this expensive?

tazzababe

Well, I've finallysuccumb to the cold and am forced to put the heating on. I am with BG on a prepayment meter. I am aware that I am paying over the odds for my gas, but what I want to know is how much over the odds- in comparison to other prepayment meters and monthly bill.

I decided a couple of months back to change to Powergen on a monthly bill, but have not yet done it because I am so busy at the mo.:rolleyes:

I have just put the radiator on and timed it until my credited amount changed. I've worked out that it costs me 1.75p per min or £1.05 per hour. :eek: So in comparison, is mine more or les expensive than everyone elses?

newlywed

We're on a prepayment meter and have worked out that for the water to be heated up twice a day (for an hour a time) and the heating to be on for about 3 hours a day - it costs us about £2 a day, which is still quite a bit compared to the people that pay monthly.

tazzababe

Thats cheaper then me then

newlywed

Yeah looks like it. But we aren't with BG - not sure who the prepayment meter is with - have to check with OH.

Cardew

tazzababe wrote:

I have just put the radiator on and timed it until my credited amount changed. I've worked out that it costs me 1.75p per min or £1.05 per hour. :eek: So in comparison, is mine more or les expensive than everyone elses?

You cannot work out costs like that.

When you put on CH for the first time the gas boiler is working flat out until the water in the system(radiator/pipes etc) is up to heat. When it is up to heat the thermostat cuts it and the boiler switches off and on.

Unless you have a huge house and/or poor insulation you shouldn't be paying more that £30 a week even when it is very cold.

tazzababe

What do you mean by putting CH on for first time? My boiler is on all the time- well the lights are always on, and when I turn the hot water tap there is always hot water. Do you mean pressing the CH button or turning the lights on , on the boiler?
Sorry I have got no idea:rolleyes:

Cardew

tazzababe wrote:

What do you mean by putting CH on for first time? My boiler is on all the time- well the lights are always on, and when I turn the hot water tap there is always hot water. Do you mean pressing the CH button or turning the lights on , on the boiler?
Sorry I have got no idea:rolleyes:

In your first post you said:

Well, I've finallysuccumb to the cold and am forced to put the heating on.

However you 'put the heating on' you cannot work out the cost of the CH running for one minute and then multiply it by 60 to get your hourly running cost.

tazzababe

Oh right, the boiler thing is on all the time I just pressed the radiator button. How do I work out what I am paying then?

espresso

tazzababe wrote:

Oh right, the boiler thing is on all the time I just pressed the radiator button. How do I work out what I am paying then?

Try reading your meter and entering your details into this calculator.

BexTech

With Gas for heating and cooking, we were paying £20 per month for this and was in credit, monthly payments were dropped to £15 per month for a few months, and have just been put back up due to the increased rates. We did have a refund for the amount we were in credit, yet have still managed to build up a credit, which will be used to offset the higher winter bills.

I'd say the £20 per month we have been paying has been enough to cover all the bills with a fair amount being in front, so would work out this £20 per month at current rates will just about cover us for the next 12 months as long as rates don't increase too much in the next year.

This is paying monthly direct debit with a credit meter.

As everyone circumstances is different, different heating, different homes, different flooring, different windows etc etc, advice can only be a rough guide.

However switching from pre-payment to paying monthly by DD will save you money as the rates are lower. EBICo does charge the same rates for all payment methods, but if you can pay by DD they aren't often the cheapest supplier.

BexTech

tazzababe wrote:

Oh right, the boiler thing is on all the time I just pressed the radiator button. How do I work out what I am paying then?

You would have taken weekly meter readings without the heating on to see how much energy you use, then take weekly meter readings with the heating on and compare the difference. For example 08:00 every Monday you read the meter and write it down, many people write on their calendars their weekly meter readings.