High Gas Bill on Empty Property

Jimlester

My deceased parents home has been up for sale since last summer and the property has been continuously empty. I spoke to the supplier, npower who advised me to move onto their standard d/d tariff. They set up a monthly d/d of £10 pm per utility as their would only be minimul usage. I activated the heating since the autumn to 2hrs per day and left the thermostat at 19c.

I have recently received an electriicity bill which is accurate with the £10 monthly d/d that has been set up. However i was horrified to receive a gas bill showing that the cost of the gas used for the period 06.08.10 - 17.02.11 is £596.90 (excluding vat). I have apparantly used gas volume of 561 (17759 kwh)??

I spoke to npower and their advisor stated that my bill is high because i have not reached the higher rate threshold so the gas used has all been charged at their higher rate?

I'm struggling to understand the jargon used but am sure this usage cannot be right. Can someone help?

Premier_2

(a) is the gas bill based on actual meter readings? If not, check the estimated reading to the current meter reading
(b) is the gas meter an imperial meter (because that's what they've billed you based upon). A metric meter would result in the cost being only about 1/3 that billed.
(c) ignore the balloney about you not having consumed enough kWh to exceed the tier 1 threshold. BG tier 1 gas threshold is 670kWh per quarter

spiro

When checking the bill, check if the start (6/8/10) readings is actual or an estimate. It is possible that if your late parents had been receiving estimated bills and not phoning up with a reading then this may be a 'catch up' bill because they now have an actual reading.

Also as Premier has said check the 17/2/11 reading is not an estimate, the supplier billing system wont know the house is empty and will estimate based on previous consumption allowing for the coldest winter in decades.

Wildcat391

Check the central heating. Some central heating systems turn on automatically when the outside temp get near freezing to stop the system freezing up.