Electricity

I would advise everyone to get a smart metre - your energy company should fit one free of charge. Before I had mine, I really had very little idea how much energy I was using until the quarterly bill arrived. Now, with a smart metre I’m much more in control. I’ve set an ‘ideal’ daily budget on the metre and, if I’m going above it, I can adjust usage accordingly, if I so choose. The smart metre gives me the information I need to make my own choices.

I have had an email saying I can change from variable to fixed tariff, they make it sound urgent and to do it now. Martin Lewis, who seems to know what he is on about advises not to fix at this time.

I have just received an email with details of the increased unit cost from 1st April. I do not have a smart meter and my meter reading is taken once a year. It seems to me however that a meter reading will be needed on 31st March in view of the big increase but there is no mention of this being done. Is anyone else wondering about the possibility of being charged at the higher rate for gas that hasn’t actually been used as at 31st March?

We managed to fix ours last year. But still only have heating when it gets down to 12c in living room, just wrap up otherwise. However it is rotten being permanently cold when you move. Lord knows where it will all end, roll on summer.

Well done oddbird.

Cutting back is the only way to go, if insulation of a home isn't possible.

DH greeted me with the good news this morning that he had just received an email with the rising costs on it. Highway robbery when some of these companies are running at high profits. What can we do?

I live on my narrow boat in a marina. I have a land line for electricity and get billed every quarter by the marina. Electricity charges my battery pack, heats water and runs fridge/freezer and tv. I shorted time water heater was on and stopped using halagon heater. Just got my bill and it is less than last year. I chose to wear layers to keep warm and a blanket over my knees. I do put electric blanket on to warm bed...it is on for an hour. Maybe come next winter I will cut back on time that is on. It is possible to cut down usage. It does make a difference to bill. I will continue to cut back usage.

I’m pretty sure it’s the Govt who will get the windfall profit in more tax pounds coming their way, so many companies have already gone to the wall, so it can’t be the companies. It’s much better to get a smart meter and pay the right amount every month, I feel so much more in control now. I can’t wait to get my state pension in September, which I feel will go to cover the increases in fuel and food.

My Gas bill DD went from £33 to £41 per month accompanied by a notification to the effect that it will go up again in April! As cold makes my body seize up but starving makes it dead what do I do???? Decisions decisions! How can the companies sit on their huge profits, pay their investors & ‘Top Bods’ huge amounts & leave us with the choice of heating or starve? Good way to get rid of the unwanted, unneeded older population to make space for all the self entitled younger people who think older people have it easy & should not have a pension! Got this from a young man who came into the Charity shop I used to Volunteer in pre covid! He was in a foul mood for some reason, I did not ask just walked away before I said too much! Still no idea what to do about the Gas increase though!

I'm with British Gas and pay by variable direct debit. It means I pay for what I've used so am never in deficit nor paying more than I've used. Thankfully the prices are going up just as the warmer weather comes so I won't feel the hit until next autumn! My DD moved home recently too so we are sharing the bills which helps. With both of us here we are using more power, but not twice as much, so it is helping me to save. I'll notice it more when she moves out again!

Johnson is not doing enough to help customers. He prefers to let the companies make windfall profits.

Wellbeck I was shocked at those use of words also.

Tbf, you can see the charges on your bill, regardless of how much is direct debited.
But I'd guess that a lot of people back off at the sight of all those numbers!
Along with the use of estimated readings, the result is those people have no idea if their bills are accurate and if they are paying the right amount.

Don't be one of those people!

I’m also with Octopus and my bill went from £56 up to 93 last November and so far it seems about right for what I’ve used. Dreading the next rise.

My latest offer from EDF.

My fixed deal comes to an end on 31st April.
At the moment I pay £94/month so quite an increase.

karmalady

I can easily change the amount I pay to octopus every month. They suggested a new amount when my fixed rate was renewed. I estimated that it was too much so I changed it to a lower figure, easy to do online. I won`t build up massive credit but will go into next winter in a comfortable position

That's what I do, I keep an eye online, and up my DD to make sure the month's fuel costs are covered. I can access daily usage online so it is quite simple

I can easily change the amount I pay to octopus every month. They suggested a new amount when my fixed rate was renewed. I estimated that it was too much so I changed it to a lower figure, easy to do online. I won`t build up massive credit but will go into next winter in a comfortable position

Absolutely agree with the people saying "No" to Direct Debit. Why let a company hold on to your money? Keep it in your own account! I much prefer submitting a meter reading each month and paying the bill right away. After a bill for £110 in January (normally only around £55 - it's a tiny house!), I adjusted thermostats, turned down radiators in bedrooms and avoided using the gas oven. February bill was £65, so feeling a bit more prepared for the rise in April.

We have a ‘variable’ rather than a ‘fixed’ Direct Debit mandate with our energy supplier.
We submit the readings monthly and they take the exact amount with no need for a credit or debit to ever build up build up.

I am also with Octopus and I was paying around £58 a month for gas and electricity and recently that has leapt to £98 and will go up again in April. I have a smart meter because I cannot read my outdoor meters.

Heaven knows where it will end but I intend to stay warm and fed.

Absolutely MOnica. I had a DD for electricity years ago. Never again!

GSM, yes, we also pay the bills quarterly to declared readings.

If anyone is afraid of big winter bills, it is easy enough to put a standard sum of money aside every month into a savings account so that the cost of fuel is spread smoothly over the year and pay your bills from that.

What is more, you are the one who gets the itnerest on it the money in the account, little as it be.

Why would you want your money in someone else's account?

As far as I understand things, you have to request return of your own monies and that some companies are quicker at it than others.

Plus, from what I've read on here, there are customers in credit with now defunct companies who are having difficulty accessing their accounts to see if their credit has been transferred to the new supplier.

I was informed by Octopus that Smart Meters supply usage figures to the Supplier with no necessity for meters to be read, so bills are accurate.
I, for one, don’t mind building up a credit during Summer months, but I believe Energy Companies must return the overpayment when it reaches a certain figure?

Which is why I don’t succumb to the constant attempts to get me to pay by DD even if they will give me £5 off or whatever. I submit the meter readings, they email me a bill, I pay it.