Electric Bill Increase

venomx

Got an email at 2am this morning from British Gas asking for a meter read. Didn't think much of it until I got another email about an hour ago saying my bill will go up by £36 per month which is ridiculous as it is summer and my account is in credit by about £130

I have just given a meter reading for the first time in a while, should my usage now be more accurate and my bill come down ?

Thanks

tim_p

If it’s the first meter reading “in a while” then it really could go either way - that £130 credit might turn into a debit once they factor in your reading. 

venomx

tim_p said:

If it’s the first meter reading “in a while” then it really could go either way - that £130 credit might turn into a debit once they factor in your reading. 

Thanks. Last one was April I think. 

Netexporter

If you don't want nasty surprises it is best to submit meter readings monthly or, better still, get a smart meter fitted.

Reed_Richards

Actually, even if you do get a smart meter fitted, it's no bad thing to make a note of your meter readings once a month and keep the data so you can refer back to it.

Scot_39

Your DD if on a fixed (often annual in past)  plan rather than mvdd isn't your bill - it's an estimate of what supplier thinks will take to pay your usage - normally for the next year - nominally at current prices taking into account any credit / debit on account.

With some there may also be a component to shift the DD credit / debit cycle upwards - so is more like permanent credit than perhaps you might think fair.

If you had been under paying it might go up.

Similarly if say on 3m billing online credit can be flattering - building up with monthly DD - so when they apply a reading and take out actual usage charge - it can change dramatically.

But some people are also seeing weird things go on with DD and estimates / credits when they are transferred over to their new billing system.  If you are a recent mover.

Do your own estimate for annualised cost and then DD.

I used to use

DD = (annualised ave use costed at current prices +5% - balance) /12

To set mine - before EOn recalculated it - and they would normally accept.

If they are demanding something far away - ask them to justify it - or ask them to use your number if your confident in your arithmetic.

venomx

Well I have submitted my readings and they match British Gas estimates.
So now I am paying £36 more each month is this because I have been underpaying for a while potentially ?
I am currently on " Standard Variable Tariff "  but looking at their site the " Fixed Tariff " is cheaper per month for me

It has been about £110 per month for ages, why now is it £140 odd ?
Also says I am now in debit £220 

Hoenir

venomx said:

I am currently on " Standard Variable Tariff "  but looking at their site the " Fixed Tariff " is cheaper per month for me

That's where you should be focussing your attention. Find the best tariff for your own personal consumption. 

BarelySentientAI

venomx said:

It has been about £110 per month for ages, why now is it £140 odd ?
Also says I am now in debit £220 

It's gone up because you weren't paying enough - but nobody knew that because you didn't give meter readings.

Last reading was 3 months ago - and you might have underpaid by something like £350 in that time (from £130 credit to £220 debit) - I'm surprised it's only gone up by £36 a month.

venomx

BarelySentientAI said:

venomx said:

It has been about £110 per month for ages, why now is it £140 odd ?
Also says I am now in debit £220 

It's gone up because you weren't paying enough - but nobody knew that because you didn't give meter readings.

Last reading was 3 months ago - and you might have underpaid by something like £350 in that time (from £130 credit to £220 debit) - I'm surprised it's only gone up by £36 a month.

OK well lesson learned I will try to do meter reads more often now. I do only live in a one bed flat so was concerned at first as to why the price had gone up especially during summer.

On their fixed Tariff they offer Day and Night units as opposed to the current Tariff I'm on which doesn't.

Would the fixed Tariff make more sense then?
I have an emersion heater which runs during the night. This could be a big use of electric

Spoonie_Turtle

What form of heating do you have?