Gas Bill woes

Consumerist

coneybiller wrote: »

. . . Do you suggest I give a gas/electricity reading every month to save any further "catch-up" bills?

Absolutely. This will also give you a heads up if, for example, a unexpectedly cold winter is likely cost more than the DDs allow for. Keep your own record of the readings too.

If you can clear the current debt, switch to a cheaper supplier as soon as possible. If you can't pay off the debt as a lump sum just now then find out from a comparison site whether you might, at least, be better off on a cheaper BG tariff.

mum2one

Sounds like our house is similar - were on a price fix with bg, heating is on 8 hrs a day, 3 adults, 1 child, oven and central heating are gas -
Sept to dec - £190
Dec to mar - £186

One was estimate the other read,
That might give u an idea as a base fig.

The heating is set to cut in at 17c, oven used daily, 7 radiators in the house x

dick_splash

If you think the charges are higher than they should be, print off and check the bills.

If you can't understand them, the Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you.

Energy companies frequently make mistakes with their bills. In my case, British Gas were charging me for imperial rather than metric units (or it could have been the other way around - I can't remember) which meant my gas bill was three times as high as it should have been. It was only when I went through the bill carefully that I spotted it.

Notwithstanding that, as others have said, it's a good idea to enter meter readings regularly to avoid nasty surprises.

ariba10

We submit both meter readings online at the end of each month.

Not lightly to get a shock then.

coneybiller

Seems I'm going to have to pay it off and then switch tariff/supplier. At least I know in the future not to be so naive when it comes to utilities. It seems they are more than happy to let you rack up a large debt with them and then spring it on you all of a sudden! I certainly wasn't prepared or expecting such a bill. I've worked hard to make sure our electricity consumption is kept to a minimum with A rated appliences, LED bulbs throughout and only using lighting when needed. But gas I've practically forgotten about. It seems to be the more expensive bill out of the two as well!
Consider it lesson learnt and to keep an eye on my bills from now on!
Thank you all for your help in pointing me in the right direction!

Ben

macman

They don't 'let you rack up a large debt'. The supplier is not psychic, only you know what you use and have daily access to the meter, and estimates are just that. If you read and submit every 3 months, then catch-up bills can be avoided,
Of course gas is the more expensive, since up to 80% of the energy in your house is used to heat and hot water the property. Even at a third of the cost per kWh, you are still likely to use 4 to 500% more gas than electricity-so it'll form the larger part of your bill. Lighting by comparison really makes little difference.
Also remember that you moved in during late summer, so the heating has probably been on for 5 of those 7 months-once the heating goes off in a month or so your usage will reduce massively, so the average month over the whole year will be much less than what you are using each month now.

coneybiller

Yea and on that basis surely they should also estimate a higher usage during winter months not just a flat rate all year round? They haven't exactly told me the best way to keep on top of my bills, instead they've now presented me with a wacking great bill and expected me to know how it works straight away! Like I said, I'm new to paying for gas hence the "hot water" I've gotten myself into! Admittedly I have been naive about it, but as also said I never realised it would end up costing this much!

macman

I repeat-they can only estimate, they have no idea how warm you actually keep your house, how you heat it, how many hours you run the heating per day, or how many people live there. You cannot possibly heat, light and power a 3 b/r house for £600 pa-the UK average is nearer £1,250. If you were in a similar sized all-electric house before, your bills must have been far higher, unless you were on E7.
The DD should be set to one twelfth of your annual spend, so that you don't spend more in winter. You should enter the autumn with a healthy credit in your account to see you through the winter, but this may not be possible if you occupy in autumn before you can build sufficient credit. This is why quarterly reads are crucial to establish your actual usage.