just given my meter readings

elantan

thanks savemoney ... our electricity is 16.915 for the first 225 units per quarter then it goes down to 11.302 per unit ... our gas s 5.96 per kwh for the first 670 per quarter and 2.82 per kwh after that ... we have an old boiler that heats the house and water seperately ...

elantan

Maybe its time to ook into. Changing again l

macman

Based on your annual consumption, your monthly DD should be about £70 for gas and £41 for leccy. That would be about £111. However you have arrears of about £250, so it will depend how quickly they expect you to clear that. Over 6m that would be about another £42pm, making £153. A DD of £180 would indicate that they're trying to clear that in about 4 months.
Given that we're now into warmer weather, your gas usage should dive, so I suggest you ring them up and get them to justify the figures.
Once you've cleared the debt, the DD should drop back to nearer £111.
Can you pay off some of the debt with a lump sum?

elantan

Yes I could manage to pay something to it ... Thanks for working out my figures that gives me something to aim for when I call them back .... There is a huge diff between £111 and £180 ... Although to be honest I have never been £111 ... £140 is the lowest I have been and yet I was in arrears with that amount..

can anyone explain (this is al new to me tbh) how if i have paid atleast £140 a month i can be £200 in arrears? if my consumption is working out at £111 a month ... i dont understand

macman

Probably because your winter consumption was very high and that accounts for most of the arrears (i.e. they've mainly arisen in the last quarter, or since your last actual reading).
Your previous bills will tell you what the historical arrears were.
Have you checked on a comp site that you're on the best SP tariff-not just taken their word for it on the phone? Remember that the cheapest tariffs are only available online, and usually on fixed monthly DD-not on the phone.

elantan

thats what i have ... an online 10 or something ... i pay the d.d.ms everymonth which is why i am going up to £180 ... but if i am using £111 a month on average and i have been paying an minimum of £140 ( went up to £150 in feb i think) then surely i shouldnt be in arears even if it was a bad winter? as i say i dont fully understand it all ... but i will deff be keeping on top of it from now on .....

elantan

web saver 12 with bg has just came up cheaper for me ... but only saving me £130 a year ... will have to find £250 first to pay off scottish power then i think i will move companies...darn no quidco cash back

macman

'Only' £130.00? That more than a 10% saving annually...or more than a month's 'free' energy if you like.

elantan

yep i know i should be grateful ... and i am honest ... its just i think i was in shock when i found out today that my bill is going up ... £130 is alot of money and when you put it into perspective like that ... one months free gas and electricity .. thats more than a wage rise for me ( not had one of them for three years) .. maybe i shoud transfer just now and pay off scottish power when the bill comes in ... it takes 6 weeks to transfer anyway so by then i wouldve paid quite a bit of it off anyway ...

CH27

As well as looking at changing tariffs I think you need to look at ways to cut your usage.
Have you got loft & cavity wall insulation?
Have you blocked any draughts form doors & windows?
Have you got thick curtains up to keep heat in?
Do you switch everything off when it's not in use?
Do you use energy saving bulbs?