British Gas - Expensive Gas bill or not?

Just_a_girl

Hi Everyone!

Just moved into my mums flat, i'm renting it from her. Sorted out my gas and electric both with British Gas as that who my mum was with when she moved out, so she said to ring them give them the readings from that day and get it set up.

Did that, no problems they signed me up on Direct debit for £32 Gas/Month and £22 Electricity/month. They also sent me a electricity moniter and an online account so i can submit meter readings every month, saying that after 3 months I will prob want to switch over to this method as I will prob save myself about £150 per year.

So this month, one month later I try and submit my readings online. Turns out my Electric reading wants a day and night reading, but my meter only have one reading availble, so I cant do that.

My gas was fine I submitted it and it says I owe £90 for the last Month!!!!! This seems quite high to me. I only have a small one bed flat and the gas is only used for the heating which comes on an hour in the morning and two hours in the evening (Its a basement flat and Im still cold with just this). I have gas hobs, but im not home a lot and hardly use them.

I just dont think I can afford £90 a month, I work full time but I only get paid peanuts and was just making ends meet with my direct debit amounts. Does this sound really expensive or about right? Think I'm gonna have to turn the heating off and jsut wear my coat about!!

Thanks

KimYeovil

Well, £32 per month but you used an extra £90. That is reasonable. Who is asking for £90 per month? Four times your average is a reasonable amount for a winter month. That is still on schedule for an average of £45 per month.

(Say 2 months at £120, 2 months two-thirds of that at £90 and 8 months with only cooking and hot water - £80. Add an extra 8 x £5 for the low months tier 1 charges. £540 / 12 = £45)

If you don't want to find larger sums at winter change to direct debits - not only does this spread the cost the prices are cheaper.

Unfortunately basement flats are cold (and expensive). Make sure you air the flat thoroughly as often as possible to ensure you keep the dampness down. Even in winter you want to throw open windows and doors for an hour or two when you get home before you settle down with the heating on. Or, alternatively, see if there is a secured window that can be safely left ajar.

It is probably worthwhile putting the heating on for longer than two hours - no, that will not be cheaper but the third and fourth hour will not cost the same as the first and second. You'd be better spending £50 or £60 a month and feeling the warmth than spending £45 per month switching it back off before you feel any benefit, iyswim.

pineapple

I have a 2 bedroom stone cottage which has solid floors downstairs and is actually quite cold..
I have a gas hob, gas CH, electric oven and solid fuel stove.
In the winter I would have the CH on for an hour in the morning and a couple of hours at night (though there have been times I've fallen asleep and it has been on all evening).
The solid stove stove has been on maybe 4 evenings a week.
My direct debit for a dual fuel account has been £50 something a month. I did spend extra on coal but there again built up £240 in credit which is being refunded (yeah!).
I actually think that £90 for one month gas alone at your stated rate of useage is quite high.
I've managed to keep my combined gas and electricity winter bill to about £150 per quarter.
Be aware that suppliers sometimes tempt people into contracts with low quotes. Then - suprise surprise - it's not enough!
I would compare your unit costs with other suppliers.
As for the night reading, maybe they think you have off peak electricity installed ie storage heaters. In that case there would be two separate readings.
Cheers

Just_a_girl

Thanks for the response, I think what I will do is reprogramme the thermostat, as i noticed i had to put the temperature down twice last night from 21C, so maybe its a little hot (not sure if that uses more gas, i presume it does).

Ill also keep an eye over this month just to see how much I use, but I guess your right, In the summer hopefully my payments will be less and it equals out....Maybe.

Whats the deal with transfering suppliers, is there a minimum amount of time you have to stay with a company - I know most places are quite high but a comparison website says I could save if i swap to a new supplier - Are British Gas extra expensive?

Thanks

Antispam

What you paying a month seems slightly on low side unless your out a lot including some evenings and dont have heating on. 21c is a tad high also even in winter I wouldn't have heating on that high up to 20c. I have mine on last night first time for a few days and had that on 18.5c as it was 16c in our last night

Keep a eye on your usage by taking regularly readings so as not to get a lot in debt/credit. You really need to soon build up a credit for later on in the winter because in Summer your heating should be virtual none existent.