I feel like Brit Gas are fiddling my energy account. Raising DD way above usage, etc. Any advice? 8 February at 12:29AM edited 8 February at 12:34AM in Energy 38 replies 1.6K views

molerat

The ONLY readings that should be used are the actual cu m readings from the meter.  The kWh and £ figures on the meter and IHD are not accurate, they are an estimate using a fixed calorific value, something that changes from day to day.  You also need to check if the figures used on the bills are actual smart reads or estimates, just because you have a smart meter and the app shows consumptions does not mean you are being billed to a smart read.  Don't believe all the guff you see on the TV ads.

danieljm

molerat said:

The ONLY readings that should be used are the actual cu m readings from the meter.  The kWh and £ figures on the meter and IHD are not accurate, they are an estimate using a fixed calorific value, something that changes from day to day.  You also need to check if the figures used on the bills are actual smart reads or estimates, just because you have a smart meter and the app shows consumptions does not mean you are being billed to a smart read.  Don't believe all the guff you see on the TV ads.

Ok, bottom line I don't have a reading from 21/02/22 as we didn't properly move in until the 23rd, but do have one from 25/02/22 when I submitted everything to them, so I may just have to go with that to calculate it via this method.

Unless British Gas happen to have a reading from the 21st... Officially this is the date I was on their accounts as it is when I got the keys and the tenancy started.

TheMilkmansDad

Unless British Gas happen to have a reading from the 21st... Officially this is the date I was on their accounts as it is when I got the keys and the tenancy started.

They would have used the closing reads submitted by the previous occupier if you were unable to provide one. Do you have your first bill? What does that show as opening meter read? They may have used your figure if it is in the same ball park.

Not read the full thread so apologies in advance - but are all you bill using actual meter reads since? Or just estimates?

Astria

brewerdave said:

As an observation ,I currently have the opposite problem with BG for my electricity only account.
Their predicted annual usage on the last bill, is far higher than I'm actually using BUT their DD "algorithm" is coming up with a much, much lower figure for monthly DD.
 I am actually paying more, an amount which will just about cover me until my fix ends in May (and then I will have to increase) but BG keep wanting me to lower the amount as they predict that I will be in credit by £150+ by account review in December !!
Their systems really are useless !!

Pay the amount they are requesting and put the rest into a savings account, when they request a DD increase you already have the money for it.

Personally I prefer them to just bill on usage and I put money into a billing savings account each month.

danieljm

TheMilkmansDad said:

They would have used the closing reads submitted by the previous occupier if you were unable to provide one. Do you have your first bill? What does that show as opening meter read? They may have used your figure if it is in the same ball park.

Not read the full thread so apologies in advance - but are all you bill using actual meter reads since? Or just estimates?

So far I've worked out my usage in terms of quoted kwh.

Just tracked down my first bill with a reading of 2860m³, so come 20/02/23 I will take another reading at 23:59 and also calculate my usage as volume used - which presumably I will then have to convert to KWh? 

I understand it is: m³ x 40 x 1.02264 ÷ 3.6 when I do this?

Robin9

I understand it is: m³ x 40 x 1.02264 ÷ 3.6 when I do this?

danieljm said:

You don't do it

All the system wants is the meter reading in m3

danieljm

Robin9 said:

I understand it is: m³ x 40 x 1.02264 ÷ 3.6 when I do this?

danieljm said:

You don't do it

All the system wants is the meter reading in m3

My point is I am averaging less than £50 gas per month and they are trying to bump up my DD me £230!

I want to calculate the numbers down to the penny so I take take it to them and tell them to stuff it...

I don't care what the system wants because the system doesn't work and grossly overcompensates.

jimjames

danieljm said:

elsien said:

You can’t work it out on the amount you are paying. You need to go on your meter readings and the number of KWh. 

Are you taking and submitting regular meter readings? Is your bill based on a reading or an estimate? 

both in terms of KWh and £ used, so surely it should be fairly obvious whether I am paying too much/too little by looking at the energy I used in £ terms, the amount I pay every month and comparing these? It's clear that putting the DD up to £230 was grossly in excess of our average usage.

I'm thinking I may be best to move to a variable direct debit.

The equivalent of looking at the price in £ rather than kWh is saying you only ever put £20 of fuel in your car so the price hasn't gone up. When the prices have increased so much over the last 12 months you can't compare like for like £ amounts. Our gas is £350 this month and was £15 in the summer. I'm happy to pay with that variability but a lot of people aren't able to budget for such a wide difference by season.

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

danieljm said:

I want to calculate the numbers down to the penny so I take take it to them and tell them to stuff it...

if that's your intention, why not just switch now?

danieljm

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

danieljm said:

I want to calculate the numbers down to the penny so I take take it to them and tell them to stuff it...

if that's your intention, why not just switch now?

Yes part of me is thinking of simply switching onto a variable DD. A fixed DD is just easier as I'm sharing and I can simply tell my housemate their share is X amount every month.