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Churchy58

Hi all I can't make sense of an email from my energy supplier OVO 

I currently pay £80 per month for both my electricity and gas. I usually end up having overpaid.

The email states OVO needs to put my direct debit up from £80 to £189 per month! That's over 100 pet cent more bearing in mind as I say I usually overpay when only paying £80 per month.

I am aware of huge increases in energy bills but surely not over 100 percent.

There are just 2 over 60s in our house I don't use a tumble dryer I don't own a dishwasher so I'm not sure why they want to increase my direct debit by an extortionate amount. 

Neil_Jones

Your direct debit is not your bill.

Are you submitting regular meter readings?

Are recent bills based on actual meter readings or estimated ones?

If they're estimated and they've been estimated for a long while, then that may explain why the debit amount has shot through the roof.

BUFF

Are you on a fixed or variable tariff (SVT)? I guess so as the increase actually isn't large enough for somebody coming off an older fix. 
 If it is fixed, when is it due to come to an end.

Unfortunately, with the market as it is we are expecting an increase to the SVT of ~80% in October (& possibly more in January & April 2023). OVO are probably trying to get ahead of those rises in the lower usage months to smooth the jump when the higher usage during winter comes.

Robin9

When did last have a bill from OVO with Actual rather than Estimated Readings on it ?

What were those readings and what are they today ?

pochase

It sounds as if your direct debit was not increased after the April increase, in which case, the energy cost has not more than doubled, it will have almost trebled from the 31st of March to the 1st of October.

What was your usage for the last 12 months?

Churchy58

My readings are done by smart meter for electricity and I always submit a reading for the gas so no estimated bills. 

Churchy58

Neil_Jones said:

Your direct debit is not your bill.

Are you submitting regular meter readings?

Are recent bills based on actual meter readings or estimated ones?

If they're estimated and they've been estimated for a long while, then that may explain why the debit amount has shot through the roof.

No estimated bills. Smart meter and and for the gas I submit reading every month. 

BUFF

yes, but what tariff are you on - a fix or SVT?

pochase

So what is you usage? Than we can tell you what the cost will be.

FreeBear

Currently on a fixed here and paying ~£68 per month. Come October, that will be going up to ~£175 (ouch). Your increase doesn't sound particularly out of line in comparison to mine.

On the plus side, there will be a £66 per month rebate for the next six months on top of a £200 credit I've built up over the summer.

What is your current (estimated) annual usage for gas & electricity - The figures should be on your monthly bill somewhere.

Churchy58

I have spoken to them today and it is all to do with the future increases.It is based on what they assume I will be using for the next year at the increased energy prices. 

I did manage to get it down by £30 per month.

I have turned off 2 of our 5 radiators. I will only turn the heating on for an hour or so a day and only in the evening.

I have a gas hob with electric oven. I will be using my slow cooker and air fryer much more than my oven as both are significantly cheaper than the cost of running an electric oven.

Oh well when I brought my kids up in the 70s and 80s ourselves like many others at the time had no double glazing and no central heating and we all survived. So I guess its gone full circle.