Mumsnet Talk

We just received an email from utility warehouse (who advertise themselves as being the cheapest) telling us that our gas bill is going from £75pm to £131 per month.... Just for gas!
I can't believe this is right! We have the heating on for an hour in the morning and then when we get back at about 3.30, it's on until 10 (just ticking over on about 20 degrees). We live in a 3 bed new build, the 3rd bedroom doesn't even have the heating on.
Please help! Is this just the norm now? I know the price if gas is rising for everyone, but nearly doubling it is just silly.
There is no way we can afford to pay it, so are there any good ways of reducing our bill?

Our last gas bill was £89 for 3 months so yours souds far too high.

We only have the heating on in the mornings for an hour at the moment and then we have the fire in the evenings, when it gets really cold i will put the heating on for a couple of hours in the evening too.

Maybe you could have your heating on a timer and have it going on and off during the evenings rather than on all the time, I can't think of how else you could cut it down.

This isn't a bill though Nylon. Its an estimate of your usage for a year, split into 12 equal payments.

Start looking at your usage by taking regular readings. (Once a week at same time if poss.) Get to know your usage and then you can tackle UW about the payments.

Some companies have a policy of having the balance of your account at nil just after winter, which means that they would be wanting you to pay for all your winter usage through the next few months, and then be building up a balance through the summer.

Have you joined them quite recently? Also, if you have had a meter reading recently, following estimates, your account might simply be that much in arrears.
Regular readings are so important for getting payments correct.

Ask UW what their policy is for instalment payments. They need to justify why they have increased the monthly payment so much, but they won't even look at it if you can't prove they have estimated too high iyswim?

Its been in the news that gas bills are going up for most companies. try switching, also consider a fixed tariff. We fixed ours a couple of weeks ago before the hikes.

why on earth do you have your heating up so high?

that will push up the cost loads.

21 degrees is room temperature.... We have it on 20.

Great idea to have it coming on and off in the evening. Will change that this eve. Its not on the whole time in the evening, it heats up to 20 and then only comes on if the room temp drops below that (I have no idea what that's called, as you can probably tell, I have no idea about these thingsf)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12606943

Have a looksie at that. Unless you are ill or very very young you don't especially need it at 20. I have mine about 17 and after a couple of days you don't notice a difference in warmth but your purse will.

yes drop your thermostat, try taking it down to 18, wear slippers, everyone wear an extra layer of clothing

thick curtaining, draught excluder by front and back doors if they are ill-fitting

For a new build that sounds FAR too high.

I live in a 4 bed new build (well 10 year old...). I work from home so the heating is pretty much on and the thermostat is usually 19-20 degrees. Our bill averages out to around £65 per month with British Gas.

I'd find out what your meter readings are for the last couple of months and have a look on some price comparison sites.

Are you detached? terraced? semi?

We're paying about £90pm for a detached 4 bed, with extremely bad insulation in an extended part of the house. A new build (even if detached), should be less than that.

I have my heating at about 18. I am now paying about £150 per month for gas and electricity. I wear lots of layers in the house. I think my washing machine use for me and 4 kids is what is hiking things up but I can'y not wash!

I am in a 3 bed new build detached - I pay around £75 a month

oh and that is for BOTH gas and leccie - and I am always in gas credit

You have the heating on already?

Energy prices have gone up 10% this year. So there will be a knock on from that.

bigbuttons you are paying more than me for gas and leccy at 20 degrees (and very comfortable).

gordy that sounds what someone in a new build should be paying.

We have our heating on those times each day - 3 bed 1930s semi and our bill is 115 quid a month for gas AND electricity so yours for just gas seems ridiculous - I would query it.

you have to ring them and ask them to work it out again. they have to look at your 12 months useage and divide by 12.

That's what we pay too! 4 bed new build. We are with first utility- husband adamant this is cheapest tarriff.

Im with EON online account, at home all day three bedroomed terrace have three teenagers and the washing that goes with it. I also have R.A so have to have the house warm and pay £89.00 a month for gas and electric.

op my provider (M+S) tried to raise my gas DD - I pointed out that they owed me £56 based on what they where charging me for gas - how could they justify raising it ...they agreed and kept it the same

ring them

Good suggestions but get your boiler serviced, when we moved into curent home we had a boiler with a fault and it was eating up gas and we had a scary bill even though it was summer.

The other thing is do you have a duel fuel deal? Or pay by dd that can reduce things.

I don't understand why mine is so high. I'm renting and have been here since april. Even the summer usage bill was over £300.
I use the washing machinge 3 times a day. Is that what is making it so high?

washing 3 times a day? do you really need to do that much?
My gas is £68 per month and elec £32
just me and ds in a 3 bed end terrace.
The heaters come on at 6.30 am and stay on till 11 pm if I'm at home, off if I'm not.