What are you paying for electricity & Gas

My fifth year with Octopus ….up till Nov 31st last year I was paying £53.68 pcm which covered my usage as long as I applied and was awarded the warm home discount. When that fixed rate ended my charges rose to £71.26 pcm for the same use and now they have risen to £108.06 pcm for the same use. I live alone in a ground floor one bedroom council flat with very poor insulation. The difference between November last year and now is 2/3 of my monthly grocery, dog food, fuel, clothes, etc etc budget. So I’m left with £39 weekly now to buy all of those things. I did switch the heating off completely the day before yesterday but was so cold last night I switched it back on for a couple of hours. Currently I’m using a hot water bottle, three tops and cosy blanket to keep warm during the day. Thank goodness summer is around the corner. I think my car will have to go, there is nothing else to get rid of as I don’t drink or smoke or go out anywhere …I do use the car to collect my Aldi shop once a month …and for health related visits but it’s 18 years old and very costly to run and tax so I guess it has to go. I don’t have any savings or means to buy something newer cheaper or more efficient. I do feel sad as it’s enabled me to visit my children and grandchildren sometimes as given their locations buses aren’t an option. The lady to whom I spoke at Octopus was very nice and apologised for the price hike. But also said that it will probably double again in October. What I shall do then I have no idea. I’m sure I’m not the only person in this situation and I feel desperately for families with children …at least it’s just me and the dog here. Sending my thoughts to anyone else on a fixed income who finds themselves similarly knocked sideways by all these price rises.

So very sorry to read this Grandmaz. Martin Lewis has been encouraging everyone to see if they are entitled to any help.

Here is the link.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check/

I was thinking just the same Shandy. Grandmaz please do see if you should be getting benefits. So many go unclaimed.

I was with Ebico for a number of years - Ebico did not have standing charges but you did pay a little more for your gas and electric but as a low user, Ebico suited me. When they closed down I was transferred to British Gas. I was able to claim the Warm Home Discount with British Gas as I am on a low income so that was a huge help. Ebico did not offer the scheme, being a small company.

From British Gas I moved to Avro Energy then they closed down and I was moved to Octopus Energy.

I am very careful and my direct debit was £22 per month. I have now gone on a flexible tariff, if I had fixed, it would have cost me more! My standing charges for both gas and electric are nearly £22 per month before I start. I also have solar panels so during the day I will hoover, mow the lawn or wash or put small electric heaters on throughout the house for free so that is a great help. I also wear zillions of layers and look like a Sumo Wrestler (am under 8st and look 18st).

gas unit 7.28p
gas st charge 27.22p
elec unit 27.63
elec st charge 44.48

I have decided I am going to try and use as little gas and electric as possible (on principle). I only had my heating on an hour at night anyway with all radiators off upstairs - now I am staying under the duvet with a hot water bottle. Electric blanket a must so my bed is warm. I have tried to just have one light on at a time and if I get up to go into the kitchen, I have switched the tv off. I am on my own so all this doesn't bother anyone else. Thinking of buying a headtorch next!

How much easier it was many years ago when the Utilities were nationalise and we only had three bills Electricity, gas and water. No share holders!

I agree Bijou. Nice to hear from you, hope you are well.

Last summer my fixed rate finished and I went for
E.on Next 2 year fix until
5th August 2023.

Electricity
18.83p/ kWh
25.77p / day standing charge

Gas
3.44p/kWh
28.24p/ day standing charge

I feel so lucky that the timing of the change was good and also that I wasn't tempted by cheaper rates with one of the suppliers that went out of business.

I have a theory! Standing charges doubled overnight. Some days my energy usage cost is less than my standing charge. If energy prices fall, which some "experts" say they will, energy suppliers will have to reduce the kWh cost, but they've managed to increase the standing charge which isn't linked to the wholesale price of energy, so they have managed a backdoor increase that will be permanent. I would like to know the justification for the excessive increase in standing charges. They say it is for infrastructure costs, but how did they double overnight?

Nancat

I have a theory! Standing charges doubled overnight. Some days my energy usage cost is less than my standing charge. If energy prices fall, which some "experts" say they will, energy suppliers will have to reduce the kWh cost, but they've managed to increase the standing charge which isn't linked to the wholesale price of energy, so they have managed a backdoor increase that will be permanent. I would like to know the justification for the excessive increase in standing charges. They say it is for infrastructure costs, but how did they double overnight?

According to a news report a week or so ago, the standing charge doubled overnight in some areas, because some charges that were previously included in the price per therm, were now applied to the standing charge instead, which was then increased to cover them.

I’m with British Gas, dual fuel. Direct debit was £90 per month until November when the fixed rate deal ended. I took out another fixed rate which increased the DD to £125 per month. It’s not due to end until October 2023, so cushioned for now, but keeping a keen eye on what happens in the meantime.

Mine has gone up from £85 a month fuel fuel to £140! Sitting with blankets round you in 2022 is not acceptable!!!

I signed a 2 year fixed rate contract with OVO last September. My monthly dd is £101 and I am in credit at present. I think we were lucky but can’t imagine how much it will cost when the contract comes to an end in Sep 2023!

My £101 pcm is for gas and electricity. I forgot to say that in my first post.

Not sure why ours is now so much more expensive at £305 pm, we don’t live in a castle..but a normal 3 bed house. Current a/c with Bulb (maybe not for long).

I'm paying too much! Rates have just increased 54% (fixed rates finished) - so standard variable, for me (and many others) as few cheaper options are available right now. Still, I'll try my level best to find some. I particularly resent the standing charges:

Electricity, 29.63p per kWh, standing charge 32.14p per day

Gas, 7.52p per kWh, standing charge 27.22p per day

I’m on fixed rate for electric with EDF until end of July 22.

But I was with SSE for my gas. They were taken over by OVO and I was migrated over to OVO in February this year.

SSE gave the wrong meter reading to OVO. They gave it as 14921. Which was the amount of credit I had after paying by DD for years.

The true reading was 22000 (can’t remember the last digits.)

But I’m now £1400.00 in debt because SSE messed up!

I’ve spoken to OVO. It’s going to take them 12 weeks to rectify. In the meantime I ‘may be threatened with disconnection, or have bailiffs sent to the house if I don’t pay!’

Had nothing from OVO otherwise regarding price increases.

Can anyone tell me if they’re any good or should I change supplier?

We were very lucky, and fixed a 2 year deal in August with Shell, just before it all kicked off. It runs to August 2023.

Electricity standing charge 30.40, per kWh 18.14.
Gas standing charge 15.40, per kWh 3.94.

Our direct debit is £90 per month.

Do bear in mind that you can argue over your Direct Debit amount - I did. I had a long, tedious conversation with a (poor) British Gas employee. I'd recently increased my DD, from £5 to £20. They informed me it was to go up to £47 - based on my 'projected usage' and the 54% increase.

I said that they don't have the information needed for 'projected usage' (and neither do I) as it depends on:

The weather
The guests
Whether I'm here
and
How careful I am

I said an increase to £30 was ok. They said the 'minimum acceptable amount' was £35. So I said I'd cancel the DD. I agreed to it at the time to get the lowest tariff (no longer applicable with the price cap as they can't increase rates). Then, eventually, they agreed to £30.

Of course, I then demanded/received an apology for treating me like an idiot. I'll pay monthly for what I use - and keep my savings in my bank, thanks all the same, British Gas!

you don`t have to argue a change of direct debit with octopus. I requested £10 less a month and it was actioned immediately. Bearing in mind that this dd is only an estimate anyway, of an amount that will cover a full years energy

NANCAT: ‘suppliers will have to reduce the kWh cost, but they've managed to increase the standing charge which isn't linked to the wholesale price of energy, so they have managed a backdoor increase that will be permanent. I would like to know the justification for the excessive increase in standing charges. They say it is for infrastructure costs, but how did they double overnight?’

Totally agree! I was so enraged by the increase in standing charge that I emailed Ofgem. As a consumer I have a right to know what my £200+ per year standing charge is being used for. The infrastructure for households receiving energy does not suddenly cost more so why is there a need to increase that cost? I received (an automated) response to the effect that the increase is to cover the cost of the providers that have gone out of business - those same providers that were offering energy at ridiculously low rates that were clearly unsustainable and were supposed to have been regulated by Ofgem!!! Money making businesses men saw the largely unregulated UK energy industry as a cash cow; they set up as energy providers that were not viable; made millions; went bust and we - the energy consumers - are left picking up the bill. This is a failure of Ofgem’s due diligence in their regulatory process and we are all suffering as a result. I am furious by the way we have been conned by the current right wing, economic policies - once again! Energy companies should be NATIONALISED - not left at the mercy of unscrupulous money makers. People need to know this, but all we hear in the mainstream media is that it’s due to the rise in energy prices and is a global crisis. It is not! The rise in standing charge is a direct consequence of the energy ‘free market’ in the UK! Perhaps, in this free market, where the consumer is king, I’ll say ‘do you know what, I’ve decided not to ‘purchase’ the standing charge so won’t be paying for it’

The price paid for gas and electric is irrelevant its the standing charge I do not agree with especially when you have a dual fuel bill. I also loathe paying road tax include it in the price of fuel therefore if you use the road you pay for it.

We have Bulb for gas and electricity, and are on economy 7. Our combined DD was £96 per month until the end of last year. It was put up to £125 per month. We have not been given a new payment figure from 1 April yet. We live in an average 3 bedroom house, and I do use a tumble drier. I’m not really sure if we are better off on economy 7 or not - nobody seems to be able to tell me!

Moving forward, I am going to try to set the washing machine and dishwasher to come on early in the morning when my electricity is cheaper. I am also going to cut right back on using the tumble drier.

Joyken

The price paid for gas and electric is irrelevant its the standing charge I do not agree with especially when you have a dual fuel bill. I also loathe paying road tax include it in the price of fuel therefore if you use the road you pay for it.

There’s actually no such thing as road tax. It’s vehicle excise duty - the amount you pay is based on the car you drive and the impact the emissions have on the environment. Hard to see how you could fairly include it in the price of fuel because it would have to be at a flat rate. This would take away the incentive to reduce emissions and those driving modest cars would be subsidising the gas guzzlers. I agree with what you’re basically saying though - everywhere you look we’re being gouged for taxes and duties, and it can only get worse.

Was SSE now taken over by OVO. DD upped to £170 per month, was £50, We are in credit by £86.
Only have electricity, oil heating.
According to my smart meter, the most we used in a month was 282kWh in December.
Tariff is 27.89p kWh, standing charge is 50.02p per day.
This would amount to £94.17 at todays rates.
There is an option to change the DD on their site but you can only increase the amount.

Looking at other's daily standing charge, ours looks excessive.
What is your daily standing charge if you are also an OVO customer?

It might be your region pce612, there is a link to the regional costs on another page.

I'm in the rural NE and our electricity power lines were blown down in Storm Arwen, and again in Storm Barra. Some people were off for six weeks whilst the repair people worked in dreadful conditions. Our electricity standing charge is noticeably higher than other areas.