1st gas bill eeek!!!!

susi

I have changed from solid fuel to gas at the begining of the month and just received my first bill £69.93 from the 2nd December (when my gas was up and running) to the 14th December. My heating is set to 18 it comes on at 8.30 until 10am then from 5pm until 10 pm. occasionally I will switch it on for an hour in the afternoon. My water is probably turned on for an hour every other day. My central heating is the only gas used, everything else is electric. I knew gas was expensive but didnt expect a bill this high, is this about average???? I rang British Gas to see if there was a mistake and they said it was correct, they said maybe as it has just been installed there could have been a sudden surge or leak as they were installing.

jalexa

susi wrote: »

they said maybe as it has just been installed there could have been a sudden surge or leak as they were installing

I'm answering in reverse order. That is such abject nonsense that you are entitled to reject the certainty of the other answer. Personally I would raise a formal complaint about the incompetence of that remark.

...I rang British Gas to see if there was a mistake and they said it was correct...

Well who can say. Your first bill lesson is that gas is not sold in ££s but in volume as measured by the gas meter. What you need to do is to post the bill opening reading *exactly* as it is stated on the bill and post the more recent reading *exactly* as it is stated on the bill. Pay particular to whether the readings are actual or estimated. There are other things which can be checked but that will do for starters.

susi

Thanks for replying the first meter reading was 00000 date says 9th september but heating wasnt installed until 2nd December
13th December 00090 actual meter reading

jalexa

susi wrote: »

the first meter reading was 00000 date says 9th september but heating wasnt installed until 2nd December
13th December 00090 actual meter reading

OK, next lesson. The bill either will have a daily standing charge (charged from 9 September) or a higher unit charge for the first tariff specific number of units. Assuming you meter was 00000 when installed your heating system has consumed approximately 11x90 kWhrs or about 82kWhrs/day, ignoring standing charges or equivalent, about £3/day of gas. The cost so far is not yet representative. The consumption is highish but feasible for the hours and temperature.

Suggest you take meter readings daily for a week and see how it goes.

Which tariff are you on? Have you compared tariffs?

susi

Im on standard tariff cant see anywhere that states a standing charge (where would i find that) it says first 705.00 kWh x 8.262p Next 309.97 kWh x 3.767p.
It may well be correct but as I have never dealt with gas before I havent a clue and wanted to check it out. Guess I will just have to cut it down some......and roll on the summer!!! I havent compared tariffs yet as I havent had a full months usage to be able to compare. I am with BG for both gas and electric now so may be worth looking at a comparison site

caeler

Hiya - If it turns out you are using the units billed, then what you might find useful is taking regular meter readings (weekly to start with) and monitor your usage (like your already doing with heating, etc). I've personally found this useful to try and make it all make sense.

spiro

For gas you are much better off being on a DD tariff because you usage over the winter months will be many times that used in the summer and the DD evens this out. DD tariffs are also cheaper than Pay on Bill tariffs.

The same applies to elec but with GSH your usage tends to be more even throughout the year so the DD does less smoothing.

spiro

One point about you 1st bill is that whilst it covers 3 months you have only been using gas for 2 week. This means nearly all of the units have been at the much higher tier 1 price. If the bill was for 4 weeks and you used 180 units your bill would not be double (£139.86) but £106.28. If it was 8 weeks it would be £180.86.

Joyful

Check out online billing where you can put your readings in each month. That will help you to monitor how much you are using. Also get off the Standard tariff. This applies to any Provider. Always look to see where you can save. Also if you need insulation for the loft or cavity BG may be able to do it Free of charge which again would cut down bills.

payless

£32 of your bill is effectively 3months of standing charge ( billed as higher cost first units)

Either way account for £10pm flat cost. ( unless you use less than min levels)

so if £70 bill, £38 is for gas used

therefore roughly averaged monthly usage for a full month in dec = £90 ( plus £10 )= £100

jalexa

susi wrote: »

Im on standard tariff cant see anywhere that states a standing charge

That's because you are on a "no standing charge" tariff where the "standing" costs are recovered by the higher charge on the first 670kWhrs per quarter. For "normal" consumption NSC is "cost neutral" compared with a standing charge tariff, unless quarterly consumption is less than 670kWhrs. It's *possible* that could happen in your case with very low summer use.