Paying too much for electricity

victor2

Glendo1 said:

Thanks for all your replies. So really there won't be much of a change expect a few hundred slapped on when I'm about to leave. Maybe I'll get in touch and tell them to charge a higher direct debit, if I can do that.

No, no, no. Find out what your current balance is by making sure your supplier has actual meter readings. Then take it from there.

Glendo1

MWT said:

Glendo1 said:

Thanks for all your replies. So really there won't be much of a change expect a few hundred slapped on when I'm about to leave. Maybe I'll get in touch and tell them to charge a higher direct debit, if I can do that.

You can do that, but better to just do as suggested several times now and track your own consumption so you know exactly what you owe rather than remaining in the dark...

I'm trying to figure it out now. I've taken a photo of the KWh usage which I will upload if that's ok

dunstonh

One of the "issues" with EDF is that they only bill once every 6 months, although they are supposedly changing over to a better billing system.

Some people are on 6 month billing but I would estimate that most are now on monthly billing.    
People whose accounts start 67 are 6 monthly but those that start A- are monthly.

Gerry1

Switching to Variable DD, preferably monthly, would sort things out.

It means bigger bills in winter and smaller ones in summer, but it avoids the twin nasties of big credit balances accumulating or unexpected catch-up bills.

Glendo1

Gerry1 said:

Switching to Variable DD, preferably monthly, would sort things out.

It means bigger bills in winter and smaller ones in summer, but it avoids the twin nasties of big credit balances accumulating or unexpected catch-up bills.

I am on a standard variable DD

victor2

Gerry1 said:

Switching to Variable DD, preferably monthly, would sort things out.

It means bigger bills in winter and smaller ones in summer, but it avoids the twin nasties of big credit balances accumulating or unexpected catch-up bills.

^^this^^
EDF do offer "Direct Debit Whole Amount". So long as they are getting smart meter readings, you will pay for what you use monthly. With summer coming up and you're looking at leaving anyway, that should give you billing you can handle with no shocks to come.

Gerry1

The photo is likely to be showing the total usage since the day it was installed.

You need to determine your annual kWh usage based on readings that are smart or provided by a meter reader or yourself.

victor2

Glendo1 said:

Gerry1 said:

Switching to Variable DD, preferably monthly, would sort things out.

It means bigger bills in winter and smaller ones in summer, but it avoids the twin nasties of big credit balances accumulating or unexpected catch-up bills.

I am on a standard variable DD

So are you not on an E7 tariff then? That makes running a night storage heater pointless.
Do you have night and day, or peak and off-peak readings?
"Standard variable DD" is not the same as "Direct Debit Whole Amount", which is what Gerry1 was alluding to.

Gerry1

victor2 said:

Glendo1 said:

Gerry1 said:

Switching to Variable DD, preferably monthly, would sort things out.

It means bigger bills in winter and smaller ones in summer, but it avoids the twin nasties of big credit balances accumulating or unexpected catch-up bills.

I am on a standard variable DD

"Standard variable DD" is not the same as "Direct Debit Whole Amount", which is what Gerry1 was alluding to.

You beat me to it !

'Variable DD' is another term that dozy Ofgem should ban because it's so easily confused with a Variable tariff.

'Direct Debit Whole Amount' is much clearer.

Robin9

To get an idea of your Actual Annual Consumption go to the meter itself that's in your garage or outdoor meter box. There will be a sticker on it with a installed date and the meter reading then (usually zero). Simple sums are then needed.


Edit could you also scan your bill please -  blank out your name and address, MPAN