FTB Question about monthly bills

Sprigg

wild666 said:

To lower your bills turn everything off that you're not using, Desktop, Laptop, printer, external HDD, stereo, TV, DVD player, games console, charging leads, smart speakers, shower, extractor fans, cooker, washer, dishwasher, microwave and any other appliance that doesn't need to be on 24/7. Three appliances that need to be on 24/7 are fridge, freezer and the router if you stream content whilst in bed. 
Doing this can save hundreds of kWh per year and over £100 off the yearly electric bill.
Reduce the temperature on the heating thermostat to 20 or lower, mines set to 18 degrees, although the daughter increases it when she comes to clean for me.

Thank you for the tips, very helpful!

EssexHebridean

Sprigg said:

EssexHebridean said:

Assuming you don’t have smart meters, then it may well be worth you doing meter readings more often than monthly for your first few months in the property too - and using a app of some description to track use might also be helpful for you. I use the “Meter Readings” app by Graham Haley which I believe is still available on iOS - but not android I’m afraid. 

Congratulations on your new home! 🏡 

Thank you! I was thinking of doing this, should we input it weekly into the Scottish power account app too? Or just monthly for the actual account?

I would, you’ve got nothing to lose by doing so and it will mean they should get a quicker picture of your actual use. 

Possibly one for someone else to shed light on but if you weren’t told about the option of the standard variable (capped) rate then I wonder if there is room for you to complain, and demand to be switched to it. If you’re within 14 days you may even simply be able to cancel it, in fact… 

There is some merit in turning off stuff you don’t use but it will be relatively minimal if your tech is fairly new - there are much tighter controls now on how much juice will get used on standby settings. Things like washing machines and dishwashers usually switch themselves right off after running a cycle these days too. There is a balance to be struck between not using more energy than you need, and making life less user-friendly! 

MWT

Sprigg said:

Thanks all! Unfortunately I think we might have been done like this too. They didn't say anything about sticking with the last owners rate. They made it out to be a new account and new rate to be put on and I sadly don't know much about it and was confused by research. We (stupidly by sounds of it) went fixed rate but there's no exit fee.

Staying on the previous owners rates was never an option, that doesn't happen.

The concern is if you were told you had to pick one of their fixed rate tariffs or if they also offered you their capped standard rate tariff which would have been the cheaper option right now...

If they didn't do that then I would complain and ask to be moved to the capped variable tariff.

Perhaps it would be worth telling us what rates you are on for standing charge/kWh so we can see if you are being over-charged...

QrizB

MWT said:

The concern is if you were told you had to pick one of their fixed rate tariffs or if they also offered you their capped standard rate tariff which would have been the cheaper option right now...

If they didn't do that then I would complain and ask to be moved to the capped variable tariff.

See also this Times article (you don't need a Twitter account):

https://twitter.com/paullewismoney/status/1462113125759651840

MWT

QrizB said:

MWT said:

The concern is if you were told you had to pick one of their fixed rate tariffs or if they also offered you their capped standard rate tariff which would have been the cheaper option right now...

If they didn't do that then I would complain and ask to be moved to the capped variable tariff.

See also this Times article (you don't need a Twitter account):

I'm sure their lawyers have read the licence very closely, but I'm not sure their position will stand as they will have a hard time side-stepping the deemed tariff aspect of this as while they may claim there is no obligation to offer the SVT to new customers, those moving into a new home also have no obligation to pick a different tariff, so if they refuse to register a new customer without them picking a different tariff they would appear to be breaking the terms of their licence.

If someone was to switch to them then they would have more justification I believe.

FreeBear

wild666 said: Reduce the temperature on the heating thermostat to 20 or lower, mines set to 18 degrees, although the daughter increases it when she comes to clean for me.

Also well worth fitting a smart thermostat that allows you to set different temperatures depending on the time of day. No need to splash out on a Hive/Nest jobbie, plenty of lower cost options are available.