Confusion over bills with PAYG smart meter

rg1987

Hi there,

I am massively confused by my energy bills and wondered if anybody with better knowledge than me might be able to help?

I bought my flat in November 2020 and when I moved in, the previous leaseholder had a prepayment meter fitted as I am guessing they were in debt (just for electric, we have no gas in this building) on Bulb. At this time it was costing me about £80 a month so I didn't think about changing at first, but due to the cost of living crisis it's now sky-rocketed to about £180 per month on pay as you go and this is with me barely switching the heating on and being very careful with turning all appliances off at the wall, etc.

As I have no reason to be on a prepayment meter (I am not in debt or anything like that), and it was driving me up the wall having to top it up at the shop, I recently got the prepayment meter swapped out for a smart meter, which Bulb fitted a couple of months ago for free, on their PAYG tarriff. Of course this hasn't made my bills any cheaper at all and I am now wondering what I should do as I am still on PAYG paying £180 a month for my the electric.

I called up Bulb to ask if I can go onto a direct debit today but I am left really confused as to whether this would make it any cheaper or is it going to be around the same price? They're really not very good at explaining on the phone. They gave me the following quotes for rates: 

PAYG: 36.01 kw/hour, standing charge 33.16p a day. 

Direct debit: 35.01 kw/hour, standing charge 36.27p a day. 

Does anybody have any knowledge over if I might be paying less once it swaps to direct debit or if it's worth going to a different energy company? From all I've read, I didn't think there were really any better deals out there but I don't know if there might be better deals out there for direct debit vs PAYG? 

I spoke with a neighbour who is on a direct debit in my block and she is paying £130 a month for a two bed flat so it seems I am getting fleeced on PAYG but I am really confused as it's all I've ever known in this flat and I've never had to take meter readings before, due to being on the prepay meter/PAYG. 

I know Octopus are taking Bulb over soon, not sure of that makes a difference. 

Thank you - not sure if this even makes much sense but any advice would be appreciated. 

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

You need to establish your annual usage in kWh (from actual meter readings 12 months apart, not estimates) and then do the sums.

Obviously more difficult if you haven't kept records, but a Subject Access Request might be worth trying.

rg1987

Thanks. So I should do this once I swap over to direct debit? Does that mean I'm basically stuck on whatever amount they decide to put me on for 12 months? 

As I had a PAYG meter I've never had to do a meter reading so I don't know about these in the past. 

Gerry1

Looks like PAYG may be slightly more expensive.  It costs an extra 1p per kWh so if you use 4200kWh annually that's £42 more.

DD costs an extra 3.11p/day (£11.35 per year).

rg1987

Not much in it, by the sounds of it. Thank you!

rg1987

I'll look into the Subject Access Request, too. Thanks!

superbigal

You are paying virtually the same as everyone in the UK for unit costs.  The current CAP.   Not much difference in either options you have. Not much point going anywhere else.  Said Cap is set to rise by 20% in April.
Shopping around may become a "thing again" later in the year.

Mstty

One of the first things to do when living in a flat is to switch everything off (at the fuse board of possible) go to what you think your meter is and make sure it is not totting up usage. Make sure it is your meter.

I am sure Gerry can post the link to the meter sanity test.

Gerry1

Make sure your smart meter readings appear on the bill (shown as Actual or Smart, but never Estimated), and keep your independent records.

Also download your online bills and keep them electronically.  Then if anything ever goes wrong you can go back and sort things out.  Knowing your actual consumption will also make comparisons easier if and when competition returns.

Knowledge is Power !

Gerry1

Mstty said:

One of the first things to do when living in a flat is to switch everything off (at the fuse board of possible) go to what you think your meter is and make sure it is not totting up usage. Make sure it is your meter.

I am sure Gerry can post the link to the meter sanity test.

Your wish is my command !

Meter Sanity Test

rg1987

Thanks for all the help. I wish I'd not been on the prepay meter when I moved in, or that I'd sorted this out quicker/got myself on a better fixed deal but I guess hindsight is a luxury and I was a naive first time buyer!