Can I continue paying estimated bills for my electricity?

CMB3

GingerTim said:

Are you keeping track of your actual usage in kwh for peace of mind? If you post the figures here for the last twelve months, along with your tariff, someone here would be able to give you an idea of the monthly direct debit you would be paying.

The big thing to bear in mind could be the shock of a large bill if and when you move out and give your supplier a final meter reading.

Many thanks for your input and thanks to everyone else who replied - much appreciated. 

To answer your question, I have not kept track of my usage - the meter is not in my flat. The landlord provided a meter reading a year ago before I moved in and the reading was submitted to the electricity company. 

I do not have a job at this time and cannot possibly afford to pay any more than I do now. Therefore I don't think it would be a good idea to take the risk of opening up a can of worms and getting the meter read at this time.

I have a follow up question:

If the worst happened and the meter was read and the bill turned out to be higher than what I have been paying, would my financial situation be taken into consideration? I am in receipt of universal credit and receive a reduced council tax bill due to my current circumstances. Also, this month I applied for and was approved for a lower water bill moving forward. Given that 1) I have been paying the estimated electricity bills on time and 2) I have no real income, would I be given any kind of exemption if it was determined that my actual electricity usage has generated a larger bill?

Thanks again for your help.

Alnat1

If you give your energy company the readings, at least you will know if you do owe more or are paying enough. Energy companies do have funds to help people who are struggling to pay their bills but they can't help you if you won't engage with them. 

penners324

You need to read your own meters and send the supplier the readings, preferably monthly 

peter_the_piper

I suggest also that he takes photos of the readings, at least for his own records, and possibly the supplier if they query things.

Spoonie_Turtle

CMB3 said:

GingerTim said:

Are you keeping track of your actual usage in kwh for peace of mind? If you post the figures here for the last twelve months, along with your tariff, someone here would be able to give you an idea of the monthly direct debit you would be paying.

The big thing to bear in mind could be the shock of a large bill if and when you move out and give your supplier a final meter reading.

I do not have a job at this time and cannot possibly afford to pay any more than I do now. Therefore I don't think it would be a good idea to take the risk of opening up a can of worms and getting the meter read at this time.

The worms in the can will likely reproduce so there'll be more and more of them the longer you leave it, metaphorically speaking. 

Unless you know your financial situation will drastically improve in the near future, ignoring the energy situation will not help.  And your supplier cannot help you if you won't engage with them.

cymruchris

Where is the meter?

Gerry1

For future reference, never rely on a meter reading taken by an outgoing occupier, letting agent or landlord.

You could end up paying for previous usage by others or during a void period.

Scot_39

To answer your question, I have not kept track of my usage - the meter is not in my flat. The landlord provided a meter reading a year ago before I moved in and the reading was submitted to the electricity company. 

I am in receipt of universal credit and receive a reduced council tax bill due to my current circumstances. Also, this month I applied for and was approved for a lower water bill moving forward. Given that 1) I have been paying the estimated electricity bills on time and 2) I have no real income, would I be given any kind of exemption if it was determined that my actual electricity usage has generated a larger bill?

Thanks again for your help.

It is not uncommon for meters in blocks of flats to be situated in a common meter cabinet.  Which can cause all sorts of other problems and sadly did (not everyone is honest and meters are not always well labelled when they are - so mistakes can happen) - so those cabinets are now frequently locked.

Your financial situation would / should be taken into account.

PS - have you checked your eligibility as you say on UC - you may be on one of the benefits that will qualify you for the future additional - paid at 6 monthly installments - if not already receiving them  - the £650 in past months.

These come supposedly automatically from benefits office - but there are qualifying dates - so if only recently on UC / the right means tested benefits - you might not have received previous payments

This covers the old benefits CofL scheme £650 generally and other payments

https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-your-bills/

 

Old and new CofL more specifically - the benefits list for old just says "universal credit"

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment

There are an estimated 8m households due this money - if you are one of them make sure that includes you.

The £67 came from the govt via the suppliers - wasn't benefit or means tested - millionaires and paupers alike got that.

And you may even be entitled to either council or energy supplier hardship fund help on top.

As you say you have been paying what the supplier has asked for - your not technically even in any debt yet. 

And with more efficient / modern NSH panels - or if you are more frugal than average due to obvious bill anxiety / awareness of costs - they might even be overestimating (in the suppliers interests to err in their favour when relying on estimates)

Others might be able to give you a clue to levels of any debt recovery payments you might end up on - the general blurb just says the plan has to be "affordable".

I hate to say - but the energy supplier - will probably look on your case more favorably if address now voluntarily.

And any accumulating debt - and I repeat - if any - is only likely to increase over time.

Its probably quite stressful worrying what might be - it may well be better just to know either way - and then deal with it.

CMB3

Scot_39 said:

To answer your question, I have not kept track of my usage - the meter is not in my flat. The landlord provided a meter reading a year ago before I moved in and the reading was submitted to the electricity company. 

I am in receipt of universal credit and receive a reduced council tax bill due to my current circumstances. Also, this month I applied for and was approved for a lower water bill moving forward. Given that 1) I have been paying the estimated electricity bills on time and 2) I have no real income, would I be given any kind of exemption if it was determined that my actual electricity usage has generated a larger bill?

Thanks again for your help.

It is not uncommon for meters in blocks of flats to be situated in a common meter cabinet.  Which can cause all sorts of other problems and sadly did (not everyone is honest and meters are not always well labelled when they are - so mistakes can happen) - so those cabinets are now frequently locked.

Your financial situation would / should be taken into account.

PS - have you checked your eligibility as you say on UC - you may be on one of the benefits that will qualify you for the future additional - paid at 6 monthly installments - if not already receiving them  - the £650 in past months.

These come supposedly automatically from benefits office - but there are qualifying dates - so if only recently on UC / the right means tested benefits - you might not have received previous payments

This covers the old benefits CofL scheme £650 generally and other payments

https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-your-bills/

 

Old and new CofL more specifically - the benefits list for old just says "universal credit"

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment

There are an estimated 8m households due this money - if you are one of them make sure that includes you.

The £67 came from the govt via the suppliers - wasn't benefit or means tested - millionaires and paupers alike got that.

And you may even be entitled to either council or energy supplier hardship fund help on top.

As you say you have been paying what the supplier has asked for - your not technically even in any debt yet. 

And with more efficient / modern NSH panels - or if you are more frugal than average due to obvious bill anxiety / awareness of costs - they might even be overestimating (in the suppliers interests to err in their favour when relying on estimates)

Others might be able to give you a clue to levels of any debt recovery payments you might end up on - the general blurb just says the plan has to be "affordable".

I hate to say - but the energy supplier - will probably look on your case more favorably if address now voluntarily.

And any accumulating debt - and I repeat - if any - is only likely to increase over time.

Its probably quite stressful worrying what might be - it may well be better just to know either way - and then deal with it.

Thanks so much for this information. Yes, I did receive the £650 cost of living payment in 2 installments last year. I believe there is another payment that will be made some time in the Spring. 

Scot_39

CMB3 said:

Scot_39 said:

 

Old and new CofL more specifically - the benefits list for old just says "universal credit"

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment

Thanks so much for this information. Yes, I did receive the £650 cost of living payment in 2 installments last year. I believe there is another payment that will be made some time in the Spring. 

This spring, this autumn and next spring in fact on current plans - so £900 total - think on same basis as those who got the the £650 (but not studied in detail - as do not qualify - so have a look) - from the second link as retained above

• £301 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during spring 2023
• £300 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during autumn 2023
• £299 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid in spring 2024