Is this a realistic gas usage? Help!!!

[Deleted User]

E-on are saying that my husband and I used 4000kwh in two months, they were winter months of February and March of last year. Is this realistic for two people in a 2 bed terraced house who work full time so heating isn't on all day? My hubby does get up early so the clock was set to come on at 3.30 in the morning and go off at 8am. It would then come on again about 3.30pm until 11pm. In the winter we would probably have it set between 20-22 degrees but we have real fires so in the evenings we would often turn it down a bit

It has made me really question the reading (which they said was my reading and my fault I didn't realise at the time). What is really strange is that from July 2012 to July 2013, a whole year, we only used 1805 according to the readings.

I can not understand how it would be possible to use 2195kwh more in two months than we have used in an entire year!

I have asked them to email me all the meter readings from when we moved in and said I want to dispute this, but at the moment they are saying that it is the reading and it will be accurate so we have to find £700 pounds to get the account straight.

We were paying £60 a month for electric and gas up to September 2012 and then £50 a month thereafter which I would have thought would be enough but because I didn't realise we were in debt from last winter its accumulated. When I changed it to £50 they didn't tell me the account was in so much debt and I would have thought that would have been a good time to mention it. I admit its my responsibility though so should have been aware.

Does anyone know how much 4000kwh usage would be and what it would power. I.E. how long would you have to have heating on and use hot water for to get it to this number? I only cook on the hob with gas by the way, our oven is electric.

What do you all think? If its accurate and realistic I guess we will have to pay but I want to make sure first as its a lot of money to find and I am slightly stressing about it.

dogshome

I'm afraid that some of the numbers in your post don't add up.
For your heating programme in the Winter, the boiler is running for a total of 12 hours a day, but your £60 D/Debit for both Gas & Elec isn't enough to pay for this amount of Gas.

1805 Kwh of gas used over a year seems unlikely - Is the 1805 the meter reading, and not the Kwh used - If your meter is the Metric type marked m3, 1805 meter Units would equate to just over 20,000 Kwh of gas

Best thing is to post what your meter reading was when you moved in, the date you moved in and what the meter reads now

Nada666

Firstly, make sure you are not confusing meter reading with kWhs. You say you used 1805 July to July - that is 1,805 meter units or 20,216 kWhs - entirely normal (and average).

Again, 4,000 kWh (350 units on a metric meter) is normal for two months use with the heating on.

Your heating is timed to go on for much longer than most households - 12 hours a day - close to double normal.

£60 or £50 per month is not really enough for your usage. Unfortunately you have been underpaying and now you face not only a more realistic ongoing payment you also have to pay for some catch-up.

Anyway, sort out in your head the difference between meter readings and meter units and kWhs and look again at your bills to see what your typical annual usage is in kWhs. And price out that usage.

[Deleted User]

I don't really know. I have managed to get meter readings from their website but its only giving me from 28/3/12 to 9/7/13. The reading in March was 9686 and the latest is 11870. We moved in here in January 2012.

The only physical bill I can find covers Jan to March 2012 and that is saying we used 4009kwh which I assumed caused the problem but maybe not and we have been underpaying the entire time? So the meter reading is not kwh?

I have never understood gas and electric bills. Perhaps the way forward for us would be just to pay quarterly for what we use to prevent this happening again.

Yes we do have it on more than most who work full time I guess because of our hours of work. £60 a month just sounded enough - would you say it isn't then? What do most people pay?

Excuse my ignorance with these things. Its something I think I need to learn more about !!

dogshome

Hi there, don't apologise we were all learners once and there are no Driving Schools that give lessons.

Gas Meter Units and Kwh
You have a Metric Gas Meter, take a look and in small letters near the numbers it will be marked m3 - For each unit the meter clocks up, it delivers close to 11.2 chargeable Kwh
There is another type of meter which is the Imperial, this delivers close to 31.5 chargeable Kwh for each meter unit, but don't worry about this till you move
Elec Meters and Kwh
Much simpler, each meter unit is 1 Kwh

Your Annual Gas consumption is appx. 20,000 Kwh, so your yearly cost will be roughly 20,000 x 4p = £800 + a Daily Charge( 25p?), £92 then add 5% VAT Total ££937 - So your monthly D/Debit should be £78 just for the Gas with your Elec D/Debit an addition to the gas.

As commented by myself and others, your hours of gas for heating seem on the high side - Look hard at your needs and see if you can reduce the boilers running time.
Also
Even with current heating programme, 20,000 Kwh a year seems high for a 2 bed terraced house - Have a look at beefing up the Loft Insulation, check for ability to have Cavity Wall insulation and check for draughty Doors & Windows

[Deleted User]

Its an old house and terraced so shouldn't be too cold, I think its that I like it tropical ! Oh dear, learnt an expensive lesson thanks for explaining. Like you say we will have a think about things, perhaps not putting it on in the morning and coming off earlier at night. Not sure about the insulation in the loft, its not our house so I am unsure about that. perhaps just some changes in the clock and wearing more clothing might be an idea ;-)