Switched off the gas in May

eddyinfreehold

My wife and I are debating who is correct. We use gas for central heating and hot water using a tank that can also be heated with an immersion element electrically. on the 1st of May we switched off the gas boiler and have used no gas since. All cooking is electric. We don't use that much hot water at home .... the dishwasher heats its own twice a week and the washing machine similarly. We shower at work or put the immersion heater on for an hour if need be occasionally, maybe 30 mins every 4 days. Our gas supplier British Gas adjust our direct debit based upon estimates of previous consumption and are pretty accurate most of the time as we have lived in the same house for 25 years with similar needs. Their estimates are under in winter and over in summer but balance out so we are rarely more than £100 adrift plus or minus ever. We will be way apart from their estimates and well in credit now, having used no gas since May.

The question is :  ...will British Gas estimate our usage between 1.5.2022 and 30.9.2022 and then calculate how much we might have used at both rates after it rises on 1.10.2022 based on past history, or will they allocate 100% to the higher rate when the next actual reading is taken if we don't send one in at the 30th Sept cut off, a reading that is identical to the 1st May number. I maintain we would be better off not sending a reading in if we have used no gas up to the price change. My wife maintains they will charge everything at the higher rate from the last formal meter reading and we should send one in on the 30th Sept.

[Deleted User]

They will probably share the amount used between the two meter readings across the entire time - based on a generic seasonal curve and what they know about your usage.

I think it would be unlikely for them to assume nothing for several months and then everything in one month unless you make it clear that this is what you have used.

Brie

All estimates for future use should, quite rightly, be at future not past rates.  

I suggest you take a photo of your meter readings (both) and then ensure you either ring or input them online or have them ready to provide if the lines are all jammed (likely).  Try to have the photos date and time stamped.  

If you don't have a smart meter BG are likely to assume you have used a random amount of gas each month and you may need to prove that the meter hasn't moved much or not at all.  

Brie

Just re read your post....why would you want to pay the new higher rates for energy used when lower rates were in place?  Don't wait for them to do readings, smart or otherwise.  Ensure you have done your own on the day (or if needed, the day before) the rates change.

busybee100

It will not all be at the new price but there is no guarantee they will over estimate as in previous years. Think I would risk it though. 

Exiled_Tyke

This amounts to trying to defraud British Gas by trying to get them to  come up with an inaccurate estimate up to the end of Sept.   Why can't you just accept the prices (which we are all now suffering) and continue to put your efforts into managing your usage - which I have to say from your comments above you seem to be very skilled at. 

macman

Slightly off-topic, but It's quite absurd to heat your hot water with the immersion heater when you have a gas boiler. The cost per kWh is about 350% higher, with gas at 10.3p and electricity at 34p from 1/10..
The boiler is less efficient than the immersion heater (maybe 80% vs 100%), but that doesn't begin to cancel out the much higher unit cost of electricity. Allowing for that, it's still around 300% more expensive.

Ultrasonic

macman said:

Slightly off-topic, but It's quite absurd to heat your hot water with the immersion heater when you have a gas boiler. The cost per kWh is about 350% higher, with gas at 10.3p and electricity at 34p from 1/10..
The boiler is less efficient than the immersion heater (maybe 80% vs 100%), but that doesn't begin to cancel out the much higher unit cost of electricity. Allowing for that, it's still around 300% more expensive.

I was about to make a similar point, although for accuracy I'll mention it's actually 230% higher rather than 350% higher using your quoted unit prices.

eddyinfreehold

Thanks all for your comments

wild666

While I agree with turning off the heating the boiler should be left on to heat the water. What could be done is to lower the temperatures on the boiler to 50 degrees for water and 55 degrees for heating and lowering the thermostat temperature to 18 degrees. 

eddyinfreehold

About exactly what i was thinking wild666. A few nuances however. It is not good to have such infrastructure unused. This will cause expensive maintenance problems with clogged pipes, perished or dried up O rings etc so we have to keep it running. The boiler has been lowered to 40C for hot water and 40C for C/H. Believe it or not our house thermostat is set at 15 degrees for all but a few weeks of midwinter. It is not a warm house.