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Advice needed on extremely high EDF gas bill

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I'm after some advice regarding an EDF utility bill. 
Bit of background. I've had issues with EDF since joining them a couple of years ago. After submitting numerous readings and contacting them a number of times I didn't receive a bill for over 500 days. Some of this was subsequently written off in August 2020. I spoke to an advisor who recommended a monthly D/D payment that should cover me over the winter period which I agreed to. 

I've just received my new bill after submitting a reading to EDF. This is astronomical even after taking off my D/D payments I'm nearly £2000 in debt for 3 months. The vast majority (£1900 - before D/D taken off) is for gas. They have increased my D/D payments to £560 a month to cover this. The meter readings are correct - it's a digital readout which I submit on line (not smart meter). We have increased gas usage as my wife is working from home now but this period includes the end of August and September when the heating wasn't on. We have a combi-boiler and gas is only for heating radiators and water. It's a 4 bed house with decent insulation. In fact we have a new kitchen which is electric and has underfloor electric heating so this should have reduced usage. 

I have complained to EDF but awaiting for a response. Could this be a faulty meter / leak (no gas smell in the house) and if so is it EDF responsibility as suppliers? 
I'd be grateful for any advice on my rights and steps I can take. I do plan to move suppliers but not until this is sorted. 

thanks 



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Comments

  • MWT
    MWT Posts: 10,253 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Can you post a photo of the meter and a copy of your most recent bill please? (remove address etc.)
    Things we would normally check include making sure that the meter and your bill are both using the same units, not a mixture of cubic feet and cubic metres which can result in over billing by almost three times what it should be...

  • JGB1955
    JGB1955 Posts: 3,849 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Is your gas meter imperial or metric?  Have you been providing the wrong sort of readings?  
    #2 Saving for Christmas 2024 - £1 a day challenge. £325 of £366
  • niktheguru
    niktheguru Posts: 1,487 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 11 January 2021 at 12:51PM
    you're going to have to give a lot more information for anyone to help with this.
    Firstly, what was your opening reading when you moved in? What was the reading when you eventually got a bill 500days later? How much was written off? What balance did that leave you to pay? (how much had you paid already by direct debit up till that bill, and how much was still owed, what amount of that was written off and what were you still left to pay? Did you pay it up in full or ask for an amended direct debit?)
    Now, with the latest bill what is the meter reading you gave now, compared with the one in the opening reading of the bill. are they both accurate or any estimated? what are the figures.

    Which tariff are you on? is it the cheapest tariff with edf or a standard tariff?

    You say you've given "numerous readings" over the time period (which is a good start). Do your latest readings tally up with the previous ones in terms of usage per day or week?
    What uses the gas in your house? Is it just the combi-boiler? Do you have thermostatic radiatior valves on the rads. Are you heating every room the same and for the whole day and night or do you have a timer? Certainly usage during the pandemic has risen as people are working from home more, this winter is also particularly cold so boilers are working overtime but your bill does seem a bit ridiculous. It may include money owed from previously?
    You need all the information regarding usage first.

    Other things to do
    Check how much gas you are using in a 24hr period. Take a reading now, and take a reading at the same time tomorrow? What is the change in meter reading?
    Turn off all gas appliances and heating for a few hours - does the meter still change? (if not, then it suggests its NOT a leak or faulty meter, but just a lot of use)

    I know thats a lot of questions, but we would need to know the answers of these to help further,
    Alternatively you could copy pictures of your bills (with personal information redacted) for us to help further.
    Some times people read the meter incorrectly and put the wrong numbers in, with gas. Sometimes that can cause astronomical bills. Could you copy a picture of your meter with your latest reading please, so we can see.
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,782 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's easy to misread meters -   on modern meters watch out for the decimal point !  Ones with keypads have their issues as well - you need a screen which says m3
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill




  • I'm on Simply Online 1 year fix May21v5. Gas Usage this bill states 79628kWh.

    I can take a picture of the meter and upload later. I'll take some readings overnight and for 24 hours as well. 
    thanks for the replies. 
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,782 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Re the Electric - 2127 kWh in 4 months is 6500 + in a year - that's double the average for a gas heated house.

    Electric Showers ............   immersion on instead f using gas boiler ......... ?

    Gas is sounding like misreads  - should be 2117 (decimal) 8 and 2815 (decimal) 1   - enter as 02117 and 02815.  About £160 for the 4 months.
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • MWT
    MWT Posts: 10,253 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    A photo of the meter will clear this up quickly I'm sure...
  • Hasbeen
    Hasbeen Posts: 4,404 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Hopefully as stated misreads or the OP is sending in Kw readings for the gas.

    And Op has stated electric under floor heating in kitchen.
    The world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good. Napoleon
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,782 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper


     In fact we have a new kitchen which is electric and has underfloor electric heating so this should have reduced usage. 


    It may have helped the gas but a very high electric cost.

    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • MWT
    MWT Posts: 10,253 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Robin9 said:
    It may have helped the gas but a very high electric cost.
    Indeed, using, let alone installing, electric underfloor heating when you already have gas would seem perverse, may as well just throw the money out of the window and save the inconvenience of the installation, but perhaps there is a reason for this choice that is not yet obvious...


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