Can anyone help me understand my electric bill please?

JimmyTheWig

Kheeli wrote: »

I think the wire that did the night rate had been cut. Not sure how/when/why! We rent so I presumed it was the landlord, I never queried it more after they fitted a new meter.

I've tried various sums and I also can't figure out what the £258.59 is for!

As has been said, the £258.59 is the difference.
If it's convenient to get to the CAB then do that, as suggested.
If not, ask nPower what the £258.59 is for.

Can you contact them by email?
Might be easier then you could copy and paste the answer here.


Maybe the £258.59 is estimated night-time usage for when the meter was not working?

Kheeli

Apparently the £258.59 is arrears from our last house. I just rang and their sums do seem to make sense not so I can explain it to you very well mind you!

I have fully transcribed the bill apart from the second to last column which is the cost split column.

Think I've been baffled by figures! I *think* what theyre saying is that because of the payments I made my account was £3.50ish in credit but now I need to pay this new bill. I thought the arrears I was paying covered both but maybe not. Its been confirmed I use £57 a month so quite why my bill is £459.36 I'm not sure as obviously 6x 57 is £342? But they said it's because of the way the DD works!?

As for the old meter I never noticed lights not being on the fridge/freezer. But I do know a wire had been cut and seem to recall npower saying it was a bit naughty whoever erupt did it as I wasn't being charged overnight. Then they fitted a new meter. I'm on the cheapest tariff.

As for heating no I'm not overly sure how it works. i just know how to turn it off/on!But the heating is oil so I don't think has anything to do with electric? We''re in a 3 bed house, no wall insulation but we had loft insulation put in this year.

JimmyTheWig

Kheeli wrote: »

Cost of electric this period £434.16
Vat £21.70
Total 455.86

Balance on last bill £454.91
Payments (total) £710
Acct balance before charges £255.09 credit

This bill
Acct balance before charges £255.09 credit
Total electric charges this period £455.86 debit
Refunds adjustments or charges £258.59
Account balance for information £459.36 debit

Kheeli wrote: »

Apparently the £258.59 is arrears from our last house.

Ok, that's the answer then.
The balance on last bill of £454.91 _didn't include_ the £258.59 from your last house.
According to them.
Do you agree with that?

If so, what you have managed to do in the last months is clear your arrears from your last house (i.e. balance on bill is pretty similar but previously that was plus arrears now it includes them). Not bad going. Now you just need to keep going at this rate and clear the balance on the account!
Though electricity usage goes up in the winter, so you might not do much clearing for the next 6 months.

macman

But if the CH is by oil then it is not an 'all electric' property. If so then you should not be on an E7 tariff. It appears there is nothing connected to your dedicated E7 circuit, if the dual rate meter has been replaced and is now working.
E7 is generally intended for properties with night storage heaters and an immersion heater for hot water.
You are currently paying a premium price for all your peak rate consumption-which is presently 100% of your usage. Typically E7 only works when you use 30% on cheap rate-you are using zero!
Sort out with your LL how the heating actually operates and if necessary switch to a single rate tariff as a priority.

Wywth

macman wrote: »

But if the CH is by oil then it is not an 'all electric' property. If so then you should not be on an E7 tariff. It appears there is nothing connected to your dedicated E7 circuit, if the dual rate meter has been replaced and is now working.
E7 is generally intended for properties with night storage heaters and an immersion heater for hot water.
You are currently paying a premium price for all your peak rate consumption-which is presently 100% of your usage. Typically E7 only works when you use 30% on cheap rate-you are using zero!
Sort out with your LL how the heating actually operates and if necessary switch to a single rate tariff as a priority.

I don't think the OP is on E7 now.
That was probably the reason for the meter change.

macman

Then OP needs to clarify. Usage seems high (£57pm) for a house with oil CH.

wakeupalarm

Looks like the new meter installed on 11/04/12 is a single rate meter. The E7 only refers to the period up to 11/07/12.

Does the OP have storage heaters or use electric heaters in addition to the oil heating?

Kheeli

We don't have storage heaters or electric heaters, we have a coal fire which we use in addition to the oil radiators.

When I set up the DD I was told it was to pay off arrears and do the current bill. Also we''ve been in this house a year so why should the arrears just show up now.

I tried to email them but it didn't recognise any form of my account number so wouldn't let me put the email through!

I'm not sure what I'm clarifying, did I just do it? Sorry!

jalexa

Kheeli wrote: »

When I set up the DD I was told it was to pay off arrears and do the current bill. Also we''ve been in this house a year so why should the arrears just show up now.

Can't answer the second question.

You have done well keeping to your £710 over 6 months. Without the late appearance of the previous arrears you would in any event only have half paid off the current arrears, so if need to keep up another £710 in the next 6 months.

If NPower protest about continuing arrears complain about the late appearance of the previous arrears and ask for more time. Keeping to payment agreements is the best way to keep suppliers "on-side".

Meanwhile use the next 6 months to pull together the paperwork needed to explain (or refute) the previous house arrears.

JimmyTheWig

Kheeli wrote: »

Also we''ve been in this house a year so why should the arrears just show up now.

I don't know.
Have you got your previous bills?
Were there arrears from your last house?