Concerned about Gas and Electric price I am paying

SandA

Hello

I live in a 2 bed terrace, myself, partner and a baby. When i entered into a contract with E-on, I was living alone and pregnant, i did tell them my partner was moving in etc but they based there estimate on me. I pay £53 per month combined. I'm concerned I am overspending this massively. We have to constantly boil kettle for bottles, run the microwave for sterilising, got the oven on about an hour a night and sometimes the hob too (our oven is rubbish, takes double the time to cook food then what it says on the box!), run the washing machine 2-3 times a week, along with a condenser dryer (rated B though). We have the telly on pretty much all day, laptop is on quite a bit too. Also sometimes have another telly on in the other room. I have a bath once a day, partner showers once a day. Baby is bathed every other day. We only have the heating on occasionally, maybe 2-4 hours a week at the mo, although i'm sure this will increase as can't have a cold house with the baby!

What will happen if I have overspent a lot? could i ring and have the tariff put up or am i stuck in the same one for the 12 months?

thanks

molerat

£53 is a low figure. Do you manage your account on line. You can input your meter reads regularly and it will show the status of your account even without producing a bill. You can change the direct debit on line (up to 3 times a year ?) to reflect your actual use or at least look at what they think it should be. You could also produce an excel spreadsheet to monitor your spend.

Be pro-active, read your meter regularly and submit readings regularly. That way you will not be hit with a large bill, most energy companies will allow you to get into quite a large debit. They allowed mine to get to over £600 before they contacted me. Luckily I was aware and was putting the money away, paid it back over 6 months whilst gaining interest in the bank

SandA

I have just submitted my gas online - it has accepted that. The meters were read 16th August. It will not accept my electricity readings as its not in line with their estimates. This is the differences -

16th Aug - Daytime - 15252
Nighttime - 03646

Today - Daytime - 15558
Nighttime - 03713

The fact it won't accept it really concerns me. I think i have most definitely overspent on the electric.

molerat

I cannot understand why the readings are not being accepted as they are reasonable amounts, 8 units per day which is not a bad consumption figure. You need to phone them.

One question is why are you on an E7 tariff, if you do not have electric heating those figures suggest it will be more expensive than a single rate tariff.

SandA

Not sure why, I have a E7 meter, so I guess that is maybe why? What do you mean re: being more expensive then a standard tariff?

Thanks

penrhyn

With an economy 7 tariff you get7 hours cheap rate, however to compensate for this the daytime units are more expensive than those on a single rate tariff.

good_advice

Standard tariff!!!!!!!no way. online energy saving tariff and pay by DD.

£53 a month is very good.Hopefully you will not have an increase with the CH.

molerat

A worked example of your figures for my region using EOn Energy Discount.

E7 14.332p day unit, 7.634p night unit
Sngl 11.676 p unit

306 day units = 43.86
67 night units = 5.11 Total 48.97

373 sngl units = £43.55

So on that limited period the electric cost £5.42 or 12.5% more than on a single rate tariff.

If you do not have electric heating and your day / night usage is the same pattern as above EOn may agree to you going onto a single rate tariff and adding the day & night units together for billing.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi SandA

Already some excellent advice on here. Thanks guys.

We're happy to review payment arrangements at any time. We can do this on the phone, by email or letter.

Like molerat, I can't see a logical reason why your electricity readings would be rejected. Having said that, I do know we had a few system problems over the weekend and this could be a factor. Best to check.

Although you have an Economy 7 meter, you don't need to be on an Economy 7 tariff if it's of no benefit to you.

Economy 7 meters tend to suit all electric properties, particularly those with storage heaters. As you've gas, the likelihood is an Economy 7 tariff won't benefit you.

Check the tariff you're on. It will be stated on your bills as well as your online account. If it's Economy 7 but your night usage isn't enough to be of benefit (depending on the region, usually need to use approx 35% to 50% at night), let us know. We can add the night and day readings together and charge as a single rate.

I'd pop your usage on to one of the independent comparison sites. This will list all the tariffs available, both with us and the other suppliers. Make sure you're on the tariff best suited to your circumstances.

Hope this is of interest SandA. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help. Alternatively, drop an email to the address in my Profile if you prefer.

Malc

SandA

Thank you for your advice.

I rang E-on today, and they said they would prefer to keep me on my DD I am on until my next bill date, as they will have more historic data to use when deciding a realistic DD for my usage. The estimate they had for today was 300 units below what I actually used, the lady on the phone said it came up on her system as being very high to their estimate and thats why it would not let me submit it. I have explained to her that although I joined E-on in early June, I did not move into the property full time until August, and with me came my partner and newborn son. Therefore, the data they've got as my 'usage' is when I did not live here properly, therefore on there system im a very very low user, until this month. Hope that makes sense! I'm on track and save 13 by the way, is that an E7 tariff? All i know is my meter pops up one number, then another so I presumed I was on an E7 tariff? if I am, would it be better for me to switch? (cheaper)

Thanks for all your advice.

SandA

What, am i paying way to much per unit then?

For electricity I am paying -
20.327p Normal units up to 720 kWhs per year
11.882p Normal units (after 720kwh)

Gas -

8.244p Normal units up to 2680 kWhs per year
4.070p Normal units (after 2860kwh)

Seems a lot or am I wrong?

Thanks