help needed understanding electric bill

free_money_tree

Gerry1 said:

free_money_tree said:

• You're on an expensive tariff, 16.8945p kWh plus 26.76975p per day, inc VAT.

The tariff I was on with my last supplier was about 25p/ kw/h and NO standing charge

My annual usage is 1200 KW/h per year

Any ideas please!

Start comparing with Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch'.  Bung in 1200kWh and see what comes up.  Go for the cheapest supplier with whom you are comfortable; see the ratings on Citizens Advice and in the various 'Give your feedback on ...' forum threads here.

Neon Reef might be a good choice but you'll have to decide for yourself.

Citizens Advice, I though they offered legal advice not saving money advice

Are you saying they have a price comparison site? Do you have a link to it please (again payment strictly cash in the post office by recite of bill, no DDIs no credit cards)

Or should I just duck duck it?

victor2

free_money_tree said:

niktheguru said:

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.

Thats right it was ebico

Does he get a prize for correctly guessing your circumstances?

BG have not made a mistake or entrapped you. They took over your Ebico account and inherited the debt on it - which should have been pretty accurate, as Ebico were getting smart meter readings. You now know you must supply BG with readings.

Presumably the debit balance that went to BG from Ebico was the bill you would have paid had Ebico continued in business.

Insisting upon paying the bill upon receipt restricts your options, but the easiest thing for you to do now is contact BG and ask which tariff they can put you on to keep your cost as low as possible. If you are prepared to go with monthly direct debit payments, you will get a wider choice.

Also look on one of the comparison sites already suggested, put in your actual annual usage and address to see what tariffs are available and with whom.

Gerry1

free_money_tree said:

Gerry1 said:

free_money_tree said:

• You're on an expensive tariff, 16.8945p kWh plus 26.76975p per day, inc VAT.

The tariff I was on with my last supplier was about 25p/ kw/h and NO standing charge

My annual usage is 1200 KW/h per year

Any ideas please!

Start comparing with Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch'.  Bung in 1200kWh and see what comes up.  Go for the cheapest supplier with whom you are comfortable; see the ratings on Citizens Advice and in the various 'Give your feedback on ...' forum threads here.

Neon Reef might be a good choice but you'll have to decide for yourself.

Citizens Advice, I though they offered legal advice not saving money advice

Are you saying they have a price comparison site? Do you have a link to it please (again payment strictly cash in the post office by recite of bill, no DDIs no credit cards)

Or should I just duck duck it?

Yes, go to https://energycompare.citizensadvice.org.uk/ and also https://switch.which.co.uk/

But it's a seriously bad mistake not to pay via Direct Debit because it will cost you a lot, LOT more, and some suppliers won't play ball at all.

Paying by DD isn't a problem because they have to tell you in advance of any changes, and you can instruct the bank to make an immediate refund if the supplier breaks the DD Guarantee.

Hasbeen

OP have you actually read ANY of the replies?
Especially the ones giving advice and DIRECT Links to the recommended comparison  sites? 

You were given  direct links this morning  about 8.00 ?

Others have being telling you the sites to look at for a considerable time?

To only restrict yourself to the Victorian way of paying cash at a post office? Really?

Will prove  very  expensive to you, but your decision.
Good Luck.

bagand96

free_money_tree said:

As your bill shows an estimated reading, it is no longer smart since you changed supplier. Provide regular readings manually to avoid more estimated bills.

So that is an estimated reading for a bill. Since I was on reading with last supplier. Looks like they have made a mistake or I have been tricked (intrapment)

You say you use 1200 kWh a year.  That's roughly 3.3 a day.

BG opening reading on 16th Nov was 1640.  They estimated 1945 on 28th Jan.  So 305 kWh over a period of 74 days = 4.1 kWh a day.  Which given it was the coldest and darkest time of the year is probably a very good estimate.

Look at it another way, the reading was 1640 on 16th Nov and is 2004 today on 22nd February.  That's 364 kWh over 99 days = 3.7 kWh a day.  

So, the BG estimate is not way out, it's actually pretty accurate.  They've not made a mistake.  You have not been tricked.  There's no entrapment.

bagand96

In addition to the above, I agree with the other posters here:

- The outstanding debt from ebico will need paying (unless of course you are challenging the accuracy of that - but you'd need to look at your ebico final bill)
- Shop around for a better deal with other providers, but you are really limiting yourself with pay cash on receipt, but it's your choice
- If BG aren't reading your smart meters then provide them with readings today, and try and do it monthly.  You can get in touch with them to try and get the smart meter readings set up, but it's not likely to be worth it if you're going to leave.  You can do that with your new supplier.

Robin9

I asked yesterday - "Do you also have gas ?  Do you have the same issues ?"

niktheguru

Ebico were a decent company for low use as they still had their tariff which had no standing charge....very good if you were a landlord with an empty flat! Unfortunately no standing charge tariffs are extremely rare.

I don’t think we’ll be able to persuade OP to go on a direct debit tariff, judging by behaviours like “cash only”, anonymous email address, use of duck duck go, evading answers to questions etc, sounds like he is very/over cautious and likes to keep control, stay as anonymous as possible and is not trusting of things like direct debit.

To answer your original question, the bill you have received is NOT too high. It seems high to you but it is only near double usual  because it is including a longer period than the two months it states as it includes the debt you owe from the “last billing period” from ebico that was awaiting payment. Your next bill will be much lower but not as low as when you were with ebico, as you’ll be paying a standing charge as well as your unit rate.

you need to follow the advice already given several times and find a cheaper tariff with a supplier. Only you can do this, as you need to put your postcode in the comparison sites to get the accurate rates.

make sure you send monthly meter reads so you get accurate bills. Your meter is no longer smart.

free_money_tree

BG have not made a mistake or entrapped you. They took over your Ebico account and inherited the debt on it - which should have been pretty accurate, as Ebico were getting smart meter readings. You now know you must supply BG with readings.

Really! and why would they not continue with current tarrif if they willfully knew there where smart readings availbe

free_money_tree

Insisting upon paying the bill upon receipt restricts your options, but the easiest thing for you to do now is contact BG and ask which tariff they can put you on to keep your cost as low as possible.

Are you saying that I should pay the estimated bill as it is, even though I did not make contract with anyone about this?