Working out my expected usage

tcqwerty

So I'm new to having to pay utilities and had to estimate my usage for the year and have my monthly direct debit accordingly.

Now I've got 3 months of actual usage is there anyway of working out how much I would expecting to use for the rest of the year or does anyone know a quick rule of thumb e.g. winter is double or triple your summer usage for me to have a better idea.

I don't want to end up that I've been paying short nor do I want to get to next year and be really in credit.

So far I've used total of £28 per month for gas (£10) and electric (£18) and I'm paying £64 per month on DD. Does £64 feel to much, too little or about right?

Robin9

It doesn't matter too much really. Keep a close eye (as you have been doing) on your actual bills and make sure you submit readings at least monthly.

You are going into the winter in credit, which is good, by March you will probably have used all that up.

Your supplier may well review your account periodically.

JJ_Egan

Impossible to know what you and your household will use .
However £64 PM is what i have set on DD .Warmer winter and it will probably be less .

macman

You haven't told us the size of the house, or how it is heated and hot watered.

jcontest

We are a family of 4 in a 3 bed detached (small home), double glazing, no cavity wall insulation, lots of loft insulation. We do have solar panels and that will lower our usage, but our monthly outgoings are at £93 a month at the moment.



My guess on it.
If you have no electric heating then I would expect your electric usage to remain about the same. You should probably expect the winter months to be about 5 times higher on your gas usage at max, but everyone is different and a lot of it will depend on how well the house is insulated, how warm you want to keep it, and of course how cold it gets during the winter.

tcqwerty

Thanks all,

I think it best just to suck it and see this year and hope i'm somewhere there and there abouts and have a much clearer idea next year.

Whilst I'm here. I got an absolute bargain of a deal for my gas and electric through look after my bills. Think I went for gas been 3.85kwh to 3.3kwh and my standing charge per day went from 26p to 5.25p. thats £6 quid saving on the standing charge alone. I moved in and stayed with BG for a month until I had chance to look at it properly. (Busy time moving house ain't it!)

Electric went from 15kwh to 13kwh and standing charge from 15p to 7.5p a day

Essentially, whenever you're up for renewal they find you the cheapest supplier and get you all moved over so you don't have to remember. The company i'm now with didn't come up in any comparison sites so I don't think i'd have found them otherwise.

Thanks all for your replies and advice.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Skools_Out

tcqwerty wrote: »

So I'm new to having to pay utilities and had to estimate my usage for the year and have my monthly direct debit accordingly.

Now I've got 3 months of actual usage is there anyway of working out how much I would expecting to use for the rest of the year or does anyone know a quick rule of thumb e.g. winter is double or triple your summer usage for me to have a better idea.

I don't want to end up that I've been paying short nor do I want to get to next year and be really in credit.

So far I've used total of £28 per month for gas (£10) and electric (£18) and I'm paying £64 per month on DD. Does £64 feel to much, too little or about right?

Switch to a tariff where you pay on receipt of bill.

Some suppliers will offer you the same cheap tariff as pay monthly by DD if you agree to pay quarterly by DD paying on receipt of bill.

Of course you will need to ensure you provide regular meter readings to the supplier to ensure you don't get charged based on an outlandish estimated bill.

Skools_Out

tcqwerty wrote: »

...
Whilst I'm here. I got an absolute bargain of a deal for my gas and electric through ....

You can get details of exactly the same deals from any ofgem accredited comparison site
(unless the tariff is a collective tariff only available from certain sources)

Follow this MSE guide for details of how to get the cheapest tariff for you:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

... and get possible cashback too! :money:
(more than £20 for a dual fuel switch)

Robin9

tcqwerty - who is your supplier ? Don't forget that in selecting your supplier LAMB is also out to make a profit.

tcqwerty

I'm now with brilliant energy,

Skools_Out

tcqwerty wrote: »

... The company i'm now with didn't come up in any comparison sites so I don't think i'd have found them otherwise. ...

tcqwerty wrote: »

I'm now with brilliant energy,

Brilliant Energy are shown by EnergyHelpLine ... as one example.

EnergyHelpLine also pay cashback @ £17 per single fuel or £34 for a dual fuel switch ( £10 / £20 if done over the phone rather than online) if you access them from the MSE link I gave above :money: