Direct Debit Increase

majestic100

Appreciate if anyone can advise what I should do,....

Received notification from EDF energy that my Direct Debit will be increased from the 1st February by £130/month. This is over 100% on my current monthly payment!. I'm in credit on my bills but this is their estimation for my usage in next 6 months (?).  Are they trying it on?

I'm on a fixed tariff until May 2024 should I ask them to leave as current monthly payment ?

GingerTim

Welcome to the forum. 

What has your usage been, in kwh, during the last twelve months, and what are the unit prices on your tariff? With that information someone on the forum should be able to work out whether the increase is reasonable or not.

pochase

Welcome to the forum.

Without you giving us any information about your usage nobody will be able to help you. For example EDF only bills every 6 months, during this time all direct debits just are added as credit, and no energy use is deducted from it. So that you are in credit does not mean a lot without knowing when you got the last bill.

What is your annual usage and what are the unit rates for your fixed tariff?

majestic100

Many thanks for your replies:-

The KWh for last payment period (July - December) was as follows:-

Electricity :   6 month period from 7/22  - 12/12 total was 1124 KWh.  Rate 33.82p.  Standing charge 36.11p/day (173)
Total Charge for period  £440.01

Gas          :   6 month period from 7/22  - 12/12 total was 3452 KWh.  Rate 9.28 p. Standing Charge 25.92p/day (175)  Total Charge for period £365.70

Trust this helps analysis.   Is the EDF increase valid or do I contest it ?  Personally, my gut feeling is that more than doubling my monthly (fixed rate for two years) is well over the top  and not warranted.

Robin9

At present fates your Elec in 12 months will approach £1000: similarly for your gas come April this will total over £2500  ie £200 a month

pochase

Robin9 said:

At present fates your Elec in 12 months will approach £1000: similarly for your gas come April this will total over £2500  ie £200 a month

OP is on a fixed tariff, so no increase in April.

macman

6m usage helps, but you'd be better off looking at your annual usage, which will be on your last statement, or calculate  it from meter reads one year apart. 
You haven't said what your current DD is-only that they want an extra £130?

pochase

majestic100 said:

Many thanks for your replies:-

The KWh for last payment period (July - December) was as follows:-

Electricity :   6 month period from 7/22  - 12/12 total was 1124 KWh.  Rate 33.82p.  Standing charge 36.11p/day (173)
Total Charge for period  £440.01

Gas          :   6 month period from 7/22  - 12/12 total was 3452 KWh.  Rate 9.28 p. Standing Charge 25.92p/day (175)  Total Charge for period £365.70

Trust this helps analysis.   Is the EDF increase valid or do I contest it ?  Personally, my gut feeling is that more than doubling my monthly (fixed rate for two years) is well over the top  and not warranted.

You are not saying what your DD is, but if the additional £130 is more than 100% increase, I assume that you are paying about £120 at the moment, so £720 for July to December.

You have used £800 during the six months, so more than you paid in DD. Add to that that a large portion of the gas usage will be in the next six months and I can see why EDF wants to increase your DD.

Lets say double the gas and the same for electricity is about £730 + £440 = £1170. So that would be £1970 for 12 months, That is £165pm, now it depends if you are really in credit, or more likely were not paying enough. This will increase or decrease the £165. 

dunstonh

Received notification from EDF energy that my Direct Debit will be increased from the 1st February by £130/month. This is over 100% on my current monthly payment!.

The exclamation mark indicates you find this incredulous.   However, that doesn't mean it is.

 I'm in credit on my bills but this is their estimation for my usage in next 6 months (?).  Are they trying it on?

How much in credit?

Your lack of information makes it impossible for us to answer.

  6 month period from 7/22  - 12/12

That is insufficient to work out annual use.  July to December was very mild in 2022 (bar a two week period in December).  It misses the typically colder period of January to March where people use most of their energy.    2022 Winter was milder than normal so even a full 2022 of readings wouldnt be a safe bet but it would at least allow us to get closer to your actual use.

 Is the EDF increase valid or do I contest it ?

Until we know 12 months of readings, the credit balance and the monthly amount, we cannot answer that.   Tell us those and we can.

majestic100

Ronin9.  Thanks for reply. My charges equate to approximately £800 (806) for the 6 month period.  If EDF estimate that I will use twice as much gas for next 3 months (£732) and 1*1/2 as much electricity (£660) then for that 3 month period to April my total (9 month) spend would be £2198 or £244/month.  Not far of what they want to put it up to.(£247).

I don't believe that our usage would change by that much compared to last 3 months.   Can I challenge EDF on their estimate?  request that as I'm on a fixed rate they don't adjust the Direct Debit but leave it alone  or suggest another figure like £200.  This would equate to my gas bill increasing 1*1/2 times and electricity staying same for next 3 months ?

Appreciate views

Robin9

What is your present DD?

I think gas prediction is quite possible