Gas consumption?

Kenzmith

We received our gas and electrcity account for November and were shocked at the gas bill, it has risen by about 30% over ast year, same time. This period last year we would come down and turn the central heating on to 22 deg., for the day, this year 18 deg., and an extra cardigan so we can't understand the increase. When contacting our supplier, Octopus, the reply we got was we haven't had a gas reading since July 2021, the reason for this is the "smart" meter doesn't work, the third one that hasn't worked! This leads me to believe that all our bills since July 21 have been estimated and to the conclusion that, on the positive side they could owe us money but on the negative side we could owe them money which in the current state of things is frightening. Suggestions would be most welcome. Cheers, Kenzmith.

Robin9

Kenzmith said:

We received our gas and electrcity account for November and were shocked at the gas bill, it has risen by about 30% over ast year, same time. This period last year we would come down and turn the central heating on to 22 deg., for the day, this year 18 deg., and an extra cardigan so we can't understand the increase. When contacting our supplier, Octopus, the reply we got was we haven't had a gas reading since July 2021, the reason for this is the "smart" meter doesn't work, the third one that hasn't worked! This leads me to believe that all our bills since July 21 have been estimated and to the conclusion that, on the positive side they could owe us money but on the negative side we could owe them money which in the current state of things is frightening. Suggestions would be most welcome. Cheers, Kenzmith.

Can you read the meter today and compare it with the last bill with a Smart reading on it.  Then do some sums and then you will know who owes who what

Or simply read the meter and give Octopus the reading and let them do the calculations.

[Deleted User]

We received our gas and electrcity account for November and were shocked at the gas bill, it has risen by about 30% over ast year, same time.

Usage; cost or both?

If you purchased a basket of energy for £100 in September 2021, it would cost you more than twice that amount now. Prices have risen: particularly, the unit price for gas.

EssexHebridean

Easy way of finding out if the last year+ bills have been estimated - take a look at them, octopus show really clearly how the readings have been arrived at. From now you need to work on the basis that your smart meter isn't going to work to send reading - so set yourself a reminder for the last few days of the month every month to take the readings and send them in. For now - as said above, read both meters and give the readings to Octopus - you'll get bills raised almost immediately so you'll know here you stand. Better to know how things are than to sit and worry about how they might be!

I suspect you're fortunate that costs have only increased 30% as the actual household costs for energy have best part of doubled since this time last year. You do need to get yourself an accurate and informed picture of where you're at though so you know where you stand on costs going forwards. 

macman

If my November bill compared to 10/21 had only risen by 30%, for the same consumption, I would be delighted.

GiantTCR

My overall bill (gas + electricity) for November 2022 was double what I paid in November 2021, despite having consumed a little bit less.

Kenzmith

Thank you for the suggestions, I'll get the key out tomorrow and read the meter. While we've been discussing this our daughter told us that while we were away on holiday someone called and told her that the gas meter was an old one and should be replaced?? I shall have a look at the serial number tomorrow and inform my supplier.

macman

You said it was a smart meter, so not that old? If you have changed supplier since it was installed, and it was an old SMETS1 type, then it may not have worked since the switch.
NB: it states on your bill whether the reads are customer, agent, estimated or smart, so you should have had a warning since July 2021 if they were being estimated.
If your usage is the same, but the bill has only gone up 30%, then it is almost certainly a big under-estimate, since prices have risen more like 70%.

Robin9

Kenzmith said:

We received our gas and electrcity account for November and were shocked at the gas bill, it has risen by about 30% over ast year, same time. This period last year we would come down and turn the central heating on to 22 deg., for the day, this year 18 deg., and an extra cardigan so we can't understand the increase. When contacting our supplier, Octopus, the reply we got was we haven't had a gas reading since July 2021, the reason for this is the "smart" meter doesn't work, the third one that hasn't worked! This leads me to believe that all our bills since July 21 have been estimated and to the conclusion that, on the positive side they could owe us money but on the negative side we could owe them money which in the current state of things is frightening. Suggestions would be most welcome. Cheers, Kenzmith.

Can you read the meter today 

The_Fat_Controller

Gas prices have risen considerably on the SV tariff in that period.

If you have come off a fix, then like me, your gas unit cost could have actually tripled.

You need to look at your bills, see if estimates have been used and the actual unit rates over the period.

scobie

What a weird thread.  Are people really not aware that energy prices have exploded this year? If my bills were only 30 per cent higher than last year I’d be out celebrating.