What's eating my gas?

Rev

I've just inherited my mums house after losing her in December. I'd been her carer since the age of 6. Household income was her middle rate DLA and my carers allowance.

We struggled constantly but bills were paid. I took over finances about a year ago when she was diagnosed with cancer. Paid £26 a week gas and got a quarterly bill.

Since she passed I have had the account switched to my name and paid £50 a month because that's all I can afford (my current income is ESA so £280 per month). Got a has bill in for £560 last week. Not a chance in hell I can afford that so called British gas and asked for a pre pay meter to be installed. Debt will come of payments I make at a rate of £3.55.

Meter was fitted last Tuesday, I put £50 on. A week later it had gone. I have no money so Aunty gave me £20 for gas. Three days later that was gone. Now I have no gas until next Thursday when I get paid. And don't even know if I'll have money left over for gas since I have other bills to pay.

Called British gas and they can't explain why I am using so much. Neither can I.

I have has central heating. It's on 8 hours a day, thermostat set to 19° with only two radiators switched on. Gas fire on about 8 hours too (I don't have the radiators on downstairs as they really aggravate my chest because they dry the air out).

No double glazing. Boiler over 10 years old. Unfortunately these are not things I can afford to change. No cavity walls, loft insulation was redone a few months back.

So is it a case of everything adding to the massive amount of gas being used? Or am I doing something wrong?

Any help/advice appreciated because I'm really not looking forward to spending 3 weeks of every month without heating or a cooker.

rogerblack

Rev wrote: »

Since she passed I have had the account switched to my name and paid £50 a month because that's all I can afford (my current income is ESA so £280 per month). Got a has bill in for £560 last week.

First thing to work out - how much of this is due to underpayment, and a debt building up, and how much is your ongoing bill this month?

Read your meter.
Leaving the heating as normal, read it the next day.

Is the increment sane?
If you have a 15kW boiler, and it's been on for 2 hours continuously, then you will have used about 30kWh - which would be about 3 metric units.

£26 a week is almost certainly an underpayment.
However, £50 might be more or less right - averaged over the year. (or it may not)
Getting a prepayment meter will not help at all, as you can then not access the cheapest tarifs.
Reading your meter weekly will let you budget accurately.

Rev

rogerblack wrote: »

First thing to work out - how much of this is due to underpayment, and a debt building up, and how much is your ongoing bill this month?

Read your meter.
Leaving the heating as normal, read it the next day.

Is the increment sane?
If you have a 15kW boiler, and it's been on for 2 hours continuously, then you will have used about 30kWh - which would be about 3 metric units.

£26 a week is almost certainly an underpayment.
However, £50 might be more or less right - averaged over the year. (or it may not)
Getting a prepayment meter will not help at all, as you can then not access the cheapest tarifs.
Reading your meter weekly will let you budget accurately.

To be honest I've no idea what kw the boiler is.

We paid £26 a week, when the bill came in there wasn't much to pay, or we'd be in credit. So gas consumption seems to have gone up drastically with no difference in usage. BG take £3.55 per week when I top up.

I can't afford not to have a pre payment metre right now. If I don't the bill will get bigger and bigger.

If £50 is average then I will be spending 3 weeks of every month with no gas. Fact is right now spending £50 a week on gas would leave me £80 a month for water, electricity, house insurance, food, tv licence etc. £50 a week on gas is just not doable for me right now.

merlot123

Rev,

I had a huge gas bill last month too. I telephoned BG and asked them what on earth could have consumed so much gas considering my home is a new build and BG maintain the boiler.

We have recently started to use our Living flame gas fire in the living room and BG said they consume alot of gas, so this month I haven't used it and my gas consumption is back to what it was previously.

To have the heating on and the fire for 8 hours a day is alot, could you not put extra clothing on and turn off the heating for a little while - not sure of your health or needs though.

How long do you heat your water for?

If you could bear to turn down the radiators just a little, it would help to reduce your gas.

My goodness, I've just noticed you have no cooker as its gas, do you have a microwave or something else to cook on.
merlot123

Rev

Thanks.

I have the gas fire on and the heating but only two radiators switched on upstairs. The fire heats the living room. The heating the bathroom and bedroom. It's a combi boiler so no leaving the boiler on to heat the water. Well. Currently no hot water since the boiler runs on gas.

No microwave. I'm currently living off pot noodles lol and anything I can cool via putting hot water on.

The radiators really effect my chest when on downstairs but maybe I could save and buy a humidifier to put the moisture back in the air.

merlot123

Why don't you look on freecycle and see if you can get a microwave for free.
http://www.uk.freecycle.org/

Could you sell some stuff on Ebay (its a free listing weekend) and get the gas on, if only to let you cook something hot and filling (pot noodles are great, but not very filling).

Make sure you stay warm, take your duvet downstairs and drink plenty of tea/coffee.

Rev

Thank you. I will take a look.

merlot123

I'm sat here thinking,

Could you look on Ebay in your area for a electric ring boiling ring

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gourmet-by-Sensiohome-GBSDHP001-Double-Hob-Boiling-Ring-/281084546275?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Camping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item4171f1cce3

If you put your location in, you could find one far far cheaper, I seen a couple on Ebay for 99p collection only.

Rev

Liverpool.

I'll try turning the fire of when I next get gas see if that helps.

I'm honestly not much worried food wise right now. I'm sure I can get by. I can just pop to my Aunties and use her cooker if need be. My main concern is heating.

Fire_Fox

Were you mother's bills based on actual or estimate readings? Supplier only has to read meters every two years, did you read the frequently in between? When you took over your mother's account what do you mean? As executor you read the meters and closed her account and settled all the debt using any assets/ any debt was written off, then opened a completely new account in your name? Or the old account was in joint names and took her name off without reading meters and setting debt, retaining the same account number? Basically are you paying debt from the old account or only your own debt from this winter?

The biggest energy guzzler is heating, you have a poorly insulated house which may be larger than you need and are heating it for eight hours a day - basically you are paying to heat the street. Do you need to heat so many rooms for eight hours a day, are you actually in them? If not get an electric underblanket for your bed with an overnight setting, they cost pennies to run.

Could you take in a lodger? Would you consider selling up and downsizing? Are you eligible for any home improvement grants from the council or energy suppliers? Are you registered with the supplier as a vulnerable household?

southcoastrgi

you can buy china containers that you put on the rads & fill with water also put bowls of water around the room this will put moisture back into the air & should make you feel better