How has my gas and electric cost this much?!??

[theblackbird]

Over £500 just on just gas in a month when I’ve not even lived at my property throughout November? I’m in a different country currently working. I understand a standing charge but that would be £16 a day.

Is it an estimate?

Have you given them meter readings?

Faulty meter, Faulty reading, left your heating on at 25°?

When can you get home to find out?

You didn't turn it off?

Or it's an estimated reading.

Or it's an actual reading but previous readings were under estimated readings

Do the readings in the bill match the read from when you moved in and the read you gave them for the bill?
Or if it’s a smart meter can you get someone to check the meter for you to see if then current reading is in line with the bill?

If the standing charge is £16 per day, wouldn’t that be almost £500 over the course of a month?

No because I’m not in the country so don’t have access to it.

They sent me my estimates for the year and it’s just over what my monthly payment was for this month.

That’s my point. That’s how much it would be. But the average home isn’t paying £16 standing charge.

I haven’t had it on at all since February or March. Can’t remember exactly but definitely not this winter period.

You'll need someone to read it then. Have you got squatters?

Were you in the property last winter? They've probably used estimates based off last year's usage to figure out what you will use this year, but obviously if the property is unoccupied then it won't be accurate. Just get in touch and explain.

It's not your actual cost then if you haven't given a reading.

Is that what they want your direct debit to be?
Contact them and ask for a cheaper direct debit

Can someone take readings for you?
It's the only way for you to find out the true cost of your gas and electricity

Well you've just said its an estimate, so it's not your cost!
Call them and tell them you'll give meter reads and pay quarterly. If you work away a lot maybe get smart meters so you can keep an eye on it from further away

The standing charge is more like £16 pm, if that. It's about 20-30 p a day. No household would agree to a £16 a day standing charge, that's ludicrous.

For the rest, it's either an estimate based on previous year's usage, or you've done something like leave the immersion heater and/or heating on.

Without looking at your bills no-one can say.

If it’s an estimate then obviously it’s not your usage is it?!

Bit pointless asking everyone to muse as to why this could be when you're not there to check. Any reason given can't be shut down by you as you don't have a clue.

My guesses are squatter or ghost.

They don't know you aren't there then. They'll sort it when you give them a reading

My guess is they don't have a reading

I'm changing my answer to ghost too. Good shout.

If it’s on for most of the day it will cost that much. I had mine on for the day on Tuesday and according to the smart meter it cost me £9. I can’t do that too often as that will be nearly £300 month without electricity.

Have you got an actual bill with their calculations on?

The bill will say how they got their reading.

It's either estimated or actual.

If it's estimated, you need to ask them how they estimated it.

If your property is empty, then you should have empty property insurance. One of the terms of this insurance is (typically) that someone is doing regular inspections to ensure that the property is in working order.

Is whoever is doing these inspections for you able to go and read the meter?

No my DD is actually £100 plus £66 help scheme, but this accrued to £700 in credit (until this month). Last month it was £106. So I have no idea where this estimate has come from.

I don’t have empty property insurance.