Sainsburys Energy (EON Next) Energy useage disaggreement

SPE57

We have been with Sainsburys Energy for dual fuel for exactly a year now. During that time I have submitted meter readings on a monthly basis without fail. Submitted my latest readings on 30/9/22 and got the statement for September the next day. I was then able to work out exactly how much gas and electricity we have used over the last 12 months so I now know our annual useage.

Received my quote from Sainsbury's Energy last Friday for the next 12 months at the new price capped rates. Their estimate of our annual useage is higher than our actual useagae so I rang them today to request that they base their quote on our actual useage over the last 12 months. Had a rather unhelpful conversation with a member of their team who refused to accept my request and repeatedly claimed their quote was based on our useage over the last 12 months. They claimed their quote was based on an "industry standard" for calculating useage and it is reviewed every 4 months. I pointed out that I have figures from their monthly statements that show how much gas and electricity we have used month on month and I had added these togther to arrive at our annual consumption. I was also told that the caculation for gas consumption varies on a monthly basis which I find hard to believe! In any case I had used their calculations & figures to work out our gas consumption. Despite my best efforts I was unsuccessful in convincing Sainsbury's Energy to review our quote for the coming year.

Their estimate for our electricity useage wasn't far out - about 40 kwh's higher, but their estimate for our gas consumption is about 1100 kwh's more than our actual usage which would make some difference to our monthly payments.

Given I am getting nowhere with my energy company on this matter how do I escalate this matter - was thinking the Ombudsman? Also is switching providers still an option or has the current energy crisis made this unvaible?

Thanks in anticipation of any advice!

chris_n

Last winter was exceptionally mild, their model will have a standard winter. They are obliged to set your payments so you don't get into debt.

TheMilkmansDad

part of the increase in Gas would be the fact that last winter was mild, the estimate would have taken in to account that and the fact that this year is expected to be much cooler so more Gas will be required (assuming you are GSH).

Brie

Eon agreed with me completely when i pointed out how wrong their calculations were and so they left our DD alone (initially - long story, posted elsewhere).  They did admit that they used the wrong figures for the calculation and "to keep us safe" added an extra 2 months worth.  So completely out of whack!!!

What was helpful though was that they admitted they could change the DD to one based on actual use.  This means it would change every month but one would be paying in arrears for what was actually used the previous month rather than some imaginary average number.  If you are ok with this then it may be worth trying.

gt94sss2

If you know your usage you can work out your own 'quote' figures - you don't need Eon to calculate them for you.

You can also amend your monthly payments online if you think they are too high/low.

pochase

We are talking here a difference of £11 per month (1100 x 10.3p = £113.3 + £14 electricity) .
As mentioned above you base your 1100KWh lower usage on a very mild winter.

A difference of £130 in the debit order for a year is nothing the Ombudsman will even look at. How much is the monthly direct debit they want from you?

[Deleted User]

Last Year and Next Year are not the same thing.  Why is your assumption that you will use exactly the same amount any more valid that their assumption that you will use a little more?

daveyjp

How much of a percentage of your use is 1100 kWh of gas?

For me its about 12%.  1100 kWh is only about 100 units.  Over 4 months of winter it is less than 1 unit a day so easily used if the winter isn't as mild as last year.