British Gas fixed tariff - price increase

Rtj123

I have just joined British Gas and gone onto there fixed tariff 'home energy secure November 2023' at £66.50 per month. They have taken my first payment,  however they have emailed to tell me I am not paying enough and want to raise my bill to £150 per month to compensate. I have tried contacting them but as usual no joy. How can they do this if I am on a fixed tariff? I live alone, in a 2 bed cottage. I barely use any energy and am out every day of the week. Can anyone give any help on what I can do? This is my first house (rented) so am new to this.
Any guidance appreciated. 
Thank you 

JJ_Egan

Tariff is fixed thats the unit prices .

DD is usage divided by 12 months .

What usage figures did you give them to calculate DD / yearly usage .

elsien

A fixed tariff does not mean you pay the same amount each month regardless of how much you use. 

It is likely that they are expecting you to use more over the winter so have increased the dd so you don’t end up getting into debt.
They estimate usage for the year then put the dd amount so that the summer low and winter high even out. If you use less then they think, you will be in credit. 

When you moved to them, how did you work out what your likely usage would be, for the initial direct debit payment? 

And are you on a smart meter/giving them regular readings or are they using estimates. If their new figure is based on an estimated reading then give them the correct ones. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Who set the £66.50?  If you did, on the basis of what you were paying for before, it won't be anywhere near enough to cover the recent price hikes and your winter usage.  It's a fixed tariff, not a fixed payment.  You've secured a one year fix on the standing charge and unit rate, not the amount you'll pay each month.

Rtj123

JJ_Egan said:

Tariff is fixed thats the unit prices .

DD is usage divided by 12 months .

What usage figures did you give them to calculate DD / yearly usage .

They haven't asked for any readings. I have a smart meter installed (not by me) which gives estimate readings on dual fuel 
It currently says the following 
Elec estimate = £5.52
Gas estimate = £1.28

Thankyou for your help so far.

Rtj123

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Who set the £66.50?  If you did, on the basis of what you were paying for before, it won't be anywhere near enough to cover the recent price hikes and your winter usage.  It's a fixed tariff, not a fixed payment.  You've secured a one year fix on the standing charge and unit rate, not the amount you'll pay each month.

The £66.50 is what was on the British gas website for the fixed tariff secure energy 2023. 

Rtj123

elsien said:

A fixed tariff does not mean you pay the same amount each month regardless of how much you use. 

It is likely that they are expecting you to use more over the winter so have increased the dd so you don’t end up getting into debt.
They estimate usage for the year then put the dd amount so that the summer low and winter high even out. If you use less then they think, you will be in credit. 

When you moved to them, how did you work out what your likely usage would be, for the initial direct debit payment? 

And are you on a smart meter/giving them regular readings or are they using estimates. If their new figure is based on an estimated reading then give them the correct ones. 

I am on a smart meter. Do the readings get sent automatically to British gas? 

QrizB

Rtj123 said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Who set the £66.50?  If you did, on the basis of what you were paying for before, it won't be anywhere near enough to cover the recent price hikes and your winter usage.  It's a fixed tariff, not a fixed payment.  You've secured a one year fix on the standing charge and unit rate, not the amount you'll pay each month.

The £66.50 is what was on the British gas website for the fixed tariff secure energy 2023. 

When you went to the BG website, they will have asked you various questions including your address, whether you want both gas and electricity, and whether you know your annual energy consumption or not.

What did you tell them regarding your annual energy consumption?

Here is the tariff info for my region (yours will be slightly different) assuming single-rate electricity:

The_Fat_Controller

Smart Meters do not give estimated readings.

You should be able to check the BG website to see if they are getting readings from you meter.

What were the readings when you moved in and what are they today ?

A DD is not like paying for an all you can eat buffet, it has to be adjusted to cover your annual usage.

Rtj123

QrizB said:

Rtj123 said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Who set the £66.50?  If you did, on the basis of what you were paying for before, it won't be anywhere near enough to cover the recent price hikes and your winter usage.  It's a fixed tariff, not a fixed payment.  You've secured a one year fix on the standing charge and unit rate, not the amount you'll pay each month.

The £66.50 is what was on the British gas website for the fixed tariff secure energy 2023. 

When you went to the BG website, they will have asked you various questions including your address, whether you want both gas and electricity, and whether you know your annual energy consumption or not.

What did you tell them regarding your annual energy consumption?

Here is the tariff info for my region (yours will be slightly different) assuming single-rate electricity:

Thank you when I signed up I didn't put the annual fuel consumption as I haven't lived there for a year. I went for the dual fuel tariff. 

Sea_Shell

So how was your original DD amount arrived at?

You must have had to put "something" on your application, if not usage then a "guestimate" of cost.