OMG ---- I have just had the Electric bill!!

methekidsandthecat

Hi everyone

I have just received my electric bill - what a shock.... They are going to increase the monthly payment from £80 per month to a wopping £148.00.

Can anyone give me any ideas how to reduce the bill? I have two teenagers who must be using loads of energy - computers, Xbox, and the endless recharging of batteries and long showers....

I would appreciate any info that could help reduce the bill and also wondered if buying the meter monitor things is actually worth it?

Many thanks

Me

hypno06

We have one of those plug in thingies that you put the tv/video/dvd/freeview etc into, and when you turn the tv onto standby, it shuts down everything without losing any "settings" etc.

It cost us about £25 from Tescos......but we are fairly sure it has more than paid for itself.

My bills for gas and electric combined were £149 a month, but over the winter quarter, we have managed to get them down to £105, so quite a big difference, considering the cost of fuel is going up.

ships-cat

What unit price are they bumping you too? Got to be worth a least a look about. Paid £67 for both in April, not sure if that says too much about our habits(!).

My Gas is 3.042p/kWh, electricity 10.236p/kWh.

elantan

i can totally relate to this i just got a letter in telling me my gas is going up ...and i have no doubt the electricity will follow i cant think of anyway to cut back though ...but wanted to commiserate with you all the best

10past6

The fatal mistake most people make is NOT READING THE METER.

When you receive a bill, check the meter reading, most bills nowadays are "Estimate" it will have an (E) next to the meter reading.

When the utility company eventually get round to taking a reading, if your consumption is higher than what they've estimated, hey ho, huge bill.

No good calling and complaining as they say, THE ONUS IS ON YOU TO CHECK THE ESTIMATE IS CORRECT.

methekidsandthecat

Hi Everyone

Thankyou for the comments - I have checked the bill and it states that the meters were read on the 31st May. Will check the totals on the meters in the morning - too dark to see now!!

It appears that we have 3 meter readings
Primary day units - 237 kWh
secondary day units - 2227Kwh
Night units - 1879 units

As the day units are the highest - these are the ones to try and cut back on.... I will try to remember to set the washing machine to go at night. I have good intentions but then forget and do all the washing on saturday.

Have turned off everything that normally gets left on ie cooker, stereo (on standby). Not sure if this will make much difference but we will see.

I think I will invest in one of those meter watch things... it could prove useful when challenging DS as to his electricity consumption for non college days as opposed to college days!

Just need to sus out the immersion for hot water - is it cheaper to turn it off during the summer and just boil the kettle for hot water to wash up? Washing machine is cold fill and we use an electric shower so also cold fed.

Me

Tigert

Yes, do check the Meter! - They tried to almost double by monthly payment recently to £160 (it's currently £83), purely based on their ridiculous estimates. I don't use enough for them to charge £83 and phone up quarterly to get a refund, but they won't lower it.

If it is an actual reading then I would query why it has jumped so much with your electric company.

tealady

Have you checked to see if you are with the cheapest company. If you aren't then switch via a cashback website.

kel123_2

I have gone through the same thing - Npower now take the average over 18 month thats 2 winters and 1 summer hence higher estimates on consumption. I have argued this with them and asked them if at the end of this summer they will take it over 30 months to include 3 winters and 2 summers they didn't like it. I am comming off E7 the day rate is too expensive and doesn't get offset by the cheap night rate, they change the metre on the 25th but they will only put me on the std rate tariff, no were near ships-cats rate. We have a couple of quarters left before we pay off the extra large bill we had 1st quarter 2005 (2.5K) then it's swop time to get near Ships-cats rate.

Check everything, then check to see what you have missed, flood lights cost quite a bit (don't forget there is a surg to start these things eg a 500w may pull 600w to start so if it is switching on and off regularly then ajust it) Also we had 5 x 60w bulds in the lounge, thats 300w = 300 candles. Now they are 40w and on a dimmer.

Our last quarter is due to drop in anytime now, The gas came saturday and it was for £119 for the Quarter, so £40 per month (I can live with that for winter/spring).

Kel
Who is called Mr Miser by the family

EmptyPurse

I've just been hit with a large bill too. The trouble is that I live in a block of flats and have no access to my meter (it's in a locked cupboard somewhere else in the building). The elec company can only be bothered to read it once a year, the rest of the time they just estimate. And of course my actual reading is much higher than the estimate so they've hit me with a whole year's difference in one go :-(

stapeley

methekidsandthecat wrote: »

Hi everyone

I have just received my electric bill - what a shock.... They are going to increase the monthly payment from £80 per month to a wopping £148.00.

Can anyone give me any ideas how to reduce the bill? I have two teenagers who must be using loads of energy - computers, Xbox, and the endless recharging of batteries and long showers....

I would appreciate any info that could help reduce the bill and also wondered if buying the meter monitor things is actually worth it?

Many thanks

Me

Enrol them in the navy ! Make them shower together !

Increase their rent ! Make them buy their own booze and fags . SORRY just kidding . But you should sit them down and explain the situation , and tell them they have to cut down on things . £3 pound a week spend by them , and given to you will mean £72 a quarter extra . With all the increases we all face , it is very little to ask . good luck