To hate my electric company??

[Parmaviolets13]

Just a bit of a moan to be honest!!
My house has no heating (currently saving and getting quotes to be installed) so have been using electric heaters the last few months to warm us up.

We knew it would be expensive.
We moved in in June, Eon set our gas and electric (gas fire we don't use) at £58 a month, pricey I thought for a one bed terraced house but as we just moved in they needed estimates.

We had a email yesterday saying we used so much between November and now, and are changing the direct debit to £58 to £110 a month. They have guessed what we have used will be the same for the next 6 months.

I spent most of yesterday crying because although it's 'only' £55 ish more, it's a lot of money to us. We earn very little. And it's a tiny house!!

I just wanted a moan really.

As you were 😃

[Dizzywizz]

With electric heating (& water?) I'm afraid I would have immediately thought your dd was too low. But then i used to work for the electric company and it is electric heating that catches people out most. E-on should have set it higher yes, but presumably you could have looked at some estimates online, and even read the meter after a month to keep an eye on it.

I would still do that to make sure the amount you are paying is covering the usage AND paying the debt back. Then you won't get caught out again.

[Dizzywizz]

Sorry, i hope that didn't seem about harsh.

[Dizzywizz]

*a bit not about!!

[Parmaviolets13]

Really? Do you think £58 a month is too low for a one bed house? When I first heard that I thought it was high! Then realised it was about right 😁
But £110 a month is ridiculous, although it is our fault for using the heaters.
Can't wait for central heating!

[DesolateWaist]

I lived in a small terrace with no heating and used electric heaters.
My DD was £90 a month. However, when I moved out the remaining balance was £900!

[Parmaviolets13]

Eek desolate! We are heading that way! Obviously what we owe hasn't been covered by our DD. I now don't want to use heaters at all but it's cold and we don't have much of a choice

[Akire]

I'm in a one bed flat a pay about £15 week in electric plus about £18 for gas (heating and cooking) so £23 week would be £100 a month. Sounds about right

[Manumission]

Why don't you use the gas heater? Safety concerns? Gas is much cheaper than electric heaters.

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

We live in a 2 bed and I'm out at work all day, dp works nights so is in bed all day so our heating isn't on much but our gas/electric dd is £95 a month

[DesolateWaist]

I know, it was a real shock.

We would only heat one room really and made sure that was well insulated.
I would turn on the heater in the bedroom for half an hour or so before we went to bed. We still ran up a huge bill.
I'm now in a three bed semi and my gas and electric bill is half what it was in the terrace.

Look at managing your bill online and giving regular meter readings. That way you shouldn't get a surprise. Also, look into getting a smart meter.

[britbat23]

If you think the DD they suggest is too high, then do not agree to it. Make a lower monthly payment. But be prepared for an even higher monthly payment next year if your calculations are wrong.

The electricity companies base their estimates on enormous amounts of data. They have a reasonably good sense of how much electricity will be consumed by a house of a certain size, heated in a certain way. They overestimate a bit to prevent customers from getting into debt, but often their estimates are pretty accurate.

[DesolateWaist]

If you think the DD they suggest is too high, then do not agree to it. Make a lower monthly payment. But be prepared for an even higher monthly payment next year if your calculations are wrong.

That's what I did. Which is why I ended up with a settlement bill for £900.

[Perfectlypurple]

I'm not sure why you hate your electricity company for charging you for the electric you have used. November and December are cold months so are January and February so they are probably about right thinking you will use the same amount for the next 6 months. Surely it is better than getting a massive bill that you cannot pay.

[TreeTop7]

I pay £99 per month for gas and elec. My house is big but modern and has a high energy efficiency rating. I also use a company that gives lower prices in return for the fact that you can't ring them - it's all managed online, it's impersonal but it suits me.

[unicornpoopoop]

I'm with ovo and only pay £70 a month for a 3 bedroom house and 5 people in it

[HermioneJeanGranger]

Sounds about right for electric heaters I'm afraid.

[Parmaviolets13]

It's amazing the contrast. £70 a month for a three bed house in one area and £100 for a one bed house elsewhere.

I understand I have to pay for electric I use, I was just upset yesterday for the leap in price. It's been an eventful, stressful, shit six months in this new house!!

And yes can't use gas Fire for safety reasons, the house hasn't got the correct ventilation

[Parmaviolets13]

* one bed flat for £100 - as pp posted

[Grindelwaldswand]

I pay £68 a month for gas and electric on a dual fuel plan with OVO I actually had EON take £22 out of my account the other day though despite never been a customer or associated with them dodgy company

[Grindelwaldswand]

For context im in a 2 bedroom apartment and have Central Heating on full blast this time of year and we take large baths and showers everyday

[harderandharder2breathe]

I have a 1 bed flat, with no gas and expensive to run electric heating. I can easily spend £110 a month during the winter (prepayment meter). In the summer it drops right down to about £40 though. Being able to spread the cost throughout the year would be preferable but as I rent and my contract is due for renewal in September, I don't want to risk putting loads of money into the electric all summer and then being told I have to move.

[panicstationscentral]

I sympathise! I completely understand why you hate them.

When I moved into my previous house we were over 200 a month on gas and electric and we were freezing! Heating only on an hour in morning and three at night. I was convinced there was something wrong etc. The letting agency and the gas people never found anything. Ultimately I think it was to do with the house being ancient and the boiler was an aga.

It's ridiculous that this is what it costs to be warm and my heart breaks my heart for those who are vulnerable and can't afford it and those who end up in terrible debt.

People shouldn't be allowed to profit on necessities such as this.

[panicstationscentral]

What about oil filled radiators? Is that what you are using? We used them when DD was born and it didn't seem to break the bank.