Comparison of electricity cost

Rhion

Hi
i am with Bulb and they are saying that I am using £380 per month in electricity and wanted to know where I can check this to find out if this is correct based on my area and size of apartment, as this seems extortionate!
Thanks!

Mstty

Hi Rhion

If you can let us know how much energy you use on kWh for electricity and gas if you have both in a year I am sure I and others can help you out.

Also are you on a fixed rate or on the standard variable rate (have a look at your account for standing charges and price per kWh)

Lots of people around to give you some help

M

Robin9

Rhion said:

Hi
i am with Bulb and they are saying that I am using £380 per month in electricity and wanted to know where I can check this to find out if this is correct based on my area and size of apartment, as this seems extortionate!
Thanks!

Are you sure that is what they are saying ?  It may be that you were in debit and Bulb is playing catch up. As @Mtssy details please

TheMilkmansDad

Area and size of the apartment are not really useful when comparing usage. One could be of a "horticultural" usage, whereas the other could have everything turned of and a million jumpers on.

You need to look at your actual usage. Are your bills accurately based on submitted/Smart meter readings? My understanding is that Bulb only have the variable rate so assuming that is the case is should be fairly easy for you to work out how much energy you are using and subsequently how much you should be paying monthly.

MWT

Mstty said:

Also are you on a fixed rate or on the standard variable rate (have a look at your account for standing charges and price per kWh)

Always a good question to ask, but just for future reference, Bulb only have variable tariffs, it has been one of their unique features for a long time now, and also part of the reason why they failed in the end as they used the lack of fixed tariffs to justify why they didn't hedge their supply needs...

Rhion

Hi all

Thanks for your prompt reply. New here so apologies if I am not replying correctly! 

I am on the ‘Pay monthly variable 2 rate’ with them and estimated annual usage of 16063 kWh. I don’t have a smart reader and last reading gave on the 31st March. Electricity only and have economy 7 heaters. 

I actually should be making payments of £512/month as I have a £1500 debt on my account. This mostly came from an ombudsman case I made last year when they incorrectly reduced my DD when it should have been more back then. Managed to get the debt wiped as part of the case, but left it a few months not paying anything whilst the case was being resolved. 

I keep telling them that as part of the case it was agreed to keep my monthly amounts to a manageable amount - and so far the have dropped this to £490 a month but haven’t fully resolved as yet. 

Any help would be appreciated! 

Thanks. 

Rhion

Mstty

@rhion what is your use split into Economy 7 and daytime rate 

Also what prices do you pay on day rate and Economy 7 per kWh

Thanks

M

Rhion

Hi @Mstty

Not sure if this is it but if not then pls let me know where I can find this info. 

Many thanks 

Rhion 

Mstty

Ok let's make a stab and suggest you do use 16000 kWh a year estimated and you do use 60% on cheap rate and 40% on day rate (pre April 1sr rates)

Standing charge for the year is £85
Cheap rate elec(9600kwh) is £1300
Day rate elec(6400kwh) is £1500

Roughly £2885 which is £240.42 a month

If you have a reading or bill from March or April 2021 that will confirm the back of a fag packet estimate above as we will then have an accurate level of yearly use then if you have your rates you will pay from April 1st 2022 for day and night we can get this nailed👍

Effician

Mstty said:

Ok let's make a stab and suggest you do use 16000 kWh a year estimated and you do use 60% on cheap rate and 40% on day rate

Standing charge for the year is £85
Cheap rate elec(9600kwh) is £1300
Day rate elec(6400kwh) is £1500

Roughly £2885 which is £240.42 a month

If you have a reading or bill from March or April 2021 that will confirm the back of a fag packet estimate above as we will then have an accurate level of yearly use.

If all Bulb rates are variable i would assume a price rise to the new cap  from April 1st will apply, so probably another £100 ish / month to go on those figures.

pochase

@Rhion
Do you have another bill with a real meter reading instead of the estimated one? As @Msttysaid best would be one from 12 month ago, but everything would help to establish at least what your day use is.

Based on the above you would be using almost 10000KWh during the day already, that is with the new rates already almost 280£ pm. 

Add to that standing charge, hot water, and heating in winter and  the 380£ per month does not sound that far off.