How Much Was Your Gas/Electric for 2019 in a 1 Bed Flat?

Simbad

Doing some financial admin, seeing what I've spent, if there's anywhere I can save etc. I added up my gas and electric costs for the whole of 2019 and wanted to see some comparisons with other people.

My gas was £299 and my electric was £444.

I'm with British Gas and am on a PAYG Meter on the Standard Tariff. I'm in a 1 bed flat on my own, have central heating, gas stove, electric oven and don't use any type of electric plug in heaters. Hot water is on for 2-3 hours a days, I don't have my central heating come on automatically and only put it on when I really can't take the cold anymore.

I'm on currently on UC and when I am working am generally on a low income. I know that people on PAYG Meters (unfairly) end up paying more for gas and electric, but want to see want others with a similar set up are paying to see if there's anything I can do or anywhere I can move to that might save me some money. Although I do feel like I'm doing everything possible to save energy. I'd like to hear from both PAYG and pay quarterly people to compare, even though I'm not in a financially position to do quarterly payments.

This winter has been pretty hard and my heart sinks every time I hear the beep of the PAYG meter saying it's low. British Gas raising the minimum PAYG payment to £5 at the end of the year has also added to the pressure, which I made a complaint about.

Thanks.

PennineAcute

Cost is really not applicable.  Someone on credit meters may have the same 2019 cost as you, but used more energy.  So you may feel happy this someone is paying the same as you, but as they used more energy, you cannot really compare.

In addition, people may have hot water costs like yourself, or have a combi boiler for their hot water.  You can only really compare costs and usage if you have exactly the same property, same amount of insulation, with exactly the same appliances/cooker and hot water is heated the same.

You say you are not in a position to do quarterly payments, but (looking at the amount you are paying on PAYG) you would be in a position to do a monthly direct debit.  My direct debit for 7500kWh of gas and 2150kWh of electricity is £47.89 a month.  Just make sure you give regualr readings.  I also keep a spreadsheet of my usage so I can make sure that my usage matches my direct debit. 

Gerry1

British Gas, Standard tariff, PAYG.  That's a triple whammy.  What rates are you paying?  Probably 30 - 40% higher than you need?

Have you claimed Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments and anything else to which you are entitled?

Simbad

Gerry1 said:

British Gas, Standard tariff, PAYG.  That's a triple whammy.  What rates are you paying?  Probably 30 - 40% higher than you need?

Have you claimed Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments and anything else to which you are entitled?

My rates are 3.620p per kWh for my gas and 17.530p per kWh for my electric. It says I'm on the best available tariff for PAYG.

I tried to claim the Warm Home discount, but wasn't eligible because I didn't have kids! As for Cold Weather Payments, it hasn't been cold enough in my part of the country: "You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days."

boo_star

Simbad said:

Gerry1 said:

British Gas, Standard tariff, PAYG.  That's a triple whammy.  What rates are you paying?  Probably 30 - 40% higher than you need?

Have you claimed Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments and anything else to which you are entitled?

My rates are 3.620p per kWh for my gas and 17.530p per kWh for my electric. It says I'm on the best available tariff for PAYG.

I tried to claim the Warm Home discount, but wasn't eligible because I didn't have kids! As for Cold Weather Payments, it hasn't been cold enough in my part of the country: "You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days."

Any reason why you can't get off a credit meter?

Gerry1

Simbad said:

My rates are 3.620p per kWh for my gas and 17.530p per kWh for my electric. It says I'm on the best available tariff for PAYG.

If that's the best tariff, I hate to think what the worst is !

I'm paying 2.370p per kWh plus 17.29p per day for gas, and 12.113p per kWh plus13.283p per day for electricity, so your gas and electricity rates are 53% and 45% higher than mine.  No doubt the standing charges are equally bad.

By choosing a pre-payment meter on a standard tariff with an expensive company you're just being sucked into a maelstrom.

Simbad

I can't get off a credit meter because I'm currently unemployed. 

Gerry1 said:

Simbad said:

My rates are 3.620p per kWh for my gas and 17.530p per kWh for my electric. It says I'm on the best available tariff for PAYG.

If that's the best tariff, I hate to think what the worst is !

I'm paying 2.370p per kWh plus 17.29p per day for gas, and 12.113p per kWh plus13.283p per day for electricity, so your gas and electricity rates are 53% and 45% higher than mine.  No doubt the standing charges are equally bad.

By choosing a pre-payment meter on a standard tariff with an expensive company you're just being sucked into a maelstrom.

What company are you with Gerry1? Is that PAYG? And I'm not 'choosing' prepayment, like a lot of other people it's my only option currently. 

Gerry1

Sorry to hear that; I think you mean you can't get on to a credit tariff.  But are you absolutely sure?  Might be worth calling a few companies or asking Citizens Advice.  Seems it can be done if you're not paying back arrears, and EDF don't do a credit check.

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/money-made-easy/how-to-switch-from-a-prepayment-energy-meter/

Even if you're stuck with BG, can you not switch to a cheaper pre-pay BG tariff?

I'm on credit tariffs with Gulf (Gas) and Neon Reef (electricity).  So far so good...