British Gas predicting electricity usage despite giving meter readings

Gee2

I am on direct debit payment plan with British Gas. Are they allowed to predict my electricity usage for the next year even though I supply them with meter readings?

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

I am not sure I understand your question.

They have to initially predict your future consumption in order to set the Monthly Direct Debit at the correct level.

As they get readings from you they can adjust the Direct Debit up or down.

If you know your annual consumption, you can always phone and agree the monthly payment, although it might still vary later in the year.

Gee2

Thanks for the welcome and for responding. Do you know how I can work out my annual consumption? It looks as if they predicted this years based on previous years usage. I deliberately did not use as much electricity as last year, so my payments should be less, yet they are asking me to pay more.

savemoney

Do you have meter readings from your old supplier assuming you got it in same property

Gee2

I think I can get previous readings online from BG as they are my old suppliers.

jalexa

Gee2 wrote: »

I am on direct debit payment plan with British Gas. Are they allowed to predict my electricity usage for the next year ...

The answer to that question is that the relevant regulation says this...

"...the licensee must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the fixed amount of the regular direct debit payment is based on the best and most current information available (or which reasonably ought to be available) to the licensee, including information as to the quantity of gas which the licensee reasonably estimates has been or will be supplied..."

So the answer is "yes" so long as the estimate is "reasonable". So to contest the figure being used you need to argue your case. What figure is British Gas citing as reasonable and what figure would you argue as reasonable?

If you have a "reasonable" case British Gas would be stupid not to agree (because ultimately it could result in a reputationally costly Energy Ombudsman referral). Unfortunately I cannot say British Gas is not stupid. That is something for you to determine in your specific case. In this the complaints procedure is your friend.

savemoney

They usually on bills I get mine on online billing in pdf form

Gee2 wrote: »

I think I can get previous readings online from BG as they are my old suppliers.

Gee2

Thanks to all of you.

Jalexa - they want me to pay £131 a month. My payments were in the £50+ bracket but I have actually been paying more (£75). I think £75 is more than reasonable today, or maybe I'm deluded.

I'm going to argue my case as I think they are trying to bump up my electricity payments because my gas usage is practically non-existent. My gas payments have gone down and suddenly my electricity has more than doubled. A tad odd in my opinion.

joedenise

I just phoned my gas/electric supplier and said I thought what they wanted was unreasonable (wanted to put it up from £74 to £114 a month). They agreed to leave the DD at £74 with a review after 6 months which I agreed to. The review has just been done and they want to reduce it to £47 per month because I am nearly £200 in credit! I phoned again when this happened and said as this has been such a mild winter I thought that would be too low and have agreed a reduction to £60 a month, which will be reviewed quarterly. If I'm still a lot in credit in 3 months then I'll reduce it again, otherwise I'll leave it at £60.

Denise