Changes To StayWarm

djohn2002uk

Alan_Vickers wrote: »

We have now changed to British Gas for both gas and electricity and have registered for online management of the account. We have been advised that the monthly Direct Debit payments will be £19.00 for electricity and £26.50 for gas. This is a substantial reduction from what we were paying StayWarm.

I have no doubt that you will save, although I'm not so sure that BG is your best bet, BUT, be very wary of the direct debit amounts that you are paying. They can lull you into a false sense of security only to find that in a years time you owe them money. Over the past few years most companies have set direct debits low to attract customers who have then complained bitterly on here about the debt they have accrued. Read your meter regularly (like monthly) and as you are on an online account it should be easy to keep things in check.

Oh, and welcome to MSE.

Alan_Vickers

Thanks djohn for the reply and welcome to MSE.

Regarding the Direct Debit payments I do not believe that BG have got them quite correct at the moment, the adjustments between gas and electricity amounts do not seem quite correct. I am taking weekly readings and inputting these into a spreadsheet which can also be used to calculate the costs. It is much too early to be entirely reliant on this but bearing in mind that this is the period of heaviest consumption it should give a good guide in the course of a few months.

I have been reading more of the postings regarding StayWarm and have looked again at the correspondence received from them and at no time have I had any information as to what type of consumer we were considered to be - low, medium or high. Neither have I been offered a home visit. Likewise there has been no correspondence regarding any reduction as a result of energy prices falling.

Alan Vickers.

Terrylw1

Alan_Vickers wrote: »

Thanks djohn for the reply and welcome to MSE.

I am taking weekly readings and inputting these into a spreadsheet which can also be used to calculate the costs. It is much too early to be entirely reliant on this but bearing in mind that this is the period of heaviest consumption it should give a good guide in the course of a few months.

Thats excellent Alan. If you do that for a year you will be able to accurately chart your seasonal usage which will help you challenge their winter DD increases (which are often too high). Your Supplier does this too but with far less accurate methods.

millie

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Thats excellent Alan. If you do that for a year you will be able to accurately chart your seasonal usage which will help you challenge their winter DD increases (which are often too high). Your Supplier does this too but will far less accurate methods.

I did this 3 years ago and changed after realising I was paying far too much to Staywarm, at the time I was paying £91 per month for a 3 bedroom semi. I am now paying £58 per month and had a refund of £60 from my supplier last June. I am glad I made the effort to take the meter readings because I have saved approximately £1000 ove the last 3 years. I am more carefull with the use of the Gas/Electric but have never had my house cold, and have the heating on when its needed.

Alan_Vickers

My idea of taking regular readings to keep an eye on the cost of gas and electricity used has come unstuck a bit because the StayWarm accounts have not given the calorific value of the gas supplied or the conversion required to convert from the meter reading to Kwh. The meter is reading cubic feet, can any forum member help me by giving the conversion factor(s) please?

Many thanks.

Alan vickers.

f107btx

Alan_Vickers wrote: »

My idea of taking regular readings to keep an eye on the cost of gas and electricity used has come unstuck a bit because the StayWarm accounts have not given the calorific value of the gas supplied or the conversion required to convert from the meter reading to Kwh. The meter is reading cubic feet, can any forum member help me by giving the conversion factor(s) please?

Many thanks.

Alan vickers.

Gas units *1.02264*39.4(approx)/3.6=Kwh

Alan_Vickers

Many thanks f107btx for the information on the conversion.

Alan Vickers.

SwanJon

f107btx wrote: »

Gas units *1.02264*39.4(approx)/3.6=Kwh

This is for metric meters (m3) for imperial, start by multiplying by 2.83.

Alan_Vickers

Many thanks for that Swanjon.

Alan Vickers.

f107btx

f107btx wrote: »

Gas units *1.02264*39.4(approx)/3.6=Kwh

Sorry misread your post (cubic feet) *above by 2.83 above is for cubic metres