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Original poster

Fuck me, my energy bill has doubled to £150 a month!!

126 replies

notwhatineednow · 03/04/2022 22:39

It's doubled.

I can't tell how much of it is the energy prices going up, and how much of it is because I haven't done a meter reading for ages and so maybe I'm paying off debt? I can't tell, it's not at all obvious (I'm with Bulb).

Is this the kind of rise the rest of you are getting on normal bills?

Does anyone know if I can find out from the Bulb website if it includes debt? If it's there I'm missing it.

OP posts:
User76745333 · 03/04/2022 23:14

I’ve been watching the smart meter for most of the day because I’ve been painting in the utility room. For the past three days we’ve averaged £10 a day on electricity….

Our house is big and the dc are off school but it’s still very high.

Original poster
notwhatineednow · 03/04/2022 23:14

I hope everyone is going to vote the Tory fuckers out at the next election? This is ridiculous. And they have no solid plan to deal with it.

OP posts:
Stripyhoglets1 · 03/04/2022 23:15

Our DD was 150 with octopus for gas and electricity. I've just increased it to 200 but waiting to see what we actually use - they've not actually asked for anything extra yet which I'm surprised about.

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Original poster
notwhatineednow · 03/04/2022 23:15

Do you think that because my gas meter is so low what they've been estimating, it's confused their system? I sent the electric and gas readings in at the same time, but only the electric one has updated.

OP posts:
Shuuu · 03/04/2022 23:16

@notwhatineednow

I hope everyone is going to vote the Tory fuckers out at the next election? This is ridiculous. And they have no solid plan to deal with it.
They do have a solid plan. We deal with it & sink into poverty. If you have no food go to the food bank. That’s what they are thinking
Original poster
notwhatineednow · 03/04/2022 23:17

@millytint44

My d/d was £85 and now they want £242!!!
That's insane!
OP posts:
ToothGrinder · 03/04/2022 23:18

Just tell them what you can pay.

A lot of them are fitting it on, trying to absorb what they'll be paying in October by increasing now. Prices haven't gone up 100% yet so bills shouldn't be going up 100% yet either. Go to them with your readings and your budget and see what you can work out. Don't forget it's normal to be a month or even a wee bit more in debit at the end of winter. Yes you may be in debit again when they hike again in October but that is way off and they shouldn't be overcharging you now for what they intend to over-overcharge you six months hence. We might all get blown up by Putin before then! Sod giving bloody bulb money in the meantime.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 03/04/2022 23:19

I'm in a 3 bed semi- 2 adults one kid and it's going to £300 a month from 200

MadisonAvenue · 03/04/2022 23:23

Ours was £85 for dual fuel, EDF estimated that we’d need to pay an extra £60 per month so I upped the DD to £150 but since the 1st our smart meter display has been in excess of £7 each day.

The reason being that I’ve got a husband and two adult sons who want the heating on for hours on end, I turn the thermostat down each time I pass by and see the heating light on and one of them will turn it back up so that the heating clicks back on. At times I’m sitting here roasting in a long sleeved t shirt and thick jumper.

Blimeyherewegoagain · 03/04/2022 23:23

OP I think you have to get readings in every month for the next few months and it’ll build up a pattern of use. Also, depending who you’re with, you can go online and drop your direct debit but only by a certain amount.

radness75 · 03/04/2022 23:29

Oh i wish mine was just £150 :(
I pay £166 a month just now but im £500 in credit. As of the 31st of may they have told me i will be paying £572 a month which is more than my mortgage!!!!
Im looking for another company but cant change over until im within 49 days of the end of the fixed tariff. Im having sleepless nights thinking about it...

DidymusAmbrosius · 03/04/2022 23:30

@Blimeyherewegoagain

OP I think you have to get readings in every month for the next few months and it’ll build up a pattern of use. Also, depending who you’re with, you can go online and drop your direct debit but only by a certain amount.
Yup. Now, more than ever, it's important to know what you use, when you use it and what is costs - so that any recommended direct debit amounts can be cross referenced and you can make an informed decision to agree or reject it. Ie you Know exactly how much energy you will use over the coming months and how much you should pay per month to cover it.

Fwiw my energy bills have also doubled when compared to pre pandemic prices. It's ridiculous.

NotTheWomanIWas · 03/04/2022 23:32

3 bed semi
Was 160 now 447
It's beyond a joke

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 03/04/2022 23:55

Mine was £177 a month for gas and electricity, and I received an email from EDF advising my bill is going up by £980 per year. I’ve just increased my DD to £250 per month and I’ve had the heating on for a total of 4 hours for the last 5 days, even though it’s been between 12 and 13 degrees. I’m hoping the increase in DD plus reduction in having the heating on will cover it.

I’m currently off work with breast cancer and my sick pay finishes this month, so I’ll be on SSP after that, which doesn’t even cover my mortgage. I have no idea when I’ll be well enough to go back to work and I’m worried sick 😭

Babyroobs · 03/04/2022 23:55

We are with bulb nd ours has almost doubled - up from around £170 to £330 per month.

Babyroobs · 03/04/2022 23:57

@radness75

Oh i wish mine was just £150 :( I pay £166 a month just now but im £500 in credit. As of the 31st of may they have told me i will be paying £572 a month which is more than my mortgage!!!! Im looking for another company but cant change over until im within 49 days of the end of the fixed tariff. Im having sleepless nights thinking about it...
That is madness !
Cassimin · 04/04/2022 00:04

Mines £198 but I’ve always been in credit.
My company went bust and I’ve been taken over by shell.
Now they want £398!
I’m thinking warmer months, less lighting so I just sticking to my £198 and I’ll worry later on.
It’s the standing charge that’s doubled. It’s absolutely disgraceful that they can do this.

PurpleThistles · 04/04/2022 00:21

I got my electricity bill two weeks ago, covers from 10 Dec to 10 march. Over £900. They increased my DD from £138 to £320 a month.

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 04/04/2022 00:33

I'm with Bulb too. Do you get a PDF with your updated situation after the meter readings?
Your usage since XXXX is YYY updated balance is ZZZZZ - but they take payments in advance, so that is before your latest payment so if your direct debit is the same or higher than the balance then you are not in debt.
Haven't figured out yet whether they have updated estimated annual amounts based on new standing charge and unit rates, but hopefully coz that works out at £166 per month and my DD is £172.

TokenGinger · 04/04/2022 00:38

I'm with Bulb, too. Mine was £86 before Christmas. They upped it to £110 in January. And upped again to £140 from April.

ifyouturnonthelight · 04/04/2022 00:45

Have you submitted readings?

MistySkiesAfterRain · 04/04/2022 00:45

I was paying £77, now its £102. I don't have gas and live in a 2 bed new build. I've stopped leaving on lights and switch everything off now. I always make double portions, short showers, only do about 3 loads of clothes a week, no dishwasher.

user1471453601 · 04/04/2022 00:55

My energy bill rose £90 a month to £233.

I checked my account on ovo, and it cannot be debt I'm paying off because my last meter readings, last month, showed I was £240 in credit.

I couldn't work that out from the email I received yesterday. It said I needed to increase my direct debit by £90 a month because my current amount would leave me owing them money.

No mention, at all, that the increase in standing charges and higher costs of had had caused the shortfall. They just thought they could not tell me the truth and continue to take in the profits.

The sad fact is, they are right. I tried to call them on Saturday on the number they have me to clarify, but the number rang twice and then disconnected. It's one thing being taken for a fool, another that they can gaslight me.

And Sunak can shove his enforced loan (that I neither want or need) as far up his arse as he can get it. Instead of forcing me to take a loan I don't want, he should give non refundable help to those people who really need it.

Original poster
notwhatineednow · 04/04/2022 00:56

@radness75

Oh i wish mine was just £150 :( I pay £166 a month just now but im £500 in credit. As of the 31st of may they have told me i will be paying £572 a month which is more than my mortgage!!!! Im looking for another company but cant change over until im within 49 days of the end of the fixed tariff. Im having sleepless nights thinking about it...
That's obscene!

(Please tell me you're not going to vote Tory at the next election?)

OP posts:
Original poster
notwhatineednow · 04/04/2022 00:59

@ifyouturnonthelight

Have you submitted readings?
Yes, but I don't understand what they've done.

I tried to add readings on the 31st, to make sure I got in before it went up again. I waited an hour to get access to the Blub website, then when I was on the site, it said it couldn't accept my readings and I should do that, so I did.

I've had an automated reply confirming they've received the email but nothing else.

On the account I can see they've updated the electric but not the gas reading.

My gas reading is significantly below what they had been estimating.

OP posts: