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

The amount they want to set your DD at doesnt necessarily mean thats how much you will actually use. If you have only been there 6 months they dont have much history of you usage so will estimate based on previous usage at the property, the fact winter is coming up etc etc.

There’s no way from the usage you’ve detailed in your last past that your usage should currently be £360 a month. There must be a mistake. Are you submitting meter readings?

What period does £360 cover? 1 month, 3 months?

I submitted metre readings a month after moving in and that's it. They said they could estimate from that

So it’s for a quarter? You need to pay monthly by direct debit to split your costs out for a start.

But £360 is still high - is that for a quarter as well?

As you haven't been there a year, they won't have any idea of your usual usage, so no way they'd know if £660pm was right. Any fixed deals are higher as energy companies want to cover their own backs and not loose out.

Do you know what your meter readings were around the time you moved in and now? I know it's spring and summer usage, but it'll help us work out if you're low, average or high user.

@IncessantNameChanger that’s similar for me. Close to £3 a day. Old 3 bed not overly well insulated but irrelevant to summer bills as no heating. 2 adults 2 kids. Generally turn lights off. Don’t use dryer much. Charge a lot of phones though 😭

Submit monthly readings so your bills are accurate and up to date. Dont leave it to them to estimate what you use

Never rely on their estimates. If you’re not on a smart meter then you must submit meter readings each month.
Surely you don’t think £360 usage in the summer months is ok?

Did you have the readings from when you actually moved in, not a month down the line?

You should’ve had readings at the exact point you moved in, or they’ll be miscalculating what usage was yours.

OP read your meters today and calculate how much gas and electric you’ve actually used since the last time you read the meter. Compare that to what you’ve actually paid and you’ll see if your account is in debit or credit. Never rely on their estimates so get into the habit of reading the meters every month or request a smart meter.

It they're estimating then could be assessing higher than you've actually used. Check your meters now and if the estimated reading they're using for the bill is higher than your meter, then you haven't used £360. We haven't got a smart meter, but I'm registered online with my energy company. They don't insist, but ask for meter readings every month. I don't mind doing this as it means I can clearly see what the position is.

£360 is so high it’s making me think it’s wrong.

You need to work out how much you’re actually using - get a smart meter or read your meters. At the moment none of this is making any sense because no one knows what your actual usage is.

Well that's your first problem! You should have submitted readings the day you moved in and should be doing them regularly to avoid estimated bills. Go and read them now!!

But 6 months ago your first metered monthly bill was March! Some people still have heating on in March. Have you been paying £360 a month for 6 months?! You might be pleasantly surprised to find you’re in credit! What were you paying per month in your previous place that £360 didn’t send you to the meter cupboard in shock?!

£360 is too high from what you've said you use in the first place. Have you got a smart meter? Bill breakdown?

It sounds like you weren’t responsible for energy bills in your last place?
🤞 you’ve built up some surprise credit!

Don't forget the standing charges - even if you use absolutely zero energy you'll still be forking a certain amount.

I'm still not sure what's going on. Is that £360 a month you've been saying? £360 for a few months of use?

Send meter readings, look how much you use, use one of the online calculators to work out how much you'll pay from next month (but if you haven't had a winter in that house yet it will be substantially more than your usage up till now)

It’s the summer! It’s not crazy - theres no need for heating or tumble dryer, and it was hot enough in August not to want the shower on max heat or the oven on. My August bill was £42.

Do meter readings every month OP, otherwise they will just assume you're using the average for a family in your size of house. They won't know you're using as little as you are.

I think what the OP means is they ask her to fix. You need to work out if the fix is worth it. Martin Lewis advised that if it's 145% less than the standard variable rate, then you should consider. But he doesn't have a crystal ball on what the standard variable would be in Jan and April. And the other risk for getting a fix rate is that you lock into a higher bill between october and jan and then the company goes bust in Jan so you don't get the pay back where the standard variable becomes more expensive then you fix with the rises.

Ok so these posts are driving me mad..... sorry OP! .

You drip feed info, then it turns out £600pm is for a ridiculous fixed rate, your in a brand new house for less than 6 months and have accepted that you'll just 'go with' estimated meter readings ??????

Arrrggghhh dont take the fix and take monthly meter readings 😊

Phew! I was worried for a moment. My standing charge is around 95p a day. I'm still sitting with no lights next to the open window watching TV with dd and only done one quick wash today (checked the smart metre it was undr 6p). That's not being frugal, I just don't need to use more energy until we eat. It's light and warm even with rain.

Winter won't be 77 a month. I'm worried about my winter costs hence doing quick washes.