Had your winter gas bill yet?

KxMx

November to mid Feb came in Estimated £54. I reckon based on the read bill from last year and the difference in actual meter numbers from those on this bill should have been more like £75-80.

We have one bill read, then the next estimated, then so on, so we've paid the bill and will have the balance added on the next bill.

In a three bed semi, we only heat rooms we use and we only turn on the heating when it's really cold. Most likely to be turned on twice a day (morning when Mum gets ready for work, evening when we are both up) until we are warm enough (rarely more than an hour at a time). Sometimes more, sometimes less depending on temperature. We don't have any kind of timer set, we use it as and when. Also use blankets when sitting on the sofa and hot water bottles occasionaly. Also I am home during the day but I only put it on if it's arctic.

I've often said on MSE I just don't understand people who pay out 100s per month in DD and I stand by that Companies don't set the amounts based on useage, they set them by the most they can get away from taking and are happy for customers to rack up large balances in credit, it's all money in their account at the end of the day, they are interested in making profits and not helping their customers.

We don't go cold and look at our bill! We had the money to pay it as we load money onto a Post Office Budget card so when bills come they are covered or the majority of the money is there (and we can't get at the money to spend it on something else lol).

Electric came in at £91, haven't checked the difference in reading and estimated reading on bill but I think that one will be pretty accurate.

beedeedee

Gas was on 18 out of 24 and bill was £324. DH home all day and feels the cold. We knew Gas price has gone up dramatically so have been budgeting for it accordingly. Pleased that we came in below budget this time!

KxMx

Just checked the electric meter, and looks like they over estimated by only a little (thought £91 sounded right). Their reading has the last 2 digits of 94 and our meter says 33 with identical on the first 3. It's no good asking me what that means in money as I haven't a clue as the bills are Mum's responsibilty to deal with (I pay my keep on time, that's my only job!)

Like beedeedee we know the bills will be higher in the Winter and so put more money onto the PO card than we normally do. Sometimes the spring/summer bills leave a little left on there towards the next lot but in the Winter it tends to take all of the money and sometimes with us adding some cash to the payment.

I should have said in my critisism of the gas/electric companies most utilities are also happy for customers to get £100s in credit, BT let my grandparents get £250 in credit! Luckily Nan got us to look at the bill and we told her it would be many bills before she needed to make a payment lol. She is so used to putting x amount on each month and doesn't tailor it to useage, but being over is better than being under. Nan was never told this by BT and they would have just carried on taking her money if she hadn't realised something was going on.

Also lol Grandad just managed to get £100 up in payg mobile credit because he forgot how to check his balance apparently, and doesn't really understand the charges, just thinks when he makes a call he needs another tenner on there quick smart And Nan made a comment about having so much on hers she is trying to think of a way to use it so I think she's done similar, although I think hers is alot less.

Sorry I have gone rather OT!

System

Ive just submitted my meter readings and i am £56 in debit. Looks like asking MrJudi for some money... either that or risk the DD going up in a month or two.

Saying that, a new Direct Debit goes out on the 1st.

Barneysmom

Thanks I can't really think of much else we can do to make the house warmer.
One year we put the porch on, another we put the conservatory on, replaced the bay window in this room.
Loft is all done thick.
Had the boiler changed about 5 years ago so not looking to replace that yet.
The outside wall all the way top to bottom has been covered in that thermoboard stuff on the inside. The outside is real pebble, painted last summer.
Thick carpets too which cost a fortune.
Thick curtains (I made them), the upstairs double glazing is all new..........

What else can we do?

aliasojo

Barneysmom wrote: »

What else can we do?

Move to Spain?

That's what I'm considering.

Tippytoes

Not an issue in my house. I couldn't afford to put the heating on!

Barneysmom

aliasojo wrote: »

Move to Spain?

That's what I'm considering.

I never thought of that but yes I'll go to Spain, sounds good

C_Mababejive

Barneysmom wrote: »

Thanks I can't really think of much else we can do to make the house warmer.
One year we put the porch on, another we put the conservatory on, replaced the bay window in this room.
Loft is all done thick.
Had the boiler changed about 5 years ago so not looking to replace that yet.
The outside wall all the way top to bottom has been covered in that thermoboard stuff on the inside. The outside is real pebble, painted last summer.
Thick carpets too which cost a fortune.
Thick curtains (I made them), the upstairs double glazing is all new..........

What else can we do?

Wear a thermal vest. You will be amazed at the difference..

aliasojo

Ohhhh someone must have heard me moaning! I've just this minute got an email telling me my new bill is ready. I only got one a week ago! Anyway, I logged onto my account and it seems they messed up and instead of calculating the bill on the actual readings they had, they estimated it instead. They must have realised later and have issued an amended bill based on the actual figures.....which is £65 cheaper. Happy days.