Set DD payments throughout year.. where's your bill at?

immoral_angeluk

Just updated our meter readings on scottishpower's online thingy and we're £16 in debt. Obviously I'm not worried as we'll obviously use more in the winter than the summer but was just wondering where everyone else was at this time of year? Still in credit or now in debt? Before I updated it we were £133 in credit as I hadn't updated it for just over 2 months so works out around £74.50 a month usage and we're paying £65.50. I'm guessing scottish power aren't going to bother putting up our payment as obviously we use more in winter than summer and will make it back up next year but just interested to see what other people's usage/bills are this time of year? This is only our 2nd winter in our own house so kind of new to the whole gas/electric thing! lol!

Mikeyorks

Yes .. you get out of perspective if you look at the main winter quarter in any sort of isolation. The whole essence of DDs for utility bills is that you take the whole year ... and divide by 12. Whilst sensibly factoring any % price rises into the equation .. and adjusting the DDs yourself if you want to stay ahead.

Depends, to a degree, where your annual cycle starts. But, as mine is mid-year, I expect to be well in credit on both gas / electric as we move into the dismal winter period. Tend to be using around £100 monthly on gas, at the moment - and paying £65. But that leaves me on track to be getting it right by about June - and going nicely into credit again by around Oct. And even more so if the alleged price decreases materialise:rolleyes:

immoral_angeluk

Mikeyorks wrote:

Yes .. you get out of perspective if you look at the main winter quarter in any sort of isolation. The whole essence of DDs for utility bills is that you take the whole year ... and divide by 12. Whilst sensibly factoring any % price rises into the equation .. and adjusting the DDs yourself if you want to stay ahead.

Depends, to a degree, where your annual cycle starts. But, as mine is mid-year, I expect to be well in credit on both gas / electric as we move into the dismal winter period. Tend to be using around £100 monthly on gas, at the moment - and paying £65. But that leaves me on track to be getting it right by about June - and going nicely into credit again by around Oct. And even more so if the alleged price decreases materialise:rolleyes:

Well we joined in November last year so have only got last year to go by but I know that next year our landlord is installing pvc double glazed front doors on our house (housing association) so our heating bill should reduce dramatically as at the moment we've got a pathetic internal plywood door with no insulating properties at all and single framed windows in the hall so iour house is colder than it should be. I love the housing association LOL.

realaledrinker

I've managed to align our bills so that we break even around September. That way, we always 'owe' Atlantic, rather than the other way round. It's been important to get your monthly DDs increased promptly each time there is a price increase otherwise you soon end up in arrears. Will be interesting to see if they agree to decrease the DD amount in the future when (if?) prices fall.

millsy1980

I am with Scottish power paying direct debit (Gas & Elec) and must admit I feel a little cheesed with them. I have had my energy assessment for the coming year and it indicates my charges will be £665.39. I am in credit at the moment so minus that means my anticipated charge is £582.71.

Am I being a little simple, because if I divide this by 12 it equals £48.56. Yet they have just announced my current payment of £91 will not cover my usuage and it will be increased to £96 per month!!! This totals £1152, or to put it another way twice what they are estimating?

Is this right??? Does anyone have any thoughts as I think I am confused and I don't want to go ranting and raging at Scottish Powere without knowing my facts?

jackieb

Our last gas statement was just £89 for 3 months and we're £102 in credit. We pay £56 a month.

Our electricity one is another matter. £298 and we now have a balance of £46that will be brought over until the next quarter. We already pay £75 a month. I'm with Hydro-Electric for both.

I've paid by direct debit for over 12 years. I've done the switching suppliers but I always seem to get hit with a big balance to be paid when I change over, so i'm staying put. The new supplier usually promises lower prices and then knocks down my dd, then it goes up drastically the following year. I was once hit by a £95 a month dd for my electricity after having had it knocked down to less than £40 the previous year. I once got a bill of over £500 despite paying direct debit and never missing a payment. I got a new meter at the same time so i think that had something to do with it. It was about 8 years ago so can't remember all the details.

skintas_2

i pay £66 a month dd for gas and electric with powergen i owe them £78 this month so only oew £10 gonna stop my dd after this has been paid as i wnt them to cut dd will they do this

immoral_angeluk

millsy1980 wrote:

I am with Scottish power paying direct debit (Gas & Elec) and must admit I feel a little cheesed with them. I have had my energy assessment for the coming year and it indicates my charges will be £665.39. I am in credit at the moment so minus that means my anticipated charge is £582.71.

Am I being a little simple, because if I divide this by 12 it equals £48.56. Yet they have just announced my current payment of £91 will not cover my usuage and it will be increased to £96 per month!!! This totals £1152, or to put it another way twice what they are estimating?

Is this right??? Does anyone have any thoughts as I think I am confused and I don't want to go ranting and raging at Scottish Powere without knowing my facts?

Was your usage estimate just based on how much gas and electric you'll use? Maybe the higher amount includes charges etc that weren't included in the assessement but that still seems very steep!! I'd definately call and ask them...

iceicebaby

I pay £60 in total for gas and electric and at the moment I am £72 in credit. This is accurate as I email readings to the company each month.

It has been mild so far this year so not had heating on lots.

Ill see what its looking like on the next bill which will be March. I may be able to drop my DD