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My direct debit for Electricity seems too high

I recently got a letter from EDF energy saying that my direct debit needs to be increased to 70 pounds per month. When I queried this the customer advisor calculated it to be 60 pounds per month. I still think this is very high.

We only have electric. I live in a small one bedroom apartment. The kitchen joins onto the living room.

I have a very small entrance way, but no hallway. There are two small electric heaters in the whole apartment near the window which I never use. Instead I use a oil filled heater in the living room and a smaller one in the bedroom. I rarely leave anything on stand by. Use the washing machine (cold water) twice a week.

We are usually at home on the weekends and during xmas hols, easter hols etc, but leave for work 7-6 (heating is off) during the week. We have to use the emersion heater for heating water, but this is only on for half an hour.

Im dont see how its so high. I really want to save money but dont see how.

Sorry its such a long post.

Also use energy saving bulbs

Comments

  • Funny thing, I was with EDF and a short time into the contract they did the same to me. I contacted them, challenged their calculations and they left the Direct Debit as it was. I changed to Scottish Power in July and had a surplus of £100+ with EDF at the time even without the increase in Direct Debit. Now Scottich Power have informed me that they will increase my Direct Debit. Again I have challenged their calculations and await their reply. However, is this a pattern of rip-offs by the Power Companies? £100-£200 may not seem much, but multiply it by several million and the Power Companies have a nice load of interest from our money to which they are not entitled. Is this experience common, or am I just paranoid?
  • MarkyMarkD
    MarkyMarkD Posts: 9,912 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If you are paying by monthly DD, and your last bill is actual (rather than estimated), or the estimate is reasonably accurate, then you can tell if your DD should increase significantly by whether you are in arrears or not.

    If you are in arrears, the new monthly DD will include an amount to clear the arrears, normally over the next year but possibly over a shorter period. That may well be why the amount seems so high.

    But suppliers often simply ask for too much - just tell them that you are paying enough for your intended level of consumption and not to change your DD. Normally they will comply - as long as you are not in arrears.
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