how much for dual fuel for 4 bed semi?

longwalks1

We've recently moved into a 1930's 4 bed semi, just me and the wife. our dual fuel bill was originally set at £112 PCM in Nov 14 when we moved, and just had an email saying it needs to be £188 pcm from now on ,given our usage. I find this hard to beleive as we dont use a great deal, no more than normal.

What do you guys spend per month on average please?

Biggles

As you've had almost a year there, you must have a very good idea of your KWh used, so it should be easy to tell whether it's right.

Bear in mind that, if you're nearing the end of a fixed term contract, you may have only underpaid by (say) £10 a month but the company may need to recoup this over the last two months.

System

The OP is posing an impossible question. Many older houses have poor insulation and no heating controls. The question that needs to be asked is simply this: 'is the increase in DDs based on actual or estimated energy consumption'?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

£154.37pence

Lily-Rose_3

Sounds a lot. Do you have an old central heating system?

£94 for gas and £94 for electric (monthly) sounds high, even for a 4 bed. I agree with what the OP said above that it's hard to answer because it depends largely on the insulation, the heating system, the windows, the cavity wall insulation, the loft insulation etc...

But yes nearly £200 energy for a 4 bed semi sounds a bit high.

FreddieFrugal

We have a 3 bed end of terrace (like a semi) so bit smaller than your house, we pay £60 p/m for dual fuel. Will be dropping to £50-55 when we switch. (correction - just switched and our forecasted monthly direct debit will be £46)

In laws have a four bed good sized house, but it's mid terrace, their payment is at least double ours.

Think we're just very good at energy saving and the house is only 15 years old, so has cavity insulation built in.

There's just the two of us as well.

10,200 KWH gas p/a, 1,300 kwh electricity p/a

JJ_Egan

britishboy wrote: »

We've recently moved into a 1930's 4 bed semi, just me and the wife. our dual fuel bill was originally set at £112 PCM in Nov 14 when we moved, and just had an email saying it needs to be £188 pcm from now on ,given our usage. I find this hard to beleive as we dont use a great deal, no more than normal.

What do you guys spend per month on average please?

Begs the question as to what is your usage via your own meter readings .

footyguy

britishboy wrote: »

We've recently moved into a 1930's 4 bed semi, just me and the wife. our dual fuel bill was originally set at £112 PCM in Nov 14 when we moved, and just had an email saying it needs to be £188 pcm from now on ,given our usage. I find this hard to beleive as we dont use a great deal, no more than normal.

What do you guys spend per month on average please?

Have you provided meter readings so that an accurate bill can be produced (and that your monthly DD is set accordingly?)

If so, have you consulted a comparison site to find the best deal for you?

Based on Ofgems average consumption figures of 12500kWh of gas per year and 3100kWh of electricity per year, you could be paying anything from £819 per year (£68.25 pm) to £1473 per year (£122.75 pm)
Although the maximum is £1202 per year (£100 pm) if you pay monthly by DD.

If you consider separate suppliers, you can get the annual cost down to £785 (£65.42 pm).

This is based on the East Midlands supply region. Prices will vary by region.

At the moment, you may be in debit with your current supplier, and them trying to recover this could be a reason you are paying more per month. Note that if you switch supplier, your current supplier will produce a final bill which they will want settled.

System

FootyGuy - makes some good points.

I think that the issue here is the word 'recently'. You do not say which supplier you are with but a lot of the smaller suppliers state very clearly that they use historical data (based on the previous 2 years) to calculate annual consumption. This will not change until you provide actual meter readings - even then the Annual Quantity for gas is updated only once per year.

You have 2 options:

1. Provide the supplier with actual meter readings and try to negotiate a lower DD amount.

2. Ask for your credit back and then argue about increased DDs.

Bear in mind, this isn't fraud. You will only pay for the energy that you use.

longwalks1

Sorry everyone I should of said, 1930's build, double glazed unsure of any insulation and just me and my partner living there. An old boiler in the kitchen/utility area and water tank in loft with an airing cupboard and water cylinder in it. Think the boiler is about 12 or 13 years old, fitted when house was extended. I supply exact meter reading to BG every month religiously (on payday, I'm a bit OCD) just cant work out the huge jump.
Will post some readings when I get home later

Biggles

britishboy wrote: »

I supply exact meter reading to BG every month religiously (on payday, I'm a bit OCD) just cant work out the huge jump.

Like I said, if you're only slightly underpaying and are on a fixed-rate tariff for, eg, twelve months:-

Monthly amount due: £125 for 12 months = £1500
Actually paid : £112pm for ten months + £188 for two months = £1496.

So probably not actually a huge increase; if you renewed your contract for another year with the same firm, it would probably revert to £125pm?