Gas / Electric charges.?

hamburger200

Hi,

Well i just dont understand these charges ,, all about kwhs per hour/used/charged.. I do know that my bills are a lot higher than my sons..
Comparing bills , i used (170 gas used units) and my son has used 306. His bill is cheaper than mine , hows that.
Its just me and my husband, whereas its him a girl and 2 kids, loads more baths more washing more everything, they live in a 3 bed house, i live in a 2 bed flat. Its the same with the electric. We are both with British Gas,,

Can someone explain for me in plain english please..Thanks.

espresso

Don't compare the number of units used, compare the kWh figure, as this is how gas is actually charged. There are two types of meter in use, imperial and metric and it is likely that you and your son have different meters. When you know how many kWh you are using in a year, enter your details into a comparison site like ukpower to find a cheaper suppler, as BG are usually the most expensive.

hamburger200

Well i dont know if we have different meters, (does it make a difference to the price charged) for gas..The bills look identical i have them in front of me.

Is it the amount of (Gas units converted to kilowatt hours used ) that i have used?

espresso

If you have the bills in front of you, what are you being charged for each unit of gas? What tariff are you on? The bill should be self explanatory with notes on the reverse.

hamburger200

Right it says...

First 1240.00kwh at 4.959pence
Next 4116.55kwh at 2.801pence.

How we calculate your gas charges .

4.959pence per kilowat for the first 12.526kilowatts used a day, and 2.801 pence per kilowatt for the rest.


My sons one says..

First 1265.00kwh at 4.959pence
Next 2140.79kwh at 2.801pence.

Well i must be thick i cant make head or tale of it.. help

thescouselander

So your son used around 2000 kwh less than you did.

hamburger200

Well i dont see how that is possible.. He uses far more gas than me they have 2 kids , more baths more washing machine more washing up and she does it under running water.. They are in all day most days , yet we are out every morning.. Does it make a difference what time of day you use the gas..

espresso

Are both bills based on actual meter readings?

thescouselander

If I am reading your post correctly you used -

1240 kwh at the higher rate + 4116 kwh at the lower rate totalling 5356 kwh

you son used -

1265 kwh at the higher rate + 2140 kwh at the lower rate totalling 3405 kwh


presumably you are both on a no standing charge tarriff which would explain why you have one amount charged at one rate and the rest charged at a lower amount

hamburger200

espresso wrote: »

Are both bills based on actual meter readings?

Yes both bills were actual meter readings

wills34

That tariff you are on has now dropped to 4.618 and 2.352 INC VAT. This is still expensive i would strongly recommend you switch Atlantic are cheapest for gas at the minute i believe, click 2 best for elec. cant work out why your sons usage is so small if that's a winter bill. From the units used you must have a metric meter while your son has an imperial which explains discrepancy between units used