Energy usage nearly 3 times more than 2 years ago - confused why?!?!

katiegeary1976

Hi all,

I've just received latest energy bill from Igloo saying I am £600 in debit due to my monthly direct debit not covering usage for the past 12 months.

Looking at statement it's showing I am using 3 times more gas than I was 2 years ago...which I can't work out how that's possible as since then I have had a brand new boiler & a wood burner installed to save on heating costs.

I did a meter reading in January, & today & it's not far off their estimate....I just can't think how we'd be using that much more gas!



Any advise would be great, as I going to struggle paying the new direct debit they've set up of £169 per month!

JJ_Egan

Meter readings at a guess bills are based upon estimates .
Frequent meter readings is the cure for estimates .
Last 12 months opening closing readings ??

katiegeary1976

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Meter readings at a guess bills are based upon estimates .
Frequent meter readings is the cure for estimates .
Last 12 months opening closing readings ??

I've submitted readings every 6 months, & last year they even dropped the direct debit amount. Going back over statements since 2017 it seems they've never taken enough each month.


Statement shows April 2019 12757m3 & April 2018 11370m3


Doesn't make sense? Or am I being thick lol

D_M_E

You say that their estimate is somewhere near your actual reading - does this agree with what you expect for your own estimated annual usage?

Could it be that your meter is in cubic meters but your supplier is billing you in cubic feet - does the bill say cubic meters or cubic feet - a bill in cubic feet would be about 2.8 or just unser 3 times a cubic meter bill, so maybe it's this, have you checked?

Also, have you checked for any small leaks since the new boiler?

matelodave

It's unlikely that your consumption has increased three fold but the random billing and cost increases has masked what it really going on

Meter reading once every six months doesn't really give you any information about your consumption especially as the summer consumption will be approx half to a third of your winter ones.

If you put a bit more effort into reading your meter once a month, sending the readings into your supplier and checking your bills/statements then you'd have a significantly better understanding of what you are using and when you are using it. You'd have noticed any gradual or sudden increase in consumption and been able to investigate it at the time it happened

You would also be able to make sure that the bills were correctly recording your energy consumption and that your DD was covering your costs rather than getting stuffed with a ginormous bill.

The cause of most complaints and queries on this forum is the fact that people don't check their bills and meter reading regularly, find out that they've been underpaying and expect someone else to sort it out for them

nigelbb

katiegeary1976 wrote: »

I've submitted readings every 6 months, & last year they even dropped the direct debit amount. Going back over statements since 2017 it seems they've never taken enough each month.


Statement shows April 2019 12757m3 & April 2018 11370m3


Doesn't make sense? Or am I being thick lol

Being thick I think:) You know how much gas you have used as you have the meter readings. You are not using more gas it's just that Igloo haven't been taking a large enough monthly payment from you. It's worth looking to see whether they are trying to claw back underpayment from more than a year ago as this is forbidden under the Backbilling Rules https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/who-contact-if-its-difficult-paying-energy-bills/energy-backbilling-your-rights

Norman_Castle

katiegeary1976 wrote: »

Looking at statement it's showing I am using 3 times more gas than I was 2 years ago..

Are you using more gas or are your monthly payments three times what you paid in the past? Your bills should show annual consumption in kwh's. If you have been undercharged in the past you will now be overcharged to cover the debt.
In future, give monthly readings.