British Gas Hugely Overestimating Gas Consumption

Liverbird1973

I have just moved into a 2 bed flat and live alone. Historically my gas consumption has been approx 600kWh in winter and 100kWhand under in the warmer months. I estimate that my gas consumption annually to be approx 6000-8000kWh. I inherited British Gas when I moved and I have had to set up an account with them. The lowest estimated energy consumption they would allow me to be set up on was an eye watering 18539 kWh. The agent advised he couldn't amend it. 

I wanted to go onto the fixed rate but at that kWh consumption, it would have cost me over £350 a month which I can't afford. 

Anyone else had this issue and can advise what to do?

Thanks

brewerdave

Your previous consumption in another property is irrelevant - BG are presumably basing the figures on the previous occupiers. 

welshblob

General question related to this, are suppliers able to charge you via direct debit for what you have consumed for that month via a direct debit like a credit card can, rather than this averaging out nonsense? Obviously I don't know the situation here and whether you are billed monthly, quarterly or longer and whether you are opting for DD?

QrizB

Can you pay BG by exact monthly DD? You'll need to supply monthly meter readings (unless you have a smart meter that's smart) but BGs estimate will no longer come into the equation.

You'll have to be prepared for high bills in the winter months.

pochase

I am a bit unsure why this stopped you from getting a fix? But the £350 is too high even using October cap and predicted huge unit rates for 2023.

18539KWh at October rate of 15p will cost you £2880 or £240 per month. If the fix was really £350 you are lucky you did not take it. 

As @brewerdave said your usage at your former home is not related to the usage in your new flat, but they still have to at least to take into account if you believe it will be lower. Have you just tried to speak to a different agent? I sometimes makes a hell of a difference.

maisie_cat

QrizB said:

Can you pay BG by exact monthly DD? You'll need to supply monthly meter readings (unless you have a smart meter that's smart) but BGs estimate will no longer come into the equation.

You'll have to be prepared for high bills in the winter months.

Do this and once you have the website account setup put readings in every day or few days until the algorithm gets it. If this is a new property for you your usage will probably differ from you previous home. Once you have a sense of annual usage you could go back to a fixed 1/12th direct debit

pochase

QrizB said:

Can you pay BG by exact monthly DD? You'll need to supply monthly meter readings (unless you have a smart meter that's smart) but BGs estimate will no longer come into the equation.

You'll have to be prepared for high bills in the winter months.

Are we sure BG still offers variable direct debit on their new system?

I remember a user last month who tried desperately to get onto variable direct debit, but was told it is no longer available on their new system. Even so their web site still lists is as a valid payment form.

PennineAcute

Move over to monthly variable DD with BG.  They still offer it, as I moved over a couple of weeks ago.

pochase

I am aware that many are on variable direct debit with BG.

Here is the post I was referring to

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79399089/#Comment_79399089

The user is on the new system they say, and on the new system there is only fixed direct debit. I would have contacted a different agent or raised a complaint, as the web site still states variable direct debit is an option.

wrf12345

I am fairly sure when I fixed with BG in March that the deal was only for "fixed" DD which was calculated from the figures I supplied for the switch (I changed the figures until the DD was reasonable). However, two months later I came back to them and showed from the meter readings, the gas turned off, and electric consumption less than half, that the fixed DD should be changed to reflect this. Over chat they came out with lots of reasons why I should not do this but eventually agreed and even offered to refund the credit on the account but I left that in case the usage increased. So even if the OP starts off with a high fixed DD, his meter readings for the first month or two should be enough to get the DD reduced and credit on the account refunded (but it will take 1-2 hours of waiting for chat and then the agent referring it to her manager). 

jj_43

I had the same issue. Move to octopus, it took 20 mins. For DD they use your actual consumption.

BG use averages for property types and ignore your consumption.