Energy Prices
Author
Discussion

Pulse

Original Poster:

10,922 posts

242 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
So, looking through my bills, and I was a bit concerned to see I owe British Gas £200 for gas and electricity, on top of the payments I've been making.

Now I have to admit, I hardly ever look at any of my bills, and just let them go out, but thought I should be more aware.

In October 2007, when we first moved in, we were paying £20 each for electricity and gas. A total of £40 a month.
Now in July 2011, we're paying £100 for each on a quarterly basis. A total of £66.66 a month.

Is that increase right, or am I just going mad? £66.66 a month to fuel a 2 bed house seems an insane amount of money.

maxrider

2,481 posts

260 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
Sounds about right. £86 a month for a 3 bed here and both gas and electric are in the red to a similar amount as you frown
Be prepared for next month when the bds push it up even higher.

Pulse

Original Poster:

10,922 posts

242 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
Is there any way a meter can be broken, and start reading incorrectly?

DJC

4,121 posts

232 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
Pulse said:
Is there any way a meter can be broken, and start reading incorrectly?
Meters should be calibrated but have been known to go wrong. Is it an old style or new digital?

herewego

8,814 posts

237 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
I suppose most people have got high star rated fridges and cfl lamps by now but an extra thing to do is put your standby stuff on remote control sockets so they are easy to leave off until you want them.

Pulse

Original Poster:

10,922 posts

242 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
DJC said:
Meters should be calibrated but have been known to go wrong. Is it an old style or new digital?
Old style. Anything I should be mentioning to them?

DJC

4,121 posts

232 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
Pulse said:
Old style. Anything I should be mentioning to them?
If you ask (a lot) they may send someone out to measure it for you, but if it is within tolerance you usually end up paying for the visit. Easiest way to measure it roughly yourself is to shut down everything in the house and run something with a known KW (Ie, a 2kw electric heater) for an hour and see if the meter registers somewhere near the correct amount.

With gas, this is still possible but much more difficult unless you have a gas appliance that you know the KW rating for.

TBH for a two bed house £67 seems quite reasonable, given the increases over the few years. First thing I'd do is check to make sure the readings are correct - sometimes several periods of estimated readings can build up into huge under or over payments.

Simpo Two

91,580 posts

289 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
BG are putting price up another 18% so enjoy it while it's only £200 extra...

Add petrol/diesel and millions live in 'fuel poverty'.