Energy bills go up TOMORROW - meter read TODAY!

MWT

Jude57 said:

I'll see how it goes over the next couple of months but if I can pay a variable DD, I'll probably set that up.

Thanks for that, @EssexHebridean it's much appreciated. 

This may help if you need to call again: https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/bills-and-payments/setting-up-a-direct-debit

You may find you can change to variable DD from your online account if you use one and have internet access.

You will see that you can opt for a quarterly variable DD, I would suggest it is better to stay with monthly as it does make it less likely that you get a surprise that is difficult to manage.

Jude57

MWT said:

Jude57 said:

I'll see how it goes over the next couple of months but if I can pay a variable DD, I'll probably set that up.

Thanks for that, @EssexHebridean it's much appreciated. 

This may help if you need to call again: https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/bills-and-payments/setting-up-a-direct-debit

You may find you can change to variable DD from your online account if you use one and have internet access.

You will see that you can opt for a quarterly variable DD, I would suggest it is better to stay with monthly as it does make it less likely that you get a surprise that is difficult to manage.

Thanks for that @MWT I appreciate the pointer. Yes I have an online account but that link is really helpful.

datlex

yes I have done mine took average usage over 3 years to work out average annual kwh. then multiplied that by the kwh rate. Then did the standard charge x 365,  added together and then divided by 12.

busvcur1

I had looked at mine briefly, but this inspired me to look at the full potential (hopefully worst case scenario) with another increase in October 


I have started watching our energy use at the begining of Feb (I now take weekly readings to see what difference little changes are making, and which ones we can live actually live with). We have cut down compared to feb and March last year so I am hoping I can get usage down by 10% and then my DD should mostly cover it 



Thanks for the inspiration, gernerally feeling less anxious about it now I have a benchmark 

EssexHebridean

Yes - funnily enough actually knowing the accurate position and doing some projections for "worst case scenarios" really can help to mitigate anxiety around this sort of thing. It's like that thing of when you know debts are piling up, and letters are arriving but you just stick them in a drawer unopened - eventually the very sight of the drawer provokes far worse anxiety than actually knowing the truth of the matter! 

One thing to bear in mind if comparing use of energy - particularly that used for your primary heating source - from last year to this - bear in mind that last year was a long, cold winter - many of us will still have had heating on well into April whereas we might usually take April 1st as a likely date to turn it off. This could mean if not taken into account you are considering that you are actually using less at this point because of changes you've made, rather than simply because it's warmer. (Although we had to scrape the car windscreen this morning so clearly we're not quite at "spring" yet!) 

MissRikkiC

I have done my maths and don’t think it’s right, but I’ll try and explain a little. 

Electricity, I started out with the old style meter and then switched to a smart meter so I’ve added the useage of both together and done the calculations. Approx 5300 units a year. 

I have been lax with my gas meter readings which aren’t done via smart meter and worked those out tonight also. I appreciate everyone’s useage is different but does approx 2000m3 annually for gas seem correct? Using current providers math, it worked out to approx 22170 kwhs for the year …… 

if these numbers are correct we are looking at approx £3.5k a year for combined energy. We are way above the ‘average’ 😕

MWT

MissRikkiC said:

I have been lax with my gas meter readings which aren’t done via smart meter and worked those out tonight also. I appreciate everyone’s useage is different but does approx 2000m3 annually for gas seem correct? Using current providers math, it worked out to approx 22170 kwhs for the year ……

It could well be correct, but it is certainly high.

'Typical' would be around 12,000kWh, for a couple of extra data-points, we used around 13,000kWh in our 5 bed house over the last 12 months, but that is well insulated, my father-in-law will have used over 30,000kWh in his bungalow, but he keeps the place very warm due to age and medical conditions....

Need to have a think about how you use the heating, thermostat settings, boiler flow temperature etc. to see if there are any 'easy' savings to be made...

kaMelo

Reading this thread prompted me to do some calculations, both for the here and now and a (Hopefully) worst case scenario of 50% rise in October. We use around 6000kWh Electric and 18000kWh Gas, so I knew it would be somewhat worse than the often quoted typical usage figures and costs but, if I'm being honest, it's pretty sober reading.

Previously we were with Symbio and Zog Energy, their combined costs annually were £1403. (£117 per month)
Now with eOn Next and EDF, their combined annual costs with April 2022 price cap  £3256  (£271 per month)
A (hopefully) worst case scenario 50% increase in October 2022 price cap results in annual costs of £4884 (£407 per month)

April's price cap is a 232% rise from what I was paying in October 2021 just before Symbio Energy went bust.
If the worst case scenario comes true then October 2022 will be a 348% increase on what I was paying in October 2021.

If ever I needed motivation to become more energy efficient this has to be it. 

moving_forward

For those with high usage a smart thermostat can really make a difference to your bills. In our old house we had old style heating with no room thermostat so the heating just went on or off. It cost loads and was such a waste. Getting a thermostat saved alot. In this house we had a old style thermostat but it was broken so we got our plumber to install a smart one. It really was worth the money in our case but again do your sums.

Sea_Shell

MissRikkiC said:

I have done my maths and don’t think it’s right, but I’ll try and explain a little. 

Electricity, I started out with the old style meter and then switched to a smart meter so I’ve added the useage of both together and done the calculations. Approx 5300 units a year. 

I have been lax with my gas meter readings which aren’t done via smart meter and worked those out tonight also. I appreciate everyone’s useage is different but does approx 2000m3 annually for gas seem correct? Using current providers math, it worked out to approx 22170 kwhs for the year …… 

if these numbers are correct we are looking at approx £3.5k a year for combined energy. We are way above the ‘average’ 😕

@MissRikkiC

You might want to double check your calculations.   What estimates for annual use do your bills say, by comparison?

Electricity seems VERY high, if you have gas for heating and hot water.    Do you also have an electric shower?     What about cooking?    Think of everything that either heats and/or has a motor/pump....tropical fish tank?

Gas is high too, but not as dramatically so.    What setting is your hot water on?   Once, Twice, constant?