Anomalously high gas bill - from British Gas

CazeryBird

Hi all, looking for some advice on something..

We have just received a bill for our gas (British Gas) for 3k.

1. ~£1300 was accrued between the end of April and start of June 2024. Charged at 5.74p per kw/h. They say we used 23,194.6 kw/hrs.
2. ~1k was accrued between the start of January and end of March. Charged at 6.991p per kw/h and they say we used 13,881.7 kw/hrs.
3. the rest of our bill is normal usage and matches our previous usage rates.

This seems oddly high to me (and British Gas also agree that the amount in point 1 is unusually high. We haven't changed our patterns of use: minimal heating from the start of April until mid-October and we tend to use the log burner instead of radiators when possible. We're in a three bed terrace with a new boiler and radiators. All serviced and checked regularly. We're renovating so everything is nicely insulated as well.
As comparison over the past month we have had the heating on almost 24/7 (our baby has had bronchiolitis) and accrued a £258 bill with 4,355.2kw/h used at 5.928p per kw/h.

Context:

• Our account was erroneously swapped to another supplier at the start of April (no one told us - I only found out when a welcome letter arrived at the house, addressed to someone we had never heard of). I was told it was all swapped back and we didn't need to do anything further.
• Direct Debits hadn't been taken out from the start of April as it was cancelled when the supplier was swapped. Again, I checked at the time and was told explicitly the direct debit would be fine and continue running. I didn't track as my partner looks after the account it comes from (although he was suicidal at the time so maybe I should have checked).
• At the start of April I spoke to a British Gas customer service agent and he said we were 500 in credit. He confirmed multiple times (at my prompting) that they had an up-to-date meter reading and the bill was all settled and accurate. He also lowered our direct debit from 150 to 69 as our usage was lower than anticipated.
• Speaking to someone today they told me that there had been a fault on my smart meter through 2023. When pushed he said it wasn't communicating the figures to them properly. That said, the figures I have supplied are accurate.
• I said I can't afford the huge monthly amount they now want and they say the only way to reduce it is to pay a lump sum. I stated I do not have this (I've recently returned to work after mat leave and am deep in my overdraft still).

Could anyone offer any advice or point me towards independent bodies who may be able to help? I'm sick with worry and trying to juggle the numbers and make it make sense is not going well!

Thanks.

Robin9

What readings have you got pre 2023 that were actual and agreed with BG. ?

What is the reading today ?

CazeryBird

Robin9 said:

What readings have you got pre 2023 that were actual and agreed with BG. ?

What is the reading today ?

I can't access them online anymore as they all vanished when my account was erroneously switched. I'll see if I have a paper copy somewhere but I'm pretty sure it was all online.

CazeryBird

I've found the following actual readings:

03738 - ACTUAL read 16 Dec 22
04922.8 - ACTUAL read 11 Dec 23
9511.8 -Actual read 15 Nov 24

Robin9

On that basis while you used about 14,000 kWh in 22/23 you used 50,000 in 23/24

CazeryBird

Robin9 said:

On that bas while you used about 14,000 kWh in 22/23 you used 50,000 in 23/24

And we haven't changed anything about our usage or got any new gas appliances. Our boiler is new and efficient, our rads are all the same as they were in 2022 etc. we use an electric oven/hob.
I can't think of a single reason why it's jumped up so much!

Our meter is super rusty, but I think that's ok?

Robin9

Any chance of a photo or two?

CazeryBird

This sort of thing?

CazeryBird

This was the front of the meter a couple of days ago 

CazeryBird

I also don't understand how they only had estimates through 2023 when the smart metre was 'faulty' as we had visits from someone to take readings on their behalf 🤷🏻‍♀️

FreeBear

CazeryBird said:

This was the front of the meter a couple of days ago 

Mounting plate is rusty, but that is nothing to worry about as it doesn't affect meter functionality.

Production date of the meter is 2018 - The internal battery usually lasts around 6 years, so this meter is due for a change. Random readings are often symptomatic of a battery nearly at the end of its working life.