Rebel Energy Triples my Bill

Spoonie_Turtle

Just to make it really clear for the OP: nobody has any idea what her usage is and thus what her actual bills are, until she takes a meter reading (and submits it).  Estimated bills are essentially just a guess based on the history of the property, not at all connected to current reality.

First thing to do, submit a meter reading.  Then you can go from there.

Reed_Richards

This is plum crazy.  You are trying to work out why your girlfriend is using so much electricity without any idea whatsoever about how much electricity she is actually using, just estimates from the supplier.  Estimates are guesses.  They may be based or records of past usage but if your girlfriend does something different, like spending most of her time round your place now, that won't have any effect on these guesses.  So there is every possibility those estimates are over-estimates.      

Scot_39

Bryn99 said:

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.


Again, the thing is, for the last 2 years she has been mostly at mine, with only the Fridge/Freezer and the immersion heater/boiler switched on.
The culprit has to be the immersion heater.

Clearly we have to come up with a solution while she's not spending much time at her place, otherwise it's just wasting money.

If mostly elsewhere - is the immersion required on at all.

(Some people have even switched their's off and reverted to using kettles as and when.)

And if not using any water - a well lagged / modern constructed water cylinder maybe only consume 1-2 kWh of energy a day - compensating for losses. 

So it may not be the problem - if in fact there is one - without reading based bills - you simply do not know (they could easily be running estimates based on a fully occupied property).  So as above get meter readings entered as a priority - and go from there.

Is the boiler gas - or is it some form of electric - as rebel energy appear to be a green energy provider - and have a bit of a downer on gas on one of their web pages (will still supply gas for those using gas for cooker comment)

If it's the same company as this one that came up on a search  https://www.rebelenergy.com/energy

And again if not present - in either case - is the thermostat being left at a sensible level - say 15/16C to avoid any risk of damp or mould (most articles recommend a min of 14C to prevent black mould) - rather than 18-21 that many set for comfort - when she's not there.  Rule of thumb some quote - 10% energy per degree C.

Bryn99

Thanks again for your suggestions and comments.

I agree that an actual reading is the best way to go, and I've just submitted that now.
Her last estimated bill was in 72000s, and her actual reading was 56451, so clearly they've been over-estimating a long time.

I also agree that her water heating should be turned off while she spends so much time at mine, and I've told her that many times, but she wouldn't listen. Yesterday she finally turned it off.
Having said that, I don't think that's the main culprit, and the over-estimates are the key.

Thanks again all.

Robin9

16000 units at about 25p = £4000

Bryn99

Yeah, I thought it would be somewhere between 3 and 4 thousand.
That's quite an overcharge.

Not sure if she would be entitled to claiming that back, or whether there's something in the small print of the contract that makes sure she can't.

I'll have to look into that.

Robin9

She will get all that back.   Rebel may query the new reading -  a photo will help


PS Hope you are reading your own meters as well.

MeteredOut

Bryn99 said:

Yeah, I thought it would be somewhere between 3 and 4 thousand.
That's quite an overcharge.

Not sure if she would be entitled to claiming that back, or whether there's something in the small print of the contract that makes sure she can't.

I'll have to look into that.

For all your investigative work, make sure she takes you out for a slap-up meal when she gets her refund