Gas bills - Why is mine so high?

[theboyfold]

Just had my gas bill through for the period of 18 Dec 08 - 25 Feb 09 and I'm a little shocked as to how high it is...

There is just me and the lady in the house which is a small 3 bed end of terrace with a combi boiler (that is A rated) and a gas oven. Yet, somehow we've managed to use £226.10p in gas over that period. Electricity is £56 for the same period, and both are based on actual meter readings, I though prices were coming down

I'm on Click Energy 6 with the paperless billing option if that helps for comparison.

Are there any tips that people can suggest to look at bringing this bill down, or are my expectations of what it should cost all wrong...

[motco]

If you've had a new meter recently check whether they're still billing you as if it were an imperial one. New ones are metric and if not read (or interpreted) correctly will triple the cost. Compare the old bills for usage.

[steve_amv8]

Indeed - take a look at http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-you... and then check your meter to see which it is ... almost certainly a metric meter of replaced recently.

Just found the BBC Watchdog page on the subject (it was on a programme recently) ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/consumer_advice/late...

Go through this page and you'll know whether this is really the problem.

[theboyfold]

motco said:

If you've had a new meter recently check whether they're still billing you as if it were an imperial one. New ones are metric and if not read (or interpreted) correctly will triple the cost. Compare the old bills for usage.

I have had a new electric one fitted, but not a new gas one.

They are billing me as Imperial units and then converting to kilowatt hours, which from what you are saying I would assume to be correct

[motco]

The meter will have a legend on it to say if it's Imperial or metric. They apply a factor to convert 100cu.ft. to cubic metres - can't recall which way but if you haven't had a new meter, maybe they think you have? Read the bill very carefully and don't move on until you understand all of it - they seem to try to confuse...

[robinhood21]

£75 per month over the last three months doesn't seem to bad to be honest, especially when one considers prices have increased by 40% of late.

[Jasandjules]

theboyfold said:

Just had my gas bill through for the period of 18 Dec 08 - 25 Feb 09 and I'm a little shocked as to how high it is...

There is just me and the lady in the house which is a small 3 bed end of terrace with a combi boiler (that is A rated) and a gas oven. Yet, somehow we've managed to use £226.10p in gas over that period. Electricity is £56 for the same period, and both are based on actual meter readings, I though prices were coming down

I'm on Click Energy 6 with the paperless billing option if that helps for comparison.

Are there any tips that people can suggest to look at bringing this bill down, or are my expectations of what it should cost all wrong...

Is your boiler Gas and on 24 hours a day??

[theboyfold]

steve_amv8 said:

Indeed - take a look at http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-you... and then check your meter to see which it is ... almost certainly a metric meter of replaced recently.

It looks like it's an imperial one as it has 4 figures before the decimal point, and I've not had it replaced in the 7 years I've been here. So that would suggest that the fact they are converting it on the bill would be correct.

Jasandjules said:

Is your boiler Gas and on 24 hours a day??

It's on a fair amount as SWMBO does feel the cold a hell of a lot. I'm the polar opposite, so she does turn it on and forget about it a fair amount, plus we have had a cold winter.

Interesting I've just spoken (who in their credit are always helpful and polite whenever I've dealt with them) and I used more gas over the same period last year, but with the 40% price hikes this year the bill is higher. So maybe my expectations are a little off...

I've run a compare the market thingy, and I'm on the best deal, and the guy at BG has moved me to the latest tariff on Gas, so hopefully it will all help. Just need to buy SWMBO some jumpers and a woolly hat now.

[Hedders]

Glad i got my rates frozen last year .
My gas bill for this quarter was £190 and that felt pretty bad!

[Wacky Racer]

For anyone worried about high Electricity/Gas charges don't forget this winter has probably been the coldest for nearly ten years, summer's on the way, and charges are SUPPOSED to be coming down.....

Always look on the bright side.......

[Fatboy]

Work out your gas kWH yourself to double check your bills - and double check your meter readings if you can.

To work out the gas kWH you need a couple of conversion factors, see here for a method.

The calorific factor should be shown on your gas bill, and is a variable factor set by your local gas area, and depends on things like pressure, density and gas composition - it changes from time to time I think, but not by much, and will always be shown on your bill.

[missdiane]

robinhood21 said:

£75 per month over the last three months doesn't seem to bad to be honest, especially when one considers prices have increased by 40% of late.

it's only over two months and a week, which is about £100 a month, which does seem a little high. Ours is about £50 a month, same appliances in mid terrace

[motco]

Hedders said:

Glad i got my rates frozen last year .
My gas bill for this quarter was £190 and that felt pretty bad!

I got mine frozen in December 2006 until April 2010 so there!

[ZR1cliff]

Here's a similar thread that might help you.

http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&amp...

[pano amo]

Mine was £440

That was from start dec til end feb. 4 bed house with two adults and two young kids. We did have the heat on a lot over this period. I don't recall a colder winter in recent years.

Stunned when I saw the bill!

[theboyfold]

Fatboy said:

Work out your gas kWH yourself to double check your bills - and double check your meter readings if you can.

To work out the gas kWH you need a couple of conversion factors, see here for a method.

The calorific factor should be shown on your gas bill, and is a variable factor set by your local gas area, and depends on things like pressure, density and gas composition - it changes from time to time I think, but not by much, and will always be shown on your bill.

Yep, that's the method that has been used. It's just higher than I thought it would be

[Gonewest]

£100/month during the winter aint too bad....people dont realise how much energy has gone up untill they get the latest bill.Energy companys will stick you on the tarrif that makes them the most...not what is best for yourself.Always worth checking out

[Graham]

You should worry my last quarter... up to 19th jan came in at 900 quid.... 900 fecking quid...

for a 4 bed detatched !! 150 odd quid was electric and the rest gas!!! I too have a a- rated combi boiler, plenty of lot insulation double glazing etc... I wouldnt care as much if the house was actually warm....


hence me looking at cavity insulation in another thread....

now monitoring usage closely.. in the last 37 days 240 quid in gas alone..


G

[theboyfold]

Graham said:

hence me looking at cavity insulation in another thread....

Are things like this a good economy? Could be worth looking into things that are wrong with the house in terms of keeping it warm, see if there are any easy wins in keeping a little more heat in.

[robinhood21]

missdiane said:

robinhood21 said:

£75 per month over the last three months doesn't seem to bad to be honest, especially when one considers prices have increased by 40% of late.

it's only over two months and a week, which is about £100 a month, which does seem a little high. Ours is about £50 a month, same appliances in mid terrace

Oops! Teach me to read the thread properly next time.