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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what your gas and electric costs are each month?

213 replies

CaptainBenson · 13/10/2024 17:33

I'm just curious really!

Mine is £99 combined direct debit per month based on estimated use and I'm in credit which is handy for over the winter.

3 bed house, two adults, one child.

I'm just wondering if what I'm paying is about average.

OP posts:
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LuckysDadsHat · 15/10/2024 15:20

Westfacing · 15/10/2024 14:54

But why do people want to build up credit instead of managing their account - you don't pay for your groceries upfront so why, in essence, are you paying for energy upfront, because that's what it is!

A nice earner for the companies.

It is spread out over a year! So in winter I'm not paying for what energy I consume I am paying less. If we have a very cold winter I may owe them money in March/April time so it all works itself out.

It is a lot easier for most people who have to budget to pay the same amount every month all year round. This isn't a new thing, this has been going on for decades.

TrumpIsACuntWaffle · 15/10/2024 15:15

190 per month big 4 bed and 2 adults and 2 teens.

Frowningprovidence · 15/10/2024 15:12

Westfacing · 15/10/2024 14:54

But why do people want to build up credit instead of managing their account - you don't pay for your groceries upfront so why, in essence, are you paying for energy upfront, because that's what it is!

A nice earner for the companies.

Because not everyone is good at budgeting and they wouldn't put a bit by each month for winter and would then struggle but they can manage a direct debit they don't need to think about.

Westfacing · 15/10/2024 14:54

LuckysDadsHat · 15/10/2024 08:49

At this time of year if paying by monthly set direct debit you should be in credit as that will get you through the winter months!

But why do people want to build up credit instead of managing their account - you don't pay for your groceries upfront so why, in essence, are you paying for energy upfront, because that's what it is!

A nice earner for the companies.

Ariela · 15/10/2024 14:11

4 bed with solar and log burner with free wood, average 2 adults home all day plus average 1-2 extra adults evenings/weekends, spend £800/year electricity & £500/year oil. Sunny Thames Valley so heating on for Christmas and the odd evening here and there, might be on more in January/February. No electric cars. No credit held.

rainfallpurevividcat · 15/10/2024 13:05

LuckysDadsHat · 15/10/2024 08:49

At this time of year if paying by monthly set direct debit you should be in credit as that will get you through the winter months!

Indeed. We have built up credit so I think the £500 will last us through winter while we keep paying £100 a month. In February/March the credit will be £0 again.

Floralnomad · 15/10/2024 12:14

@TwistedSisters very true because we are actually quite big users but were on a very good fix and our payment , even at £150 probably doesn’t reflect my usage .

TwistedSisters · 15/10/2024 10:24

Floralnomad · 15/10/2024 09:49

They probably pay by dd and have lots of credit . According to BG a I should only need to pay £70 combined for my 4 bed detached but it’s because I have lots of credit . I still overpay .

Yes I reckon that too....its a bit disingenuous if that's the case, it would be far more accurate to know everyone's usage rather than their payment.

Seasonsofmists · 15/10/2024 09:51

We pay as we go so no credit. Just paid £83 combined for last month. 3 bed semi, 3 adults. Spent nearly £200 on seasoned wood for the log burner though.

Floralnomad · 15/10/2024 09:49

TwistedSisters · 15/10/2024 09:39

I'm sorry, but I just don't believe this!! How is it possible? The standing charge alone is around £30 ish regardless of how much you're using. And at 20p ish per kwh that means you're using about 2kw a day and no gas at all, and you say you're in a 5 bed house?

They probably pay by dd and have lots of credit . According to BG a I should only need to pay £70 combined for my 4 bed detached but it’s because I have lots of credit . I still overpay .

TwistedSisters · 15/10/2024 09:39

Osirus · 14/10/2024 00:03

£49 gas and electricity combined. 5 bed house. Two adults, one child.

I'm sorry, but I just don't believe this!! How is it possible? The standing charge alone is around £30 ish regardless of how much you're using. And at 20p ish per kwh that means you're using about 2kw a day and no gas at all, and you say you're in a 5 bed house?

LuckysDadsHat · 15/10/2024 08:49

Westfacing · 14/10/2024 06:52

No wonder the energy companies are raking it in with so many posters having large amounts of credit sitting in someone else's bank account!

At this time of year if paying by monthly set direct debit you should be in credit as that will get you through the winter months!

Touty · 15/10/2024 08:37

Ha55leback · 14/10/2024 06:14

We do, can’t see why you wouldn’t.

Who are you with?

TwistedSisters · 14/10/2024 18:26

I'd love to be paying some of the prices quoted here!

We're on Intelligent Octopus for electricity so get cheap overnight rate. Have oil fired central heating which is approx £100 pm, the electricity is £200 pm. 5 bed detached, electric car, immersion heater, underfloor heating, 2 ovens, tumble dryer etc etc ...

CloudywMeatballs · 14/10/2024 18:17

I'm in the US, in a warm climate. Our electric bill is close to $500 per month in the summer, nearer $200 in the winter.
Gas is around $150 in the winter, $70 in the summer.

Tulipvase · 14/10/2024 18:11

orangetriangle · 14/10/2024 18:07

can't believe the difference in monthly payments on this thread

There is a big difference. Presumably the average must be approx £150 a month as that is the price cap? Not sure if that is how it works.

orangetriangle · 14/10/2024 18:07

can't believe the difference in monthly payments on this thread

Livedandlearned · 14/10/2024 11:13

And £250 in credit from the summer as we have solar panels.

Livedandlearned · 14/10/2024 11:12

£100 combined 3 bed semi with 2 adults.

I like the heating on often as I was sick of being cold in our last house.

TeenLifeMum · 14/10/2024 11:11

Gardenlover121 · 14/10/2024 00:36

@TeenLifeMum no just a 200 year old listed building with very high ceilings. We can’t do insulation re walls as solid stone. Very limited on any other options re listed status. I’d love to hear any suggestions

Councils usually give grants for grade 2 listed insulation (our first house was grade 2… love the look but we moved to newer houses ever since). Might be worth you asking though.

shockeditellyou · 14/10/2024 08:48

We pay £170/m for electric only, then another £2K a year on top for oil! That said, our electric bill should come down - we weren't paying enough when rates were higher.

linelgreen · 14/10/2024 08:40

£410 per month for gas and electric 5 beds but we do have heating set to keep house at 20degrees so it cycles on and off all day, We have one electric car and a swim spa so expect the bill to be high.

FluffBut · 14/10/2024 08:26

£92 combined, 2 bed with single occupant. In credit a few hundred ready for winter, but abroad for 5 weeks so heating will be turned right down and hot water off.

Seymour5 · 14/10/2024 08:20

We’re in our 70s, 3 bedroom 1920s semi, North of England. £170 a month dual gas/electric. We have about £400 in credit. That wouldn’t earn much interest, and DH feels the cold, so we prioritise being reasonably warm. We dress warmly too, those hooded robes are amazing.

SallyWD · 14/10/2024 08:09

We live in an extended 1930s semi that has a lot of rooms. We pay £225 per month for gas and electricity.