help needed understanding electric bill

niktheguru

Robin9 said:

Yes indeed @Gentlegiant  I've not read about him and his electrician getting electrocuted - perhaps died of embarrassment ?

I'd still like to know whose weed farm he was paying for.

nottsphil

Robin9 said:

Try this - photo your bill with the personal info blanked out and email to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com

In the meantime just tell us the supplier and todays meter reading.

The forum team don't even have the time to monitor the referrals board these days, so I'm sure they'll be delighted to post pictures for forumites... especially when all the OP has to do is follow your advice in post #.....just where are those post numbers nowadays? 

Robin9

imgbb.com/VY71J6g   Thanks to the forum Team for supplying this.

The supplier is BG and unit cost 16.090 p/kWh  s/c 25.495   Both are high and you can do much better than this

The bill shows three important things 

1) The reading on the date of the bill 28th Jan was ESTIMATED .  Did you not give BG a reading ? Do so NOW.

2)  The is a Debit from your last supplier of £92.82  (edit my typo)  . Did you not pay your last supplier ?  Who was it ?

3) You bill covers a period of over two months -  16 Nov to 28 Jan

Gerry1

Four problems jump out !

• You haven't been sending monthly readings: the bill says that the latest reading is estimated.  That often ends in tears.

• Looks like estimated readings were also a problem with your previous supplier.  The cost of your electricity usage was more than your DD was putting into the kitty, so the accumulated debt has all been carried over to your new supplier in one big dollop.

• You're on an expensive tariff, 16.8945p kWh plus 26.76975p per day, inc VAT.
• The estimated usage is very low, especially for this time of year, so the problems are likely to recur.  Sending monthly readings becomes even more important to avoid 'catch up' bills in the future.
  

So here's the way forward.

• Read the meter on the wall today and send the reading to your supplier.  If it's difficult to get a reading, post the make and model number of the meter and someone will tell you how to read it.
• If you can't pay the latest bill, ask for a payment plan.
• Switch to a cheaper tariff.  If you can't pay the bill and your supplier blocks a move, switch to their cheapest tariff.

Robin9

A question for the other members  - I think its unusual for a debit to be passed from one supplier to another . Does this happen for tariff transfers with existing suppliers or with white labels?

victor2

Robin9 said:

A question for the other members  - I think its unusual for a debit to be passed from one supplier to another . Does this happen for tariff transfers with existing suppliers or with white labels?

I've switched tariffs with the same supplier and any credit or debit balance has been carried over, but never changed supplier without clearing the existing balance with the losing supplier. In this case maybe the OP's previous supplier went out of business and BG were the SoLR, in which case they could be claiming any debit balance?

Of course, we can only guess thus far...

niktheguru

Agree with all the above.
Looks like OP has moved to British gas under the solr process. He/she was probably with one of the Robin Hood energy group companies...maybe ebico.
Has been transferred to British gas, not providing regular meter readings, had a debt from previous supplier......
Sounds like the bill isn't double what it should be, it may well need to be higher once he gives an accurate meter read.

Things to do
1. Provide an update to date meter reading to British gas NOW. (is it higher or lower than the estimated figure on the bill?
2. Look at the bills from your previous company, is the 96 quid debt on their last bill (did you ever give meter reads? -weve already asked this question multiple times, still waiting for any answer.
3. Once updated meter reading given and bill is paid, check in a comparison website using accurate consumption for the year and switch to cheapest supplier.

If you don't know how to read a meter, cant be bothered to read them regularly or just don't want to, then ask British gas to install smart meters in your property. At least then your bills will be accurate. You seem the ideal candidate for a smart meter.

Hasbeen

Also received:  free_money_tree link direct, thankyou, OP    https://ibb.co/VY71J6g

Agree with all others replies.
You have outstanding debt added to your bill carried over from previous provider of £98.82.
Probably accumulated from estimated bills? 
This needs to be paid off if possible.

You are now getting estimated bills again from new provider, for a very low usage especially at this time of year.

Read the meter now and provide readings to get an up to date bill. Do this online through your account or phone.
Continue to do so monthly to keep readings up to date.

Never Never, rely on estimated bills, Take control of your usage and submit readings,

I fear the new bill may be substantially higher. £34:72 a month is very low. Especially from 16th Nov to 28st Jan.

What Direct Debit payments are you making now? These may/will go up, to go into the pot, to help pay your usage.

You are paying 16.090p per kWh and 25.495p standing charge. Plus 5% Vat.

I am not on a particularly cheap tariff compared to other's as I have recently had to renew.
My rate per kWh is 12.997p and standing charge is 19.048p per day plus 5% Vat. 

You may get this cheaper depending on what area you are in.

I assume you do not have an actual yearly usage to pop unto a comparison site?

If you do have actual, not estimated then do so. If not I would advise using  3000kWh / year as a starter?
(Someone may correct that)

And put that into this site: Compare Gas & Electricity Prices - Citizens Advice Energy Comparison
Or this site: Compare Gas and Electricity suppliers - Which? Switch

Both above give accurate all comparisons without the need to click on filters etc to show all on the other sites. Hassle!

Robin9

Assuming it was your accurate reading (01640)  when BG took over suggests that the meter is comparatively new. OP there will be a sticker on it with a date (edit typo).  Coupled with a reading from today and some simple sums you can work out your annual consumption.

Do you also have gas ?  Do you have the same issues ?

nottsphil

Robin9 said:

Assuming it was your accurate reading (01640)  when BG took over suggests that the meter is comparatively new. OP there will be a sticker on it with a sate.

What's a sate?