I really need help

16 Posts
Hi I just moved into a ground floor flat 2 bedrooms. It’s all electric and has storage heaters (new style) I’m on a prepayment meter but it’s costing me 10 pounds a day. They say there’s no debt on the meter.. but how can I be using that much. I haven’t even got my cooker or washing machine plumbed in yet so haven’t used my tumble drier either, I’m on the safeguard economy 7 tariff with British Gas.. I’m using 4 storage heaters 2 small 2 bit bigger is this right? I really can’t afford this. Any advice is appreciated..
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When you say 'storage heaters (new style)' do you mean the type that top up during the day if necessary - like the Dimplex Quantum?
You need to read your meters and tell us how much is being used in the 7 hours off-peak(night) period and how much during the day.
It is essential that you maximise off peak usage - particularly heating and Hot Water - and minimise daytime usage.
Also the last time I looked British gas charged a very high price for Off-Peak electricity - over 10p/kWh. and this was on a credit meter not your PAYG meter. You may be advised to switch to a cheaper tariff.
How do I know what’s being used during the off peak period I don’t even know what time it starts. I’m on the phone to British Gas now to find out. Do I have to have the hot water switch on all day too. This is all very confusing,I’ve moved from a new build house with gas central heating and solar panels etc to this and no one seems to be helping me. I am thinking to change supplier but bulb which I’ve never heard of before seems to be the only one with a big difference a year edf,eon,etc are about 7 pounds cheaper a year. I’m classed a vulnerable and disabled person I really don’t know what to do. I can’t afford this. But it’s to cold to have them turned off. Thanks for replying.
Dial 105 to find out the switching times, and check by looking at the meter (it usually tells you which rate it's on at that moment). There may also be an indicator light on the supply to the lower immersion heater so you can look at that.
Similarly, don't use the boost switch on the storage heaters because it uses peak rate electricity.
You should make sure you are on the Priority Services Register and claim all relevant benefits such as Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment.
Also consider switching to a credit meter to get cheaper tariffs.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/get-your-prepayment-meter-replaced-with-a-normal-meter
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity/
There's no need to be cold, but you need to get away from the BG Safeguard tariff PDQ because it's about as expensive as you can get. You haven't confirmed that you're on E7, so if you're using storage heaters at full rate it's not at all surprising that you're going bankrupt !
This from OP's first post:
That of course doesn't neessarily mean that as much Hot Water Heating and storage heating as possible is carried out during the 7 hours off-peak period.