Expected Annual Usage

[Deleted User]

I really do wonder how on earth suppliers calculate expected usage figures especially when same supplier uses these as a basis for attempting to increase the direct debit amount.  It now means that I will have to spend needless time contacting my supplier (Eon Next) requesting that they leave amounts as they are.  My situation is slightly complicated by the fact that I have only been with them for 4 months BUT I have kept all usage figures from present house and the previous house.  My numbers are telling me that I am using at least 20% less electricity than in the previous house and at least 5% less gas but these numbers are getting better since going on an economy drive re usage.  I've extrapolated my numbers (from what I used at the old house) and compared them to the numbers I originally gave to Eon and their 'guess'

Old House 9800 kWh Gas p.a 3600 kWh Electric
New House 9600 kWh Gas p.a. 2600 kWh Electric (Initial estimate given to Eon)
Actual Usage at New House (4 months extrapolated) Gas 9100 kWh  Electric 2700 kWh
Eon expected Gas 15277 kWh Electric 2270 kWh.

Using my figures the DD does not need to be adjusted but obviously with Eon's they do.  Grrrrr

I will argue the point or at least try to.  Any suggestions as to method of attack/debate to Eon's CS when I ring them? 

Gerry1

Switch to Variable Direct Debit.  Solved !

Verdigris

Is your house brand new or formerly occupied? If it is new thay may well be using the EPC figures, otherwise they will go on historic usage and the former owner could have been more profligate with their energy use.

[Deleted User]

Gerry1 said:

Switch to Variable Direct Debit.  Solved !

Not when I have a decent fix until October 1st 2022.

Verdigris said:

Is your house brand new or formerly occupied? If it is new thay may well be using the EPC figures, otherwise they will go on historic usage and the former owner could have been more profligate with their energy use.

Bungalow (not new EPC D) not occupied between March and end of August (when I moved in) so no data for them to use by previous occupier.

Looking at the gas numbers again, I used  5366 kWh bewteen October 1st 2021 - January 31st 2022 (4 months at an average of 1341 kWh/month)  and have been billed correctly to the mounthly reads provided to them.  I am therefore staggered that their software algorithm suggests that I will use an additional 9911 kWh of gas in the next 8 months (at an average of 1238 kWh/month).  At my old house I was averaging only circa 600kWh/month for these 8 months.  With the house I moved to, I am more likely to be using less than this per month for the rest of my fix judging by my numbers so far.  So the gas is way over the top of what I anticipate (68% too much) and the electricity is slightly too low (circa 20%) 

My reasoning to them will be that they already have 4 months accurate usage with actual customer reads (for both utilities).  They will then need to explain to me why they expect me to continue to use gas at almost the the same rate (kWh/month) in the remaining 8 months before my fix ends.

If Eon's 'expected figures' were true then they do indeed have a case to ask that I increase the DD.  But the case with the gas just shows how totally out of whack they are.

I of course know that come October 1st 2022, my DD to whomever supplies my electricity will need to go up sharply from its current level.  I just don't see why I need to do it until I have to.  Should I change supplier then I don't want to have a large credit built up at that point.

Gerry1

DerwentMailman said:

Gerry1 said:

Switch to Variable Direct Debit.  Solved !

Not when I have a decent fix until October 1st 2022.

I meant changing from Fixed DD to Variable DD, not changing tariff or company.

E.On offered Variable DD.

It's unclear whether E.On Next have scrapped this facility.

[Deleted User]

Gerry1 said:

DerwentMailman said:

Gerry1 said:

Switch to Variable Direct Debit.  Solved !

Not when I have a decent fix until October 1st 2022.

I meant changing from Fixed DD to Variable DD, not changing tariff or company.

E.On offered Variable DD.

It's unclear whether E.On Next have scrapped this facility.

I will check on that in the morning thanks.  To be honest I am happy to have Eon Next do the above if this is still possible.

Yes Eon Next do a variable DD - ironically if I go down this route I calculate Eon Next will receive less in monies over the next 8 months compared to the remaining fixed 8 months at the current fixed DD.  Possibly a no-brainer for me ATM.   

[Deleted User]

Yes now gone to Variable Direct Debit via a brief phone call to them this morning - this clears the account to £0 after each bill is raised at the start of each month.  I can squirrel away excess summer money in MY bank accounts or even shove it in premium bonds for a few months until the proverbial hits the fan in October re the hiking of my energy rates.  I feel back in control again.