Can someone help me understand my daughters gas and electric bill

Idontlikeworking

My daughter moved in to temporary accommodation and her support worker set up an account for gas and electric with OVO on the simpler energy tariff which is £98.71 a month but we don't know why she choose this tariff so would anyone know why she choose this tariff as £98.71 a month seems a lot.

The first payment of £98.71 was taken on the 03/08/2026.

booneruk

Can you show the meter readings? are they estimates? have any payments been made across this whole period?

If they're billing on estimated readings then it's not going to be accurate

debitcardmayhem

Has she been paying her direct debits ?

QrizB

My daughter moved in to temporary accommodation and her support worker set up an account for gas and electric with OVO on the simpler energy tariff which is £98.71 a month but we don't know why she choose this tariff …

Simpler Energy is OVO's Ofgem-capped standard variable tariff. It's the default tariff if you don't choose anything else. It's a safe option with no early termination fees or additional conditions and I'd be surprised if she'd chosen anything else.

… £98.71 a month seems a lot.

Just under £100 a month (£1200 a year) is roughly three-quarters of the £1641 cost for the "average customer" on the Ofgem capped tariff. It's not an unreasonable amount for a smaller household and/or a smaller property.

Based on the bills you've shared, your daughter is spending about £50 a month in the summer when she doesn't need any heating. In the winter she might be spending £150 or more a month. So £1200 a year isn't going to be that far off the mark.

Why do you think it seems a lot?

Idontlikeworking

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82103229#Comment_82103229

If her gas and electric is under £60 a month why is £98.71 being taken out each month.

Idontlikeworking

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82103221#Comment_82103221

For the meter readings it shows smart reading. For the two bills the first payment was out on the 03/08/2026

debitcardmayhem

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82103235#Comment_82103235

Because it's summer, less usage, when winter comes she won't want to build a big debt.

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82103235#Comment_82103235

because she is not on a pay as you go scheme, she is paying a monthly fixed payment that should build up credit during the summer which in theory will run down in the winter months when her use will be much higher. The amount that is set is a bit odd a guestimate as there is no previous data to go by.

She could switch to a pay as you go set up which means lower bills in the summer and a lot higher in the winter. Does she have smart meters?

Ayr_Rage

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82103235#Comment_82103235

Because they have estimated her ANNUAL usage and divided that cost by 12 to get the monthly DD.

I am surprised you don't know that is the way it works, actual usage will be lower in the summer and below the set DD and more than the DD amount in winter.

If the estimates are correct then 12 payments should cover the whole year's bills.

tfhnota

If it is temporary accommodation why is she being charged as if she will be there for winter rather than cheaper summer months?

Woodstok2000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82103295#Comment_82103295

Because that's how annual direct debits work, on an annual basis. If she builds up a credit and moves out before winter she will get it back when closing the account.