Allotments 4 All

Hi all

Just had a bill from Grittish Bas and its for £440 this quarter (dual). Does this sound reasonable for a winter period? Ive always been on meters and found them to be really cheap so this a bit of a shock?!

Our usage is a little higher in winter, granted, but I feel like theyre having my pants down here.  Seems really high?? Does anyone mind divulging what they are being charged??

Its hard to tell not knowing your usage and who your supplier is etc But for example

I look after my mother in laws account so a single woman over 70 on her own in a 2 bed bungalow (well insulated etc) and the cheapest i can get her is £145 a month.

Have you tried any of the switching services which allow you to pop your details in and they find you a better plan?

It seems very high what was the bill this time last year.  Is this for both electricity and gas. 

I have british gas and I can sign in to their  site and check usage, with all sorts of graphs etc. Very useful to see what's happening with my account. It even compares this quarter with last winters quarter. Sign up for an account you get cheaper bills for doing it all on line.

Go online to any of the comparison sites. Chances are if you've never switched supplier you will be getting ripped off!

I have a two bed maisonette, only have electric for everthing.

My payments have just gone up from £36/month to £40/month.
When there were 2 of us living here I was paying £90/month

There are so many reasons why your bill would seem high, but where to begin?
As Ace said, get on-line, you should then be able to compare past usage with present usage.

Has you meter been read - are you sure this is not a estimated bill?  I have never had an extimated bill which was lower than the real one.

Took own meter readings and submitted online.

Were a 3 bed average semi, 2 adults and 2 kiddies - all out at school/ nursery /work during the day and only have the heating on maybe 2 early mornin and 1 hr eveninng. Just the average family really, with average usage.

Weve always been very concious of energy use - always turning lights off etc - so Im sure were not doing anything untowards!!

We really rated those prepay meters despite their bad press- u can see what your spending day by day and we used to only put a tenner per week on each and that always lasted. As i said, weve not been on quarterly for long. Perhaps the prices have just really gone up or theyre lying to me about prepaid tarrifs??

Am registered online with BG, so will take a look at our usage - perhaps im leaking energy somewhere!!

Thanks anyway, guys

Without knowing your leccie usage or how you can look at ways to lower use without losing comfort etc......

I think £145 per month (£1740 per year) is wildly extortionate but I expect nothing else from British Gas or any of the "Big Six" energy companies - otherwize known as the CARTEL

When we were with BG and EDF we paid £125 per month. Now we pay around £45 per month and our energy use hasn't changed that drastically.

My advice for what it's worth - Never deal with any of the companies in the CARTEL!!!!!

The smaller companies are much less of a rip off. Ovo Energy, Co-Op, Utility warehouse and others, there are plenty to choose from.

Another tip. Don't be loyal to any company when the company you are with raises its prices shop around for another supplier.

The more people keep paying the cartel's rip off prices the more they will keep raising them.

I fell much better now I've got that off my chest

I am with Scottish Power on a fixed deal till end of March next year. They have estimated I will use £1050 worth of gas and electricity for my Victorian build three room (6 radiators run from combi boiler) ground floor  flat - no heat going out through the roof! Cooking is electric. I think I will be due a rebate though as I have a new A+ rated fridge freezer which has reduced my electricity usage between 1 and 2 Kw per day. 

Tricia

What utter dastarbs!!

Today British Gas anounces record profits whilst millions of people struggle day to day, and OFGEM simply sits back and lets it happen!!

Im seriously now looking at solar panels for my energy - Maybe this quaters' bill would cover the cost of one panel!