Npower question

gally5

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone can explain/knows about how Npower (or any supplier for that matter) calculates predicted gas/electric usage for the year?

They have just cranked up my direct debit, to cover 'consumption based on previous readings' predicting we'll use over 20000 kWh gas a year. I appreciate this may be normal range to some people, but the reason I'm a bit miffed is that in last seven months (mid November through beginning of July) we used less than 5500 kWh.

It's (in my opinion) reasonable to assume in the next four months or so we won't use anywhere near as much, but even allowing for the same usage, this would only take to 11000kWh.

Again, I'm just trying to work out how it's calculated as the maths make no sense to me

Thanks for any help in advance

chanz4

best way is to call them with regular reads each month, and you should be able to get them to re-check the dd

gally5

chanz4 wrote: »

best way is to call them with regular reads each month, and you should be able to get them to re-check the dd

Thanks for your reply, I've actually been working out the totals, and have in 18 months used pretty much half of what they expect me to use in the next 12. Calling customer service essentially was a waste of time as got told 'Computer says this is all we can do'

I've emailed them now to see what they say but who knows how far it will get.

PatK

Hi All
Just wanted to say that I've just asked NPower about their prices todayas I was looking to move to another supplier, I spoke to someone called Janice who was very helpful:T I asked her for the usage statement for the past year so that I could compare prices of other suppliers. he numbers didn't addup to start with so she gave me the usage from June last year to this June while we were talking I was inputting on comparison web site, I gave her the information from the website and asked her for their best deal which did by calling me back I also managed to stop the increase in the direct debit for the electricity and also reduced the gas, total monthly saving here £40ish then got more good news... with there go66 (electricity) & websaver (gas) managed to save £240 per year which was better than moving to another supplier.:j

One thing I did notice the comparison site don't seem to get the numbers quite right for savings.

I think it's worth calling your current supplier & tell them your thinking of moving away, let them do the work for you:)
Pat

backfoot

PatK wrote: »

Hi All
Just wanted to say that I've just asked NPower about their prices todayas I was looking to move to another supplier, I spoke to someone called Janice who was very helpful:T I asked her for the usage statement for the past year so that I could compare prices of other suppliers. he numbers didn't addup to start with so she gave me the usage from June last year to this June while we were talking I was inputting on comparison web site, I gave her the information from the website and asked her for their best deal which did by calling me back I also managed to stop the increase in the direct debit for the electricity and also reduced the gas, total monthly saving here £40ish then got more good news... with there go66 (electricity) & websaver (gas) managed to save £240 per year which was better than moving to another supplier.:j

One thing I did notice the comparison site don't seem to get the numbers quite right for savings.

I think it's worth calling your current supplier & tell them your thinking of moving away, let them do the work for you:)
Pat

I think you will find that the comparison sites do get the numbers right.

I wouldn't recommend contacting your Supplier. They will probably make up some pretend Direct Debit amounts just to sucker you in.

macman

If you input annual kWh figs (not monthly DD spend), then the comp sites are accurate.

gally5

thanks again for your replies, waiting on them to get back to me. my kWh figure since beginning of feb 2010 is around 9500, so the 20000 is definitely way too high. in terms of the past year its around 7500kWh, so it's almost three times higher. My only thought is they are predicting an ice age.

my problem with changing currently is for my usage the tariff I am on is cheapest, but they won't lower my DD. All it will do is sit in my account as credit. If I change, I may get a smaller direct debit, but will be paying a higher rate.

It all revolves around this rather strange calculation their 'all powerful computer' has come up with.

backfoot

Gally,

If they are charging your DD's at twice the rate needed you should escalate the complaint.

NPower. uuuuggghhhhh:wall:

gally5

backfoot wrote: »

Gally,

If they are charging your DD's at twice the rate needed you should escalate the complaint.

NPower. uuuuggghhhhh:wall:

Hi Backfoot,

Yeah there will be a complaint, I'm just trying the friendly approach first. not expecting that to work!

I don't deny that maybe the DD needed an increase (it was worked out by them on previous usage though), like I say though I'm interested in knowing just how the calculation works, as the new DD amount is specifically linked to this prediction! They won't lower DD cos of it, but I'm going to phone up to request my usage be analysed I think.

backfoot

gally5 wrote: »

Yeah there will be a complaint, I'm just trying the friendly approach first. not expecting that to work!

:rotfl:Not in their vocabulary.

Write to them laying out your estimates and why it has reduced to the levels predicted. I can't believe this crappy organisation.:(

I would be leaving them if they don't compromise and quickly.

undaunted

gally5 wrote: »

Hi Backfoot,

Yeah there will be a complaint, I'm just trying the friendly approach first. not expecting that to work!

I don't deny that maybe the DD needed an increase (it was worked out by them on previous usage though), like I say though I'm interested in knowing just how the calculation works, as the new DD amount is specifically linked to this prediction! They won't lower DD cos of it, but I'm going to phone up to request my usage be analysed I think.

Where did logic & friendliness come into this? Your dealing with Npower here so it basically works like this, (as I think Backfoot may already have been getting at?) they dictate & are right (always!) you obey & are wrong (always!). Explanations - and complaints for that matter - are therefore likely to prove both unneccessary & totally useless unless you first accept the above as an essential part of them!

Though admittedly it should correct itself in the end, If your DD is charged at twice what you need each month are they really still the cheapest / best tarrif for you in practical terms by the way?