Holy Utilities Bill Batman!

George Hincapie · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:35

We've just got our EDF Gas & Electricity bill for the period 05 Jan 12 - 10 Feb 12. It is based on actual meter readings.

£424.11

Holy ****!

That's like twice what it was for the same period last year. The Gas component of the bill makes for 3/4 of the total, with 703 units used during that period. I know utility prices have increased recently, but that's insane.

Ouch!

Cosimo · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:37

There is a price to pay for keeping warm and you're going to pay it.

merlin · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:38

Clearly incorrect or you've been running on estimated readings for ages and now it's payback time. If the latter then view it as interest free credit.

FTM · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:40

are you growing weed in one of the bedrooms?

realBabelfish · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:51

FTM said:
are you growing weed in one of the bedrooms?

a bedroom? more like a street for that much!!

600w light for 12 or 18 hours a day doesnt cost that much...

agnes · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:53

Have you got electric heating?

I did, didn't cost even a quater of that for 1 month.

And that included the cooker, water and heating!!!

So yea, something is not right my friend.

Kaching time me thinks

Estimates readings = nice little payout for you.

realBabelfish · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:53

merlin said:
Clearly incorrect or you've been running on estimated readings for ages and now it's payback time. If the latter then view it as interest free credit.

i tried that years ago when i couldnt afford the bill. the prices increased plenty that year. its a terrible way to get credit

wildman · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:55

merlin said:
Clearly incorrect or you've been running on estimated readings for ages and now it's payback time. If the latter then view it as interest free credit.

This si the probable cause. I had the same experience at the start of last year. The bill came in for just over 700 quid for the quarter. It said actual. I checked the meter and it was right. Phone EDF to ask WTF was going on, they said uts the first actual reading they had taken for 18 months !!!!!

I checked all my previous bills and they weren't lying

Participant · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:57

This is why I submit meter readings online every month. Pay what you've used, no nasty surprises, catch ups, or lending the gas company money.

schumi84 · 15 Mar 2012 at 14:57

That is mental, we've actually just had a letter through from Eon saying that our prices will be going down.

When we got our quaterly bill through after a reading we were acually £30 in credit (£60 we pay per month for both) which we were massively surprised at because we thought we had the heating on more than last year, now have a tumble dryer.

As has been said above, it could be that you had been on estimated and possibly underpaying or that they have just got it wrong.

numatic.nathan · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:00

We use pay as you go. Don't think we ever pay more than £25 a week. And that's with quite a few appliances being used at any one time.

George Hincapie · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:00

We moved to EDF just before Christmas hoping to save. We get billed monthly. I submit meter readings every month. As I said, 3/4 of the bill is for gas, the electricity component was only £90. Our kitchen opens directly into our conservatory, with no door between and in Winter is always freezing. There's not a lot I can do about that realistically.

Glaucus · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:01

How do you not keep track and have you thought about changing tarrif/suppliers.

I'm on edf fixed super cheap

, I also pay monthly, over pay in summer months on gas, means I can keep warm. Still that bills is about 3 times to expensive and I'm in a 3big bed house with basically no insulation.

merlin · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:04

Robbie G said:
This is why I submit meter readings online every month. Pay what you've used, no nasty surprises, catch ups, or lending the gas company money.

I do meter readings once a quarter but pay monthly - £95 a month for gas and elec which is more than we use in the spring and summer but less than we use in the autumn/winter but it pretty much irons out over the year.

Nothing worse than finding out you've not been paying enough - that really boils my urine.

Andy · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:05

The last 4 months have my EDF dual fuel bill came to around £450. However i only put the heating on when the women comes round. Gotta spoil here like!

George Hincapie · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:09

Glaucus said:
How do you not keep track and have you thought about changing tarrif/suppliers.

I'm on edf fixed super cheap , I also pay monthly, over pay in summer months on gas, means I can keep warm. Still that bills is about 3 times to expensive and I'm in a 3big bed house with basically no insulation.

My wife and I both work in the City, have a 3 hour daily commute and a 17 month old baby to look after. TBH, it's all we can do to get through the week

We moved to EDF from EON just before Christmas after USwitch indicated we could save money.

I'm going to have to look at insulation and general draught proof issues as well.

Glaucus · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:11

Ewww comparison sites, I got ripped off with npower on one of the,.

Spreadsheet and find the tarrifs and do it yourself.

It's also takes 2mins to take a reading.

Pawnless Endgame · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:14

simulatorman said:
There is a price to pay for keeping warm and you're going to pay it.

In Winter '10/11 yes but not in '11/12 which is the mildest Winter I've known.

To contradict though, I was paying £49/month dual-fuel in '10/11 but £72/month in '11/12 despite less usage for the latter milder Winter, so I don't know what happened there. I submit my meter reading most months.

elmarko · 15 Mar 2012 at 15:17

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17365137

Suitable article.

realBabelfish · 15 Mar 2012 at 16:32

merlin said:
I do meter readings once a quarter but pay monthly - £95 a month for gas and elec which is more than we use in the spring and summer but less than we use in the autumn/winter but it pretty much irons out over the year.

Nothing worse than finding out you've not been paying enough - that really boils my urine.

thats what i do. saves me getting a big bill at xmas time like i used to.