Anything else we can do to reduce the bills? Just worked out mine, ouch!

lil_me

Just worked out my final bill from NPower, 2 months usage as signed with them 14th November and finishing with them now.

[FONT=&quot]Electricity Npower from 14th November – 83272 – Usage to 18th January 84523 (1251 units) £187.65 elec[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Gas Npower from 16th November – 409 – usage to 18th January 0560 (151 units x 31=4681 ) £304.43 gas [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Total bill £492.08 these amounts are based on the figures I was given by them for my electricity and gas charges to help me calculate my final bill myself. The electric at about 15p and gas at just under 7. I did use the exact amounts when calculating them. [/FONT]

That is for 2 months, I have been paying £85 a month for 2 months, more than they suggested, so still will have a stinger of a final bill. I had put away another £150 for the final bill, but not £300. Goodness knows where I will find that but going to have to.

Trying to work out where we can save, I have already organised the switch to Southern Electric starting, with them these bills would have been lower, but still need to reduce them.

Just to confirm that if I was with Southern Electric this would have been
[FONT=&quot]Electricity - 1251 units so 182 units at 13.48, 1069 at 7.29 = £24.54 + £77.93 = £102.47 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Gas - 4681 units so 1143 units at 3.01, 3538 at 2.13 = £34.41 + £75.36 = £109.77[/FONT]
Total would have only been £212.24 but I can't dwell on this now. I think I have the maths correct.


Gas - We are a 4 person house, 2 adults 2 children. Boys are at school apart from during hols. Heating has been on timed (Biasi new combi boiler) te
mperature on radiators is on 2 (we don't have thermostat in house) between 7am and 8am morning and 4pm-7pm evening time, sometimes it's not on if we're out of if warm enough. Baths are minimal we usually have showers. House is rented so can't change anything when it comes to the heating system. Gas hob.

Electricity - We have energy saving bulbs in all but 3 halogen lights, I will buy the bulbs when they come down in price until then we just use them less, came with the house and not allowed to change them. TV etc on maybe 4 hours a day, laptop on 5-8 hours because we're both studying from home. Desk top PCs used maybe 4-6 hours a month. We do have a vivarium with my lizard in, unsure how much that uses but recently bought a plug in thing so will check. Washing machine used on 30 degrees mostly (35 minute wash with 800 spin), tumble drier used once in last 2 months. I have 2 boys with disabilities who wet the bed a lot, need changing more regular, so washing machine possibly on twice as much as an average house. Just got a dehumidifier as we were having massive damp problems but only been using it for less than a week. Oven is fan assisted electric one which is about 8 months old. Kettle on 2-3 times a day. Fridge freezer I believe is A+ rated.

Is there anywhere you could think we can save on usage? The amounts are just crazy.

Any help much appreciated....I do know now that the switching will of course make a huge saving.

Cardew

lil_me wrote: »

Just worked out my final bill from NPower, 2 months usage as signed with them 14th November and finishing with them now.

[FONT=&quot]Electricity Npower from 14th November – 83272 – Usage to 18th January 84523 (1251 units) £187.65 elec[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Gas Npower from 16th November – 409 – usage to 18th January 0560 (151 units x 31=4681 ) £304.43 gas [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Total bill £492.08 these amounts are based on the figures I was given by them for my electricity and gas charges to help me calculate my final bill myself. The electric at about 15p and gas at just under 7. I did use the exact amounts when calculating them. [/FONT]

.

Well I believe you have made a major error in the prices you have used.

NPower charge nothing like 15p for the majority of the electricity you use or anything like 7p for gas.

They have a 2 tier price structure where the first units are charged at the higher tier 1 rate and the majority are charged at a much lower tier 2 rate.

Typically the first 900kWh electric per year is charged at tier 1 prices and the rest at tier 2.

For gas it is approx 4,500kWh per year at tier 1 and the rest at tier 2.

NPower split that tier 1 allocation into 12 monthly amounts - more per month in the winter months.

I believe you are using wrongly using all tier 1 prices in your calculation.

Depending where you live the majority of your electricity should be cost 8p to 9p a kWh and gas around 2.5p/kWh for tier 2 prices.

You have used tier1/tier2 pricing in the Southern Electricty example - why did you think Npower did not use it?

You have used a figure of £212 for Southern and believe Npower would be £492 for the same gas/electricity?

lil_me

I was told on the phone that I had used enough to get the 2 tier prices on the gas but only for a small amount, as I have only been with them for 2 months. Electricity was using the 2 tier also, again not much was on the tier 2 price. Yes I know being with them for only 2 months was my fault, because I shouldn't have gone with them in the first place as they are expensive. I was told because of the short time I was with them the amount for tier 1 would be in one bill, not spread over the year. I did use the figures, just didn't type both of them all out.

Therefore I used the following as stated by the advisor, first 4572kwh per year at 6.462, following at 3.090 (not much was at that rate). Electricty was first 728kwh 14.858 and following at 14.280 (not much difference in 1 and 2 of NPowers charges unlike Southern Electrics) These were the figures given to me over the phone today to use when calculating my bill. I am waiting for the final bill but I think it'll be close to that, I did check the rates with a bill from them, seems they are correct. I used the same way for calculating how much it would be from Southern Electric, first chunk on tier 1 then what was left on 2, just Southern Electrics tier 1 on Electricity is only 182 units then it goes down to a much lower 7.29 after that, so I can see why it'll be so much cheaper with them as NPower are charging me much more on 2 (almost double!) and for more of the usage.

Unfortunately we are in the North East and seems we do pay higher if those are the figures most others pay. I confirmed all of these figures as I said with a rep from NPower this evening who was very nice. Just a shame the prices are so high as the staff are usually very helpful. Thanks for your reply

Cardew

The mistake you are making is not realising that the annual tier 1 allocation is pro-rata per day.

With all utility companies except Npower it is exactly pro-rata per day e.g. with BG it is 900kWh(units) PA for electricity and 4,572kWh pa for gas. so the daily allocation for tier 1 is 900/365 = 2.465kWh a day and 12.53kWh a day for gas.

With Npower it is slightly more complicated in that they 'load' the tier 1 allocation in the winter months.

However only a small proportion of your 1,251kWh for electricty and 4,681kWh of gas will be charged at the tier 1 rate.

You must have misheard the tier 2 price for electricity in the NE as it is cannot be near 14.280p(with tier 1 at 14.828).(I would check again) Are you sure that isn't tier 1 for different tariffs or pre/post increase prices.

Whilst your Npower bill will be higher than SE would have been it will be way way lower than the £492 you have calculated.

notbritishgas

For the months of Nov, Dec, and Jan, npower charge 19.3% of the yearly tier 1 allocation for each month. Therefore for the 2 months you have been with them your tier 1 units should be 38.6% of 4572, which I make as 1764.
I have noticed however that on my bills the total tier 1 units never seem to add up correctly to the % they state, but the figure I give should be fairly accurate,and is much lower than the figure you have used.
Should have said of course these are figures for gas, I do not think they operate the same system for electricity, so each month is 1/12 of annual total.

lil_me

Thanks for that.

As I said the young lady I spoke to stated that because I'd only be with them a short time, I would be charged tier 1 first for the usage then tier 2 for the rest. I suppose I will only be able to confirm this once the bill arrives, I will ask them about what you pointed out that usually it is split over the year, pro rata per day. I can only for nwo go off what they have told me.

Prices from the website for my postcode

npower Standard Electricity Monthly Direct Debit Receipt Of Bill DAYfirst 728kWh per year14.150 14.858 additional kWh 13.600 14.280
npower Standard Gas Monthly Direct Debit Receipt Of Bill DAY first 4572kWh per year 6.154 6.462 additional kWh 1.990 2.090

Sorry they squished up a little when I quoted them, those are from the website so would appear I was quoted the new prices (first is without VAT, second is with) so yes the 14.280 is correct for my postcode at the rates they are now.

The prices she has given me do seem to be from the new pricing from 5th January, I just checked the website as shown above, some will be at this level but I think I will question it if it all is, as some of the usage was from 14th November. They took meter readings on the 8th so will have a reading from then aswell to question it with. Again I will only be able to see what I am charged when the bills come through.

I still find it astonishing that if I'd stayed with NPower at the prices now, there would be such a huge difference to what I will be paying Southern (price capped plan so won't increase for a while). Will teach me not to stick with someone because I was with them before. I am hoping the bill will be lower, will post the amounts when it evetually comes through.

notbritishgas

I do not think they are allowed to charge the whole years tier 1 charge in 2 months. It is designed to replace the standing charge levied on some tariffs, and that is applied on a daily basis.
I have just checked your prices on npower and much to my surprise you are correct ( I used Newcastle Utd FC postcode!!). For comparison my Standard npower price in east mids is 13.860p and 11.529p, more of a difference than oop north.
When comparing prices with Southern Electric do not forget that Southern have not increased their prices yet so you are not comparing like for like.
I hope when you get your final bill you are pleasantly surprised.
Also to add that I am unhappy with npower and will move this year, possibly to Atlantic (part of same group as Southern), just waiting to see what they increase prices by.

lil_me

They aren't increasing until March but I managed to get on a capped price which was offered before Christmas, so safe for while yet at those prices I stated, will switch when I need to in future aswell.

Yes NPowers prices do seem MUCH higher up here, I used a few friend's postcodes and they are charged significantly less. Used to be Northern Electric when I first joined them years ago, call centres are local aswell, yet they charge us the most.