What should I expect gas and electric?

[gerrrti]

Four bedroom house, two bathroom, two adults and one dc.

I read somewhere it could be 500 a month total? Surely not? We will basically not be able to live.

Do you have a bill around? You need to know your average annual usage. And I am presuming you are on the variable rate and if so you can use the MSE calculator to see what you'll be looking at in October.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/what-are-the-price-cap-unit-rates-/#tool

There are regional variations on the elements of the capped rate but it should be pretty close.

I don’t have any of that info sadly!!

Looks like rough rule of thumb would be triple what you're paying now IF your consumption stays the same.

How do you not have that information? Without it you're pissing in the wind.

Yes about triple what your bill is now. It's horrifying.

It will increase in relation to your current costs, so you need to find out your current usage and calculate from there. No-one can tell you how much your own bills will be, we don't know what your usage is.

Just found the info it’s saying 3,580 but will be even higher next year!!!!

I don’t understand how people are going to live? Sorry if I’m late to the party but what the fuck?

What will happen if you just can’t pay

Why don't you have the info on your usage?

Surely you get bills, yearly statements or can see the meter readings in your online account?

Without knowing let usage it's like asking how long is a bit of strong.

Russia just confirmed the gas pipe to Europe will stay off - in retaliation for G7 capping exports to Russia. Goood one guys..! Bills will go up a lot now without intervention.
Your bill seems reasonable for the size of house but it's down to usage, how insulated you are, pattern of use, appliances, are your bulbs all LED or not etc etc...

Debt passed on to a collection agency, and a high chance of a pre pay meter. Same as it has always been really.

I've resigned myself to the fact my utilities will go into debt for the first time ever. Nothing I can do about it because our wages havent gone up and I cant magic money out of thin air.

All I'm going to do is pay the maximum I can and hope the govt steps in before it gets even more mad, or hope my utility company will be understanding and work with me.

I hate this. I'm having sleepless nights.

You'll be forced onto a pre-payment meter.

I have a baby will they just cut it off if we
cant pay. I am so worried

Not cut off no, but onto a prepayment meter.

You need to get hold of your usage data.

Surely you know how much you've been paying up until now?

I have it looks like around 4K next year

i guess I could use a credit card?

@loudbatperson thsts the same thing as cutting it off if we can’t pay though

You need to do what you can to take control of the situation. You need to find out your usage. If you don't have a smart meter, online account or old bills floating around, phone your supplier and ask them.

Ask then what you've used and if this is estimated or actual. Ask them for your rates per unit and standing charge. Ask them to calculate what you'll pay based on previous years. Find out if you have a debt on not on the account.

I am one for moments of burying my head on the sand, but I really cannot believe how many people have no clue about any of this stuff.

@Undermearmour ive always been able to pay so it’s never been an issue. I could manage 2/3k just about but anything more and it’s debt

The debt will be spread and you will have to put money on before use. You must have some for fuel as you are using it now.

You will need to cut back on usage and increase income. It's the only way.

When a prepayment runs out I think there is a very small amount of "emergency" credit but when it runs out, yes the fuel turns off.

It's been happening up and down the country since prepay meters became a thing.

So you've been paying your yearly bill in a lump?

It could be. An awful lot depends on the house - modern, well insulated 4 bed, or draughty old Victorian 4-bed.

The “typical household” on which the price cap headlines are based uses 12,000kWh gas and 2,900 kWh electricity per year.

We are 2 adults in a 4-bed, no DC. It’s a new build, well insulated, efficient appliances, we also have solar panels. Both our gas and electricity usage (well, import) are lower than typical, despite having an EV to charge. So if we were on the standard variable tariff (we’re not), our total bill would be less than the headline £3,549 or whatever it is. Without the solar panels, our electricity would be at least 50% more than the typical usage.

You really need to know your usage.

And back in coin meter days many moons ago there wasn't even emergency credit.