Npower Monthly DD

Kevie192

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone has any knowledge of how npower calculate your estimated usage for the next year?

I've just got our 12 month bill and they want to put our payment up from £82 to £145. When I look into it, they're predicting we will use 26% more electricity and 20% more gas next year than we actually used over the last year. I'm looking at units, so that's not distorted by price changes.

Any ideas why this might be?

In addition, they've not factored in the dd discount or dual fuel discount. Is that normal?

I've recalculated the whole thing and I think our DD needs to go to £115 as we're coming off a fixed price tariff in Feb. Can I just tell them what to set it to?

I would give them a call but the letter says they're not open Sundays.

Cheers,

Kevin

macman

I suspect that you have debt on the account (due to past estimated bills and lack of actual readings), and a recent actual reading has resulted in a catch-up bill? So a large part of your DD hike is to recover the debt, not to cover an increase in your estimated consumption.
It's also probably defaulting you to Standard tariff from February for the next 10 months, which is obviously more expensive.

Kevie192

There is debt of £180? Nothing to do with estimated readings, they're all actuals. I guess they were just poor at predicting our usage for the second half of the year. I've taken the debt into account in my calcs too. I've also taken into account the change in tariff so it's not that either.

It's higher because of the difference in number of units and them not applying DD discount, as I said before. I just don't know why they'd inflate it.

To add further complication, we have had a lodger for the last 6 months. She is moving out today so I predict our usage will decrease anyway.

Thanks.

macman

So assuming recovery at say £30pm over 6m, that means your DD component for ongoing usage is around £115-which is what you think it should be?

Kevie192

You are not listening.

My calculations DO take account of the debt. I've replicated npowers calcs exactly with the only change being the number of units and dd discount. My calcs are £115 per month.

In any case, npower's calcs say the recovery is over 12 months.

Forget about the debt, it's the uplift in units that's causing this.

sheffield_lad

have you just called them? Just give them a call and set a figure up with them. They will be fine provided you cover your usage. If you do on line billing you can do it yourself. Ask them to set it as last year + your debt.

Easy.

jalexa

Kevie192 wrote: »

When I look into it, they're predicting we will use 26% more electricity and 20% more gas next year than we actually used over the last year.

Forgetting (for the moment) the DD calculation, by regulation your statement should provide your previous 12 months consumption and an estimated cost for the next 12 months based on the previous 12 months consumption. Can you see that on your statement? Does the statement additionally state predicted kWhrs or have you derived that from cost data?

good_advice

Have you remembered how much fuel went up about September time

pinkladyof66

we have had same trouble with npower our dd was £83 per month and we had letter to say it was going up to £163 !!!

brutus1983

That's nothing we've had a dd setup for 93 they put it up to 260 that's why we've moved suppliers total debt 210 I've had to pay over 400 to get rid of them bill was paid Friday due next Friday they already trying send bailiffs in before the deadline thanks npower scumbags hope every customer leaves you and you go bankrupt

nPower

Hi Kevie192,

That does sound a little confusing, but something that can be quite easily sorted.

If you pop us a call for free on 0800 073 3000, we'll be able to go through your energy use and discuss the direct debit with you.

Kind regards,

Adam