EDF electric and gas direct debit - how do they work it out?

soontobe55

I'm with EDF and today received our 6 monthly 'energy review' setting out our direct debit. We are on the standard variable rate and have had a smart meter for a couple of years so know exactly how much energy we use. We are about £20 in credit to EDF.

Prior to receiving it, I had worked out, to the penny, what we might expect it to rise to, using the October tariff. I worked out 2 options, one based on our lowest level of energy usage over the past 2 years, and another on the highest. I also put both into the MSE calculator and got very similar results. So I was very surprised to find that what EDF have set as our DD for the next 6 months is over 50% higher than both my and the MSE calculations.

What I want to know (before I call them as they won't let me reduce the DD that much online) is what figures they might have based this on? Could they have worked it out on the increased tariff that was announced before the government intervention? Or are they simply pushing their luck that I won't notice I am being overcharged and pay it?

Has anyone got experience of convincing EDF to reduce their DDs? I really cannot afford to be paying for an amount of energy that we don't use.  

retiringtoosoon

At least you've managed to get a bill / energy review from them. I've asked for an updated bill from them a couple of times to no avail - they dont seem to be able to provide an up-to-date statement on request (my last bill was over 7 months ago when I was moved from Zog energy to them as a SOLR).

[Deleted User]

£20 in credit is very low going into winter.

Yes, it might have been based on the pre-Liz tariffs.  It might also be because you're not in as much credit as their curve suggests you should be at this point so they're trying to get you to catch up.

Do your calculations suggest that you will be in debt at the time of the next review?

Brie

You could ask them to put you on a variable DD so you only pay for what you are actually using.  Obviously that will mean higher bills in the winter than in the summer (unless you plan on having the air con on full blast!).

They should have shown the amount of energy they assume you will be using over the next year - does that look anything like what you have in either of your calculations?  If not you should give them a call.

soontobe55

retiringtoosoon said:

At least you've managed to get a bill / energy review from them. I've asked for an updated bill from them a couple of times to no avail - they dont seem to be able to provide an up-to-date statement on request (my last bill was over 7 months ago when I was moved from Zog energy to them as a SOLR).

Oh that's not good. Do you have an online account where it might be?

I have to say that until today I have always been pretty pleased with them - they've done things on time and fairly.

soontobe55

[Deleted User] said:

£20 in credit is very low going into winter.

Yes, it might have been based on the pre-Liz tariffs.  It might also be because you're not in as much credit as their curve suggests you should be at this point so they're trying to get you to catch up.

Do your calculations suggest that you will be in debt at the time of the next review?

Should I be in credit? I've never been before. I just always work on the assumption that as long as I pay the right amount over the year, that's OK.

soontobe55

Brie said:

You could ask them to put you on a variable DD so you only pay for what you are actually using.  Obviously that will mean higher bills in the winter than in the summer (unless you plan on having the air con on full blast!).

They should have shown the amount of energy they assume you will be using over the next year - does that look anything like what you have in either of your calculations?  If not you should give them a call.

No air con here! No, I cannot find what figures they have based it on - it's all just of the 'we think you will need to spend x' type language. I will have to call them and ask.

MattMattMattUK

soontobe55 said:

[Deleted User] said:

£20 in credit is very low going into winter.

Yes, it might have been based on the pre-Liz tariffs.  It might also be because you're not in as much credit as their curve suggests you should be at this point so they're trying to get you to catch up.

Do your calculations suggest that you will be in debt at the time of the next review?

Should I be in credit? I've never been before. I just always work on the assumption that as long as I pay the right amount over the year, that's OK.

Paying the "right amount over the year" is normally done by building up a credit in summer and running that down in the winter. 

jj_43

Variable monthly direct debit 

Robin9

retiringtoosoon said:

At least you've managed to get a bill / energy review from them. I've asked for an updated bill from them a couple of times to no avail - they dont seem to be able to provide an up-to-date statement on request (my last bill was over 7 months ago when I was moved from Zog energy to them as a SOLR).

Have you tried Chat ?   The operator said it would generate a DD review but that didn't bother me.

Quite why they can't do an online one I don't know

poppellerant

It's wrong time of year to not be in credit by a month's worth of your annual consumption.  I think it's the beginning of summer that your usage allows you to start building your winter's credit.  So if you use £1,200 a year, your direct debit should be £100/pcm.

I think it was good of EDF to look out for you, by not allowing you to fall into debt.