How much more Night Unit to Day Units is Normal - Souther Electric

bwelton

Hi,

I have just recived my latest bill and Direct Debit letter. I have been in credit historically, but now SE say I am in Debt and have switched my Direct Debit from £98 to £194 per month. They say they expect my engry bill to be £2330.85

Looking in to the Electricity Bill they are estimating and billing me for:
- 4,926 Day Enery and,
- 30,367 Units of Night Energy

i.e. 32.7 x as much consumption at night.

I may have the odd night light on but equally dont use the Kettle, Dishwasher, Oven, Washing machine etc at night. We also use Gas Central Heating.

Does anybody have a feeling for the relative difference ratio in consumption between Day and Night ?

Does the above readings look normal ?

Many thanks

victor2

That looks like an estimate assuming you have storage heaters, which you don't say you have. There is no way you can use that much power at night otherwise. What is your gas bill (in kWh)?
Have you recently had the gas central heating installed?

[Deleted User]

looks like the day/night readings have been transposed. when this happens, and you dont have night storage heating, you would be getting a cheaper bill with the expensive day units getting billed at the cheap rate. It looks like they have just discovered their mess-up and issued a catch-up bill.. was there no explanation about the drastic rise in your direct debits ? the ratio is very normal for day at the higher, night lower, at least 6 times more units used in day than night is approx what I see usually

bwelton

Hi,

There heve been no changes to my heating systems or circumstances. Re my Gas Cenral Heating, My Gas Bill confirms:

30 Dec 2011 to 25 Mar 2012 - 22,908 kWh at 3.81p
24 Mar 2012 to 29 Jun 2012 - 7,680 kWh at 3.64p

Overall that account in in credit by £832 as they apear also to be taking £199 per month.

In effect Southern Electric are proposing to take £398 per month for my combined Electric and Gas. £4776 per year !!

victor2

There is no way you should be using around 35,000 kWh of electricity combined day/night usage with gas heating.
My annual usage of electricity in a 4 bed detached house is about 4,000 kWh and that's with gas hot water and heating.
Question their figures, as they look like they're assuming you have electric heating. Why are you on economy 7 electricity anyway? It could not be practical with the night usage you say you have.

notbritishgas

OP, you say they are estimating your usage at more than 35000kwh, later on you give your gas bills from Dec11 to June 12, what were your electric bills for the same periods (actual or estimated).
As has already been stated, with gas CH the normal electric usage is 3000 to 4000 kwh per year.

Buzby

It is a Mis read or Mis calc. As you cannot trust them, end your DD As a matter of urgency to prevent you having to beg for your own mony back.

macman

But as already pointed out, why are you on E7 if you have gas CH-it is probably costing you more unless around 33%+ of your usage is on night rate?

Terrylw1

If its an estimate, just check the readings on your bill against your metet. Hopefully your meter will be much lower which answers your question.

The other issue is your tariff. You really shouldn't be on E7 with gch unless you specifically know your night usage will be much higher due to circumstances.

Did you fit the gch? If so, did you raise the issue of your tariff then? Did the previous occupant fit the gch and were they billed standard which means your supplier chose to put you on E7 rates when they knew it would disadvantage you hence you have a legitimate complaint.

macman

But the supplier has no idea how the OP heats their property, or when they change that method...

dogshome

As already posted, with Gas CH & Hot Water it's very unlikely that that an ECO 7 meter is best for you as they designed for dwellings with Storage radiators & Elec water heating - The usual reason a Gas dwelling has ECO7 is that it was built for Electric Heating/Hot water, but then a later owner installed gas CH but did not advise the Utility Co. of the change

So far as SE's strange estimate and D/D demand is concerned, look at the Night Rate consumption on previous bills - this is should to be minimal - but often the Utility will look at theDay/Night consumptions and charge the higher use reading as the Night Rate, which in your case is your Day use

Don't mess around with phoning the Customer Service Desk, WRITE a letter headed Complaint to SE about this estimation.
At the same time point out your Gas CH and demand to be charged 'Standard'
electric meter rates from that point forward