Help with G&E Please

Lijong

Hi there
I am no good with numbers, I have autism. I need help with my G&E, please?
I am with Utility Point on their Just Up 19 Wk50 Direct tariff which is due to end on the 9th Jan 2021. MSE say my tariff goes up next year when my contract ends. My estimated annual gas consumption is 7927, my estimated electric consumption is 7909 kwh.
For my Electric I pay Standing charge for 30 Days @ 11.530p, Price p/kWh 13.048p
For my Gas I pay Standing charge for 30 Days @ 11.000p, Price p/kWh 2.506p

Is there anyone cheaper I can use? My postcode is PR4 2HY, not too bothered if it's fixed, or a little unknown compant, but figuring out different standing charges and kw used makes my head hurt. Last year the Citizens Advice helped but due to Covid I've not been able to get the help I need.
Can anyone here run the numbers and tell me if there's a cheaper tariff I can use. 
Thanks so much Li

Robin9

Lijong - normally the recommendation is to put your consumption details into a comparison site like Citizens Advice but I note you are autistic and I appreciate the challenges that this presents.

Your bill will show what the best UP tariff is and I suggest you go with that - ring them up.  It may not be the very, very best.

PS The electricity consumption figure is very high for someone who looks like has gas heating.  Do you  use extra heaters - if so where you can use the gas heating instead as it's much cheaper.

Gerry1

Lijong said:

My estimated annual gas consumption is 7927, my estimated electric consumption is 7909 kwh.

Using estimated consumption isn't a good idea, especially as you figures seem a bit dodgy.  If accurate, your gas consumption would be two thirds of average, which is quite possible, e.g. a flat or terraced house.  However, your electricity consumption is more than two and a half times the average which doesn't sound right, especially when you have gas.

It's best to find some bills a year apart and give us the meter readings, actual not estimated, and then we can number crunch them for you.  What do you use for room heating, hot water and showers?

With the figures you gave, separate suppliers are cheaper.  You could use Mercury 12 v41from Zog for gas but that's on online tariff, so it might not be suitable if you want to be able to phone them.  For electricity, Symbio is probablt the cheapest, but it's also online only and feedback here suggests that they can be a nightmare to deal with, so dual fuel with PFP might be safer.

However, it would be much better to establish more accurate consumption figures if you can.

Lijong

I send my meter reading in on the 6th of every month, without fail. I have only bills I have given the readings for, not estimated. Also although I have central heating we never use it. I prefer the house cold and actually use a fan in winter and have the windows open. I had a stem cell transplant and have since been hot all the time, so the gas central heating is rarely on. The gas charges are just for the hob and bathwater. It's about £20-25p pm for gas. I will screenshot my bills and add them to this thread.
I spoke to Utility Point today and I cannot stay on the tariff I am currently on but they said the cheapest other one I can go on it this..... This is what they said
"After reviewing your account I can confirm the cheapest renewal tariff options is -Just Join UP 12M Fixed Wk46: Electricity Unit Rate: 13.920 Standing Charge: 23.07 Gas Unit Rate: 2.31 Standing Charge: 23.77 Fixed for 12 months Estimated annual cost:£1,380.64, This has been calculated using your current estimated annual consumption of gas -7927kWh and electricity-7908.9kWh, The standing charge is more expensive than your current tariff however the unit rate is cheaper. Your current tariff had an estimated annual consumption figure of £1378.48 therefore this new tariff is slightly higher with an estimated annual consumption figure of £1,380.64. This would work out as a monthly direct debit of £115.05."
I will post a screenshot now, brb

Lijong

https://imgur.com/BXiY8Dc
https://imgur.com/3Dbu6OQ
I hope I have done this right. All those payments were from meter reading I gave to them every month, not estimates. I've been with UP 2 years so will give a good indication to what I use.
Do you need any more information?

Lijong

I hope you can see these
Gas usage link
https://imgur.com/ywQfwwE
Electric Usage
https://imgur.com/8zG6g41
These are my actual meter readings posted to Utility Point for them to work out mu bills. 

tim_p

How are you using so much electricity?  The should be a sizeable saving to be made there by reducing usage, let alone getting on a cheaper tariff. 

Robin9

@Lijong From the pictures of your consumption I would say the estimated consumption is correct.

I repeat my original comments - respecting your autism challenges -  ring UP and change to their suggested tariff. It may not be the best in the world  but its using Smart readings which would save you reading problems.

However as tim_p says - how are you using so much electricity ?  Give us some details  please - ignore TV's, mobile phone chargers - the things that use lots of electricity are water heating, heating, electric showers, lots of lighting.

notbritishgas

If you really do not use your heating then the gas figure ties in with just hob and water use.
The electric however is very high and seems to be consistent throughout the year, even in  summer, with monthly amounts between 500 and 700 kwh a month.You had better tell us what electric appliances you have, to use that amount it will be something substantial.

Gerry1

Lijong said:

Also although I have central heating we never use it. I prefer the house cold and actually use a fan in winter and have the windows open.

Is this just a plain fan, or a fan heater?  Your electricity consumption is unbelievably high for a gas user so this needs to be tracked down.  You shouldn't be using electricity for room or water heating.  Are there any immersion heaters?  If so, they should be switched off permanently because hot water from the gas boiler is far, far cheaper.  Similarly, don't use an instantaneous electric shower because it will be prohibitively expensive.

Have you checked that the serial number shown on the electricity meter matches the number on the bill?

If your meter is external to the property, e.g. in a meter cupboard if it's a block of flats, do a sanity check on it; it's not unknown for meters to get mixed up, and you could be paying for someone using storage heaters or growing a roomful of dodgy plants.  When it's dark, throw the main switches on the consumer unit, watch the red light on the meter marked '800 Imp/kWh' (or suchlike) for a few minutes and make sure it never flashes.  Then turn on a kettle, tumble dryer and all the lights and make sure the red light is flashing away merrily.

Robin9

@Lijong I agree with the others  -  the use of fan heaters is costing you a lot of money. 

You are using 5,000 kWh of electricity  more than the average and that is £650 !   Running the gas just occasionally (as you like the place cold) - perhaps £150.

Just go with the OP suggestion - perhaps when CAB is in a position to help more look again at switching suppliers.