NPower Crazy Gas Bill!

wherediditallgothen

Hi

We have just had a crazy gas bill from NPower, for approximately two grand. I have compared our previous bills and essentially they seem to think we have used 5 times our normal gas use?

It's not a purely estimated Bill either, as it is based on meter readings given to them recently. Whilst I am usually at home at the moment, I am the warmest person you could meet, and can go most of the year with minimal or no heating. My wife is admittedly the opposite, which has led to the occasional thermostat battle.

It is a winter bill, so I was expecting an expensive one, but 5 times our average normal use? Do we have a dodgy meter or gas leak? Help please.

GingerBob_3

wherediditallgothen wrote: »

Do we have a dodgy meter or gas leak?

Maybe, but you've certainly got a dodgy supplier. My son had an estimated bill from them recently where they estimated his usage as 8 times that of the same period last year.

Cardew

The normal reason in these situations is that it is a 'catch-up' bill.


i.e. they have been using under-estimated meter readings for the previous bill(s) and now they have the correct reading, the 'day of reckoning' has come.


Look at your previous bills and see if they were based on estimated meter readings - usually denoted by an (E) alongside the meter reading.

wherediditallgothen

Cardew wrote: »

The normal reason in these situations is that it is a 'catch-up' bill.


i.e. they have been using under-estimated meter readings for the previous bill(s) and now they have the correct reading, the 'day of reckoning' has come.


Look at your previous bills and see if they were based on estimated meter readings - usually denoted by an (E) alongside the meter reading.

The previous 2 bills at least were based on actual readings rather than estimates.

Cardew

How many kWh over what period is the 2 grand bill.


Are you are absolutely certain that the start meter reading of this current 2 grand bill is not estimated and is correct? I ask this because you use the term 'It's not a purely estimated Bill either, as it is based on meter readings given to them recently.'


I am unclear what you mean by 'not a purely estimated bill'

wherediditallgothen

Cardew wrote: »

How many kWh over what period is the 2 grand bill.


Are you are absolutely certain that the start meter reading of this current 2 grand bill is not estimated and is correct? I ask this because you use the term 'It's not a purely estimated Bill either, as it is based on meter readings given to them recently.'


I am unclear what you mean by 'not a purely estimated bill'

Sorry. I knew that someone would ask the "is it estimated?"question, so I tried to pre-empt that. By doing so I have confused people even more. The reading that forms the starting point of the bill is an actual reading ( though I don't remember if we took it and sent it to NPower, or if we let them in to read it). The reading that is the final point of the bill is definitely an actual figure, as I took this reading myself.

Hope that this clears it up.

wherediditallgothen

It's approximately 42000 KWh over 8 months, just to give you an idea of the figures involved.

jobdone1

That is not normal household usage. I have five in my house and my windows are not great no cavity wall insulation and we used just under 12000kwh for the year.
That sort of use is more like a business in my view.

atolaas

I've had trouble with my bills from Npower too. Take new readings and either put them on their website or better yet call them. Explain the situation and ask them to double check your account...in my case it was quickly evident they had c*cked up!! Offered £50 comp

Robwiz

Have you sense checked the latest reading shown on your most recent bill with its actual current reading? It could be a data entry error?

What more do you need to convince you of the value of taking regular (i.e. at least weekly) meter readings and keeping a record of them? Picking up changes early avoids all uncertainty and stress.

dogshome

Ouch ! - 42,000 Kwh in 8 months ?

1) Do you have a 'Dial' meter - the one with 5 little clock faces
These are easily mis-read, even by meter readers, if so report back for more details on reading them
2) Check back thro' the previous 3 bills to see that End and Start reading run concurrently
3) A long shot On previous bills and the present bill, divide the number of Kwh charged by the No. of meter units used - The answer should be consistently either appx 11, or 32
11 is for a Metric meter which is marked m3, whilst 32 is for an Imperial meter marked ft3 - Check your meters marking.

Errors in meter type billng are not uncommon when a meter has been changed,
but this is n'power who seem capable of makeing errors that no one has thought of before