154% increase in electric bill. Normal?

JC1440

Hello, all,

So, my situation is I rent a house which has an electricity sub-meter, and the main meter is in a nearby building. I provide a reading to my landlord, and he takes the main meters reading and produces a bill.

We do the bill every sixteen months, and this latest one has a 154% increase on the last one, despite me using the same amount of electric (I monitor it month to month).

Does this sound like a reasonable rise? Many thanks

Qyburn

JC1440 said:

Does this sound like a reasonable rise? Many thanks

Not enough info to say if it's reasonable For example if you're correct on usage and meter reading on the bill agree with your own, and they show the same total as the previous 16 months then it comes down to the rates.

16 months is an odd billing frequency. Some bills will cover two Winters and only one Summer, some vice versa. And the price cap changes at three month intervals won't line up.

QrizB

JC1440 said:

 ...We do the bill every sixteen months,

So the latest bill is for Sept 2023 through to the end of 2024, or mid Sept 23 to mid Jan 25?

While the previous bill was May 2022 to Aug 2023?

JC1440 said:

Does this sound like a reasonable rise? Many thanks

You've gone from a bill with two summers and one winter to a bill with one summer and two (well, 1.5) winters. Yes, that sounds like a reasonable increase.

Presumably you can check the number of kWh used and the unit price from your bill? Does that look about right? Share details here if you'd like a second opinion.

Scot_39

Given the landlord supply could be do domestic or could be  commercial - it's impossible to say.

It's a measured supply - and so should be accurate in units used.

Wholesale rates have been varying even more wildly than domestic in last 2.5-3 years 

16m a curious settlement for domestic - but some building tied commercial have reviews and catchup clauses over 2-3 years.  So many still paying for underestimated prices in place on deals at crisis peak.  It's be no means a simple marketplace for some building set-ups.

You need to talk to your landlord if concerned about the rates per unit on your bills.

JC1440

Qyburn said:

JC1440 said:

Does this sound like a reasonable rise? Many thanks

Not enough info to say if it's reasonable For example if you're correct on usage and meter reading on the bill agree with your own, and they show the same total as the previous 16 months then it comes down to the rates.

16 months is an odd billing frequency. Some bills will cover two Winters and only one Summer, some vice versa. And the price cap changes at three month intervals won't line up.

Thanks so much everyone.

I agree with the units used, so like you say, must be the rates. Could you be so kind as to explain the two winters thing? Landlord said the same thing, but I don't understand as my usage in units doesn't vary, summer or winter, it's always roughly the same.

Qrizb,

August 23 to December 25, and April 22 to August 23, yep.

I don't get an actual bill, but he showed me the workings out, and an example bill of what I believe is the main meter:
(Removed by Forum Team)

QrizB

So, from those photos, in this billing period (481 days) you've used 1655 units.

JC1440 said:

... despite me using the same amount of electric (I monitor it month to month).

Do you have a record of your month-to-month monitoring? Do you agree that you have used 1655 units for the period?
You've then been billed 32.8p per unit. That makes £542.84, as shown on your handwritten bill.

We don't know wht the tariff (price per unit) was for the previous billing period. Might it have been a lot lower than 32.8p? 2022/23 was a bad year for energy prices but if the previous tariff was a multi-year deal that started in 2020 or 2021, it could have been cheaper?

Scot_39

Given the honesty shown by providing those bills - I suspect it's just a genuine reflection of the business rates.

debitcardmayhem

On a note of honesty, you should redact his details from your pictures.

Edited to delete my error on the maths, should have cleaned my specs

victor2

@JC1440, you should really block out the supply number and address details on those images of the bills, as it is personally identifying the landlord, plus your first name is on the letter.

Doesn't look outrageous though. Shame he's got some estimated readings in there, but at least the latest are actual ones. As @Scot_39 says, the landlord does appear to be being pretty honest with you.

Spoonie_Turtle

The two winters thing is because at minimum, usually people need electric lights on for longer in winter, usually have hot meals more than in summer (especially if you have salads in summer), maybe they use the kettle more for hot drinks / hot water bottle, maybe you're at home more than in the summer so TV or radio are on for longer, things like that.  So while not a huge variation, it's normal to have some seasonal fluctuation. 
(Of course if people use fans or air con in summer that changes things, but traditionally it's been that people generally use more electricity in winter than in summer.)

Moot now really as you do agree with the usage on the bill, but I thought it still worth explaining.

JC1440

Thanks so much again everybody

I apologise about leaving the details visible, I didn't realise.

Qrizb,

I agree on the unit usage. Maybe it was cheaper? The bill before the £229 one was £344. I can't remember if it was the same period of sixteen months, but know we went through this whole dance with that one too.

Spoonie,

I really appreciate it. None of that stuff feels like it applies to me.