Monthly electric bill 1 bed flat

melarney29

Hi, I’ve just received my paper electricity bill from Scottish Power. I live on my own in a 1 bed flat and work full time for the NHS so am out of the flat from 8am until 7pm daily. The flat is electric only, no gas supply. My most recent bill is for £157 a month! I have been paying around £100 per month prior to this. I thought £100 was pretty high, but, £157 seems exceptionally high! I really can’t understand my bill as it’s been estimated for so long! I did a swap comparison and Scottish power came up as the cheapest option at £59 per month! I’m so confused and not sure whether this is really high or if this is a normal amount for and electric only flat? I’d really appreciate some help and advice! Thank you! 

TimSynths

Estimated bills are probably half the problem- start sending them actual readings on the 1st of each month so at least you get accurate usage/bills.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

have you looked at your meter to see what the reading is compared to your estimated bill?

Gerry1

Your Direct Debit amount is not the same as your bill.  It's only a top up of a kitty that may or may not prove to be be sufficient to pay the bill. Stop thinking of £DD, start thinking in terms of annual kWh used and the annual costs derived from actual meter readings.

wild666

Look at the meter and take actual readings. If it's not a smart meter it will give readings in M3 or ft.3, then it's just a matter of working out the kWh by the method on the bill. Suppliers sometimes massively overestimate readings and as a result try and increase the DD payments which would result in a large credit occurring. 

Robin9

As others have said - read your meter.  Take care some modern meters can be difficult to read watch out for the decimal point ; some have a small key - press 9.

How does that reading compare with  the bill ?

Were you once of a fixed tariff which has run out ?

Mister_G

wild666 said:

Look at the meter and take actual readings. If it's not a smart meter it will give readings in M3 or ft.3, then it's just a matter of working out the kWh by the method on the bill. Suppliers sometimes massively overestimate readings and as a result try and increase the DD payments which would result in a large credit occurring. 

The OP is electric only - no gas.