Gas And Electric...
Well, there is always the worry that if my income drops this will be too expensive but the energy company say that my electric use is very low and they have set my monthly Direct Debit at £42(which remember includes standing charges)so really if it wasn't for the SC's that bill would be even less and or it could mean that I could use more electric.
Also, they have set the monthly gas bill at £10 of which approx £3-£4 is standing charges now that may have to be increased but again I have stopped using the CH and just keep the water warm so if I can keep costs down by being thrifty we're talking of approx £55 a month.
Now, if I don't lose all my benefits in the future and I can watch what I spend on food, the extra saved on the utility bills can be redirected to helping me to absorb the extra costs regarding the new Bedroom Tax, and changes to the Council tax and rent. They always go up whether you rent privately or from a council/Housing Association.
Then I may be able to stay put and be alone or the idea of a lodger may be very attractive. For now though I am going to still think that my utility bills are £100 a month and keep so spare just in case...
Also, they have set the monthly gas bill at £10 of which approx £3-£4 is standing charges now that may have to be increased but again I have stopped using the CH and just keep the water warm so if I can keep costs down by being thrifty we're talking of approx £55 a month.
Now, if I don't lose all my benefits in the future and I can watch what I spend on food, the extra saved on the utility bills can be redirected to helping me to absorb the extra costs regarding the new Bedroom Tax, and changes to the Council tax and rent. They always go up whether you rent privately or from a council/Housing Association.
Then I may be able to stay put and be alone or the idea of a lodger may be very attractive. For now though I am going to still think that my utility bills are £100 a month and keep so spare just in case...
posted by The Great Gildersleeve | 12:42 pm
13 Comments:
Your electricity monthly DD doesnt' make sense to me. I have just received my electricity account from EDF energy that I pay as and when I receive it. My last account was in June and I always submit my own meter reading to get a true assessment. Today, I was asked to pay £66 for the last 3 months which is what they estimate I have used. I have just read my meter and this reduces that amount by almost £10 and so I don't know what on earth you are doing to need to pay £42 per month. I live in a large house and there are two of use using the washing machine at least every other day and the TV is on every night for about 5 hours etc. etc.
You are wasting your money yet again and giving it to these large organisations on which they can make profit. Why not just pay for what you use?
I don't know, some people!! For a person of allegedly limited resources, you do appear to waste money.
Nick
I looked for a good deal and they talked me through various tariffs and costs and I have also used the comparison sites and they will take my readings and reduce what I pay accordingly. They say my use is very low.
So who knows perhaps it will reduce still further. My price for the units is said to be less, the killer is the Standing Charges. A few people I know pay £65 a month and think that is good.
I don't use a tv...use the washer once perhaps every two/three weeks. Often I eat cold meals. So I mainly use a PC, DAB radio and an energy saving light bulb. So I don't know, I don't do it deliberately Nick...
Do you know what your kilowatt per hour rate is? I consider mine quite high at 21p
My electric costs more than the gas I know that much...and the first amount costs more but after a certain point the price goes down...
I'll dig out the details and post them soon but I think my electric is around 10p and the gas is really low but if they suddenly put energy up my prices are frozen for approx a year.
You also need to get away from the idea that if you didnt pay the standing charge your bill would be less - if you didnt pay the standing charge the unit rate would simply be higher. I have had tariffs with and without SC and it has made no overall difference at all.
If you want to understand your usage you would do well investing in an energy monitor - you can then see where you electricty is being gobbled and make changes accordingly.
Anon,I agree with your post, they get it one way or another and they did say if I had a tariff without a standing charge the price of my units would cost more.
Well I have just submitted my actual reading to EDF this morning to generate a true cost and this has resulted in a charge of £57.17p since the last reading on June 6th and so I'm mystified as to how you can consider paying your supplier £42/month.
As I have indicated we don't try and conserve our consumption anywhere but are not wasteful and don't have a house full of kids.
I have two PCs, a tablet computer and numerous phones all of which are on charge and one time or another.
I used ca 300 units of electricity in the last quarter for which I have just quoted you the price.
Nick
Well, I doubt that I can change things as there is a penalty charge of £30 on each service if I switch companies so I assume switching to another tariff may affect matters.
If tey overcharge they re adjust the monthly Direct Debit and even offer to give me it back or not take more out until the credit is used.
I still think though I use less electric than yourself I will pay more than you. How I am unsure.
I seem to think I use approx 7-10 units weekly so that's 40 units a month(120 a quarter)and then though I try not to use it, there is the gas(which they are charging approx £10 a month)The standing charges are included.
The meters are new(ish)and have been checked.
I've stated my case and there's not much further I can add. Based on your units used/qtr your quarterly bill should be ca. £20!
Nick
Nick,All very interesting and honestly I do take notice.
We've had Smart Meters installed by our provider. You can check online and see what your using in real-time.
Our provider also offers free inspection service. They go through your home to see where you can save money, and help you financially to do so, in some cases (i.e. replace old fridge, weather stripping, etc...).
Do your companies do anything similar over there?
Jan
I think that they are starting to Jan.
As energy companies are a business and want to make profits for their shareholders it must really annoy them that they are expected to try and teach you how to use less.
But we know what happens you use less and they hike the prices up.
The easiest way to avoid paying is sadly switching everything off and behaving like a miser.
For the Anon's asking what I pay...
Electric Tariff...
Unit Rate 9.66p/10.143p(Includes 5%VAT)
Daily Standing Charge 32.30p/33.915p(Includes 5%VAT)
Gas Tariff...
Unit Rate 3.169p/3.327p(Including 5%VAT)
Daily Standing Charge 40.80p/42.840p(Includes 5%VAT)
If I remain with NPower they give me £100 at the end of the year in some form and as I am doing all the bills online, another £10.
Many days I don't use the gas at all so it is the SC I am being charged and however much gas a pilot light uses.
When I was using it more my avearge was 2-3 units a day.
But I hope to avoid using it much even during winter if I can use my warm clothes and stay under the duvet/use hot water bottles/fleeces.
It's electric I use the most of and that is the most expensive...
In general, I am so thrifty I think that averages out around 7-10 units a week, again it's the standing charges that add up.
So that's approx £5.39 each week before you use any energy(gas or electric)Annually that's £64.68(That's less than I originally was budgeting at...)If my Sums are right?
So at 520 units of electric per year I think that is £527.
And the gas would be approx £44? If I use 3 units a day and many days I don't use anything. Does that sound right?
If I could keep it like that over the year everything added togther would be...£635.68?
Approx £53 a month but that is saying I am using the gas every day which I don't!
And again the £110 discount has to come off so that reduces it to approx £43 monthly(£525.68)
Cannot see how I can reduce it further and whether this an average bill or smaller/larger than many...That's approx £10.75 per week(£1.54 daily)
Sorry, if this is boring to some or complicated. Arithmatic was never my strong point!
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