EDF, Hooray!

GibbsRule_No3.

At last EDF have agreed to take more money.  I have been paying £110 and even though I am only £170 in credit during the Summer months, they told me they wanted to take just £59 going forward. I tried twice before to change it to a higher amount but they refused, saying I would be paying too much, so what?  I’d rather pay now than have it yo-yo next February. My newly installed Smart Meter tells me I use £54 a month so £5 would not pay my heating, all electric house. Still not sure £75 will be enough but at least it should not jump astronomically next February. I like to budget monthly so I know what comes in and goes out, I don’t want that budget to take a hit of finding and extra £40-£50 going forward. If it is really in credit in July 2024 then give me a refund. I’ll treat it as I do my OAP fuel money as a treat.

la531983

You could have just paid more yourself as a manual payment if you wanted, you know.

GibbsRule_No3.

la531983 said:

You could have just paid more yourself as a manual payment if you wanted, you know.

I know but if they can just take the money as directed, it saves me doing it monthly.

Slinky

la531983 said:

You could have just paid more yourself as a manual payment if you wanted, you know.

But if you've got a cashback account with Santander, you want it to go out on DD.

la531983

Slinky said:

la531983 said:

You could have just paid more yourself as a manual payment if you wanted, you know.

But if you've got a cashback account with Santander, you want it to go out on DD.

Suppose it depends. I have a cashback account with Chase and I pay Octopus a fiver on DD and pay the rest on a card to get the cashback, they seem fine with this arrangement so far.

QrizB

@GibbsRule_No3. not quite on-topic for this thread but didn't you have solar panels fitted a year or two ago? How are you getting on with them?

Slinky

la531983 said:

Slinky said:

la531983 said:

You could have just paid more yourself as a manual payment if you wanted, you know.

But if you've got a cashback account with Santander, you want it to go out on DD.

Suppose it depends. I have a cashback account with Chase and I pay Octopus a fiver on DD and pay the rest on a card to get the cashback, they seem fine with this arrangement so far.

With Santander 1-2-3 you would get 2% cashback on electricity and gas on DD, but there's £4 a month charge. Different banks, different options.

GibbsRule_No3.

QrizB said:

@GibbsRule_No3. not quite on-topic for this thread but didn't you have solar panels fitted a year or two ago? How are you getting on with them?

I really don’t actually know what they are doing. There are only 6 panels, the meter is certainly going up in numbers but what benefit I have gained I don’t have a clue. I have not studied the amount used between the two years, guessing that would be a way of finding out, or would it?  I don’t think it was a cold winter last year, I did not use my larger NSH much, it is in the same room as a smaller one that was ample to warm the bungalow by having it on. I do think the new roof and new insulation made the most difference. With the energy price rises I would not notice a money saving. Not much help to you I’m afraid. 

MikeJXE

GibbsRule_No3. said:

At last EDF have agreed to take more money.  I have been paying £110 and even though I am only £170 in credit during the Summer months, they told me they wanted to take just £59 going forward. I tried twice before to change it to a higher amount but they refused, saying I would be paying too much, so what?  I’d rather pay now than have it yo-yo next February. My newly installed Smart Meter tells me I use £54 a month so £5 would not pay my heating, all electric house. Still not sure £75 will be enough but at least it should not jump astronomically next February. I like to budget monthly so I know what comes in and goes out, I don’t want that budget to take a hit of finding and extra £40-£50 going forward. If it is really in credit in July 2024 then give me a refund. I’ll treat it as I do my OAP fuel money as a treat.

I agree, paying too much so what. I'm doing the same with Octopus. £300 in credit, paying £100 a month when their forecast says £57. I intend being ready for a hard winter and can use as much gas as to keep me warm

If I am still in a large credit by May I will ask for a refund. 

I am a low user and don't expect my rates to be any lower so I won't be disappointed 

QrizB

GibbsRule_No3. said:

QrizB said:

@GibbsRule_No3. not quite on-topic for this thread but didn't you have solar panels fitted a year or two ago? How are you getting on with them?

I really don’t actually know what they are doing. There are only 6 panels, the meter is certainly going up in numbers but what benefit I have gained I don’t have a clue. I have not studied the amount used between the two years, guessing that would be a way of finding out, or would it?

That would definiely help!

The solar panel installer will have fitted a generation meter. This will tell you how much electricity the panels have produced since they were installed.

Your smart meter will have an export register. You'll have to press some buttons on the meter itself (not on the in-home device) to find this. It will tell you how much electricity your panels have sent out to the grid.

The difference between the two readings will be how much electricity from the panels you have used yourself, which is how much they've saved you from having to buy.

Example (made-up numbers):

• Your generation meter says 2000 kWh
  
• Your export register says 1400 kWh
  
• You have used 2000 - 1400 = 600 kWh of your own electricity
• 600 kWh of electricity at 30p per kWh is worth £180, a useful saving.
  

GibbsRule_No3.

I think the saving would be my HA money, not mine. Not even sure if the HA are actually getting it either. Am I right that before the Smart Meter was installed in May, no export would have been capable anyway? I am pleased with the new roof and insulation. I have a question about Dimplex Quantum NSH as the HA want to instal these in the next month or two. Has anyone used them and if so how noisy is the fan?  I know that these would have a boost option, bit like the hot water immersion. My old NSH work in my bungalow, some of my neighbours say theirs do not but when I’ve spoken to them they do not have them on E7, so heating overnight. The new ones might indeed be better but I’m not happy with the idea of my decor being ruined, also carpet and laminated flooring has been put down around the current NSH feet.