Can someone please explain how a utilities bill is worked out ?!

molerat

http://www.myutilitygenius.co.uk/understanding-energy/understanding-my-energy-bill/npower-bill/ shows a bill with both gas and electric on it. The bill should show exactly where they got these figures from but without seeing them we can only guess.

Wywth

You are entitled to a bill detailing how the debt is calculated.

nPowers bills are quite straighforward to understand, so ask for one if you don't have one.

GotToChange

The most useful information on any utility bill is - IMHO - the usage (I have posted a thread on this recently).

Even the most simple of bills is - again, IMO - less than straightforward and I rather suspect that the suppliers rely on the customer being primarily concerned with the ££s they are paying.

The only way to query the charges is to know for certain your usage for the time period. This is, as I am sure you know, shown on your bill and checking this should make the amount that they say you owe clearer.

You need the bills and the meter readings to be able to compare this to the charges they are making - and of course, the kWh and standing charge charges. It also helps if you have your own meter readings for comparison and to check also that actual/estimated readings have been used for the calculations.

If you know any of these, you can edit this post and I am happy to do the maths:

Prev. date:
Current (latest) date:

Prev. meter reading (units):
check if imperial or metric

Current/latest meter reading:

Charge per kWh (from bill:
Daily standing charge:

You can repeat this info if you are talking about more than one bill.
Also - not sure if you are just talking about gas - can repeat for electricity...

As I have already said, I do think the suppliers think that we only notice what things cost. I personally want to know how this cost is arrived at and will happily do the maths all day if it gives me some insight or ability to control even a little what they inflict on us.

Best wishes.
GTC