help with big electric bill

chardonnay_2

hi, we recently got our quarterly electric bill and it is working out at over £60 a month. our gas was only £60 for the quarter & we have gas central heating.

part of the problem is the last reading was an estimate. it says we used:
1557 units @10.369 =£161.45
with a standing charge 83 [EMAIL="days@ 15.810"]days @ 15.810[/EMAIL] = £13.12

total plus vat £183.30

we were planning to switch anyway but wondered if the unit costs sound high? do we need to pay a standing charge? we only recently moved from prepayment meters and this is our first proper bill.

any help appreciated.

dollarjon

Call your supplier with the correct reading and ask them to re-send your bill. how many units do you use a day? the average is around 7, your using around 17.
You have to pay a standing charge this goes to the meter company to service your meter etc, some companies dont charge a standing charge.
Also your rate of 10.36 per KWh seems high, you will reduce this to around 8 or 9p by switching to direct debit so thats another £15 to £30 saved.

withabix

Looking at your unit rates and standing charge, I think you're probably on the cheapest supplier anyway!

Like the other poster says, send them a correct meter reading. Your true bill could be lower or higher.

Cardew

Because of the large regional variations in prices, it is not possible to know if you are on a good tariff or not - but it does seem on the high side to me.

Internet based tariffs with payment by DD are cheaper.

If you don't pay the daily standing charge, you will pay extra for the first units used each quarter(tier1 - normally 225kWh) with most companies(except Ebico and they are not competitive at the moment - might be in Sept)