Help needed with high Shell Energy bills

Theconstantgardener1

Hi all, after far too long I've got around to trying to understand why our Shell Energy bill is so high and need some help and advice..

Details are:
Current tariff Shell Flexible 11 Direct Debit ebill.
Four bedroom house, mid century standard build with average insulation.
I would say our energy usage is low because we're currently renovating our house and removed most of the radiators and our gas oven last August (a year ago). So our gas usage is very little. Neither do we have an electric oven at the moment - we're simply using a microwave and single portable induction hob.
Shell have put our monthly payment up to £616 this month for no obvious reason. Prior to that it was £457, which still seemed extraordinarily high.

I'm looking through the bills and other data on our online Shell account, and would really appreciate some advice on how best to approach this.

la531983

Monthly amounts arent really helpful here, you need to tell us your usage. Post some info from your bills - meter reading etc. Copies of bills redacted be easier.

NorfolkCanary

Hello & welcome.

Rather than thinking in £££, you need to think in units used, so m3 or ft3 for gas and kWh for electric.
To assist further, we'd need a few more details....
Have you meter readings from (ideally) 12 months ago? for both?
Meter readings today?
Do you have Eco7?
Whereabouts in the UK are you located?

We can then work out roughly how much the previous 12 months has cost and whether the original £457 is in the right ballpark

MeteredOut

..and ensure you're clear on whether the bills are based on actual or estimated readings.

Gerry1

Make sure your bills aren't estimated (send monthly readings if you don't have working smart meters) and switch to Monthly Variable Direct Debit.

Of course, that means lower bills in summer and higher ones in winter, but at least you'll be in control.

Theconstantgardener1

Thank you all very much and I'll post the billing information when I'm home. We're in Somerset.

In the meantime does anyone have an opinion on the tariff we're on? - Shell Flexible 11 Direct Debit ebill

PeterGr

Shell Flexible 11 Direct Debit ebill is the name of the Standard Variable tariff that was introduced on 1st July, so the rates are those of the last announced price caps.   Direct Debit amounts are based on the annual energy consumption which suggests yours is high.

So what about Swimming pools, EV charging, immersion heaters or space heating used during your renovation?

RedImp_2

Crikey with a similar house and more appliances I’m about to go on the same tariff having been on a fix for 2 years, they put my dd up to £109 but I guess is going to rocket again.

markin

If you are living in it how have you heated it and the hot water for the last year?

 Just using electric to cook Vs the Gas oven/hob will have raised your bill, but if you then heated water, used electric showers and heated rooms with electric fans/oil heaters or panel heaters the electric will have rocketed.

And then the is using drills and saws for hr's a day.