Direct debit going up to £600pm?

[nogella]

It's just me, DS and DD.

I don't even own a telly. They just get broken. Lights rarely on. I mostly just use the microwave for food, and oven a max of 15 mins a time. During the day none of that is in use really

What on earth am I spending £600 a month on exactly?! Charging phones and the shower?

I don't know what to do. What will I do! I don't really use my energy anyway. So I can't cut back either and I can't afford £600 a month. I don't have that. It doesn't exist even if I stopped eating

They are cheaper to use than an oven, especially fueled by electricity but also gas, as you use them for a much shorter time period.

Why the thread title then?

That does seem insanely high for what you say you are using. Until recently my electric and gas combined were 30 quid a month or less in the simmer and that's with working from home full time (was living alone and usually showered at the gym) so can't see how you can have been using 10x that even with 2dc before increases.

Can you get one of those usage monitors you can try on each device? Is it worth ringing up your provider - they can usually give ideas of how to save energy and what uses a lot? You definitely don't have a immersion heater on constantly or something?

What type of fridge-freezer or fridge and freezer do you have?

They can use lots of electricity.

It is true in a sense that a microwave uses a lot of power - they can be 1250W which is similar to using an electric heater for example - but they are used in very short bursts compared to an oven so will use less power overall.

If you don't have a smart meter are you reading the meters every month like clock work and submitting your readings?

Are you on a smart meter? Have you checked it is working properly?

6 people in your household?

I wonder if lots of posters have those huge American style fridge freezers, as apparently they use a lot of energy 🤔

I dont think that's an insane figure for the summer. Our actual bill is around that much in summer months, it is hundreds in the winter.

OP, how much energy did you use in the past year in kwh for gas and electricity.

How many days was the bill for? Do you have your annual usage in kwh for gas and electric? It should be on the bill. Is the direct debit of £600 a quote for a fix?

Are you in credit or debit? If in debit, what is the amount? Could be the energy company are taking that into account. How much was your direct debit before prices went up in April? Are you all electric, as this could give a higher bill?

Admittedly we're fairly careful, but we're a family of 2-3 (DD sometimes home) and our monthly DD is £104 at the moment. We do have lights on, tv and I use oven, so something doesn't sound quite right to me. Any infor you can give, might help us work out for you.

£360 seems very high from what you have said. We currently pay £150 per month for elec and gas for a semi detached, family of 4.

Me? No. My sons PC is on 24/7 for a start. I don't have the heating on yet and no tumble dryer use as SE. I don't think we are being frugal except for using the quick wash setting. This is a pretty standard summer charge for us. We're hardly in right now

It's not just on here though.

How many people live in your house?

I'm very jealous of your bills.

Two in ours, gas £15, electric £40 last month. Most electric is household use though (including fridge/freezer) and increases with household size but wouldn't double for double the number of people.

I'm worried now. But my smart metre is £1.13 so far for today so I think it's pretty realistic monthly charge?

That’s insane! Even your bill of £360 seems high for what you use.

For a month??? Or is the bill quarterly?

Sorry should've clarified, they said over the phone that's what they'd charge and advise if I go with a fixed cost direct debit

We've been here 6 months. New build property. Lots of natural lights, think I've rarely even put the lights on

The most usage is on tumble drier, showers and that's it. Just charge my phone and DS's tablet. Oh and use the microwave mostly, very very minimal use of oven

I have a standard slim fridge freezer

No telly

My husband's boss is outraged that we pay less than he does when there are two of them in much bigger house.

But I don't put the oven on six times for 6 separate meals. We don't watch 6 separate TVs, we don't sit with lights on in 6 separate rooms, don't have 6 freezers, fridges etc. It just doesn't work like that does it?

I have the lights on, tv, PC cook one meal. It's around £2.70 on the smart metre when I go to bed. It's still summer.

None of this makes any sense. How can your direct debit be £600 a month if you don’t pay by direct debit?

Read my last post

Sounds like £600 is for a fixed rate. You don't need to go on a fix (it's the price per kwh and standing charge thats fixed not the £600 btw). Ask the costs for the standard variable rate and compare price per kwh and standing charge to see if its worth fixing

Breathe.

“Sorry should've clarified, they said over the phone that's what they'd charge and advise if I go with a fixed cost direct debit“

There’s your answer.

So nothing particularly related to your consumption at all. Fixed unit cost deals are high at the moment.

You should definitely look into the £360 now though. Surely you’re on a smart meter if property 6 months old? I am surprised by how low some of the posters are quoting, but still - £360?!

Electric showers are quite expensive to run - a short (as quick as I can wash and condition my hair) shower on mine is about 25-30p (I have a smart meter) so multiply that by 3 people potentially showering more than once a day and you could be using more than you think. I still don't think it would justify that amount of electricity though. Why are you using a tumble drier in summer??
Did you read the meter when you first moved in? I wonder if they've got your starting reading wrong?