Just read my meters & I'm crying in the bathroom

[medianewbie]

In Nov, my combi boiler broke (& I had no heat or hot water for a week). Local plumber eventually fixed but must have left it turned up higher (test?) settings than usual settings (kicking myself I didn't check after). I just inputted my monthly meter readings. I'm with Scottish Gas & they are awful for comms but this is all the info I can get from my account. My house is F rated for energy efficiency but not Chatsworth. We hardly have the heating on, only shower twice a week, no tumbledryer etc but my combined bill this month was £598.36 !!! I can't pay it. I'm disabled so they can't cut me off but they can install a prepay meter. I don't know what to do. This isn't a begging thread, or even a sympathy thread really but I have 2 asd teenagers & I don't want to worry in front of them so I needed to 'say' it somewhere.

Hugs OP I hear you. I really don't know how they expect people to survive.

Something major needs to happen. People can't afford what is like a second mortgage/rent payment.

Do you pay by DD? If so then maybe suggest that it increases just a little bit over the year to cover the cost explaining that this month was different because of what happened?

I would also speak to them because they do advertise hardship funds and you may be entitled to some of that.

Basically don't panic but do get in touch with them and see what they suggest as options.

I'm assuming you're in Scotland? Have a look at the cost of living website and see if you're eligible for help:

https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot/?utmsource=redirect&utmmmedium=shorturl&utmcampaign=costofliving

My local council (England) would possibly support with a one of cost of living payment and if your house is rented they could work with your landlord to improve the F rating.

I hope there's something that can help you.

I pay monthly in arrears. I cannot get a reply from by phone or online. My elec meter is old & it's dangerous for me to read it - I've been 'on the waiting list for a smart meter' for over a year now.

This is meter, my annual usage (gas jumped so much last month!) & what I pay (though the figures don't make much sense to me ?)

Sorry op it’s crap right now.
Had it not been read for a while? It You say you barely have the heating on and only shower minimally £500+ seems a lot for minimal usage even now with the ridiculous costs. Where is that going? Is it electric or gas/both? Did you have estimated readings previously so it’s a confirmed catch up reading?

Like previous posters have said contact the company when you can and come up with a payment plan. See if you are eligible to hardship help. You need to chase them why is the meter dangerous?

If you ask to switch to dd they should be able to spread the cost of this bill as well. Your rates will be a bit lower as well.

I'd be a bit careful about hurrying for a smart meter. One of the "features" is that they can switch you from post-pay to pre-pay without even coming to your house.

It's hard to read on the graph, but your electric looks very high, do you know what could be causing that? The F EPC rating would mean you would likely use more gas than average, but electric is things like electric showers, oven, tumble dryer.

That's why it's often useful to pay monthly by direct debit as you then pay a bit more over the summer and build up credit to pay for the higher winter bills.

Do you have a timer and thermostat for your heating? What are they set to?

Your whole usage looks high

But your usage looks similar to January (maybe a bit higher)

Do you know what your predicted usage is?
What was your usage last year?

Your gas does look similar (ish) to January - and December was cold.

It jumped in December compared to November - probably due to the cold snap?

I am with Scottish Power OP, and no you don't have to be living in Scotland to be with them to the person who thought that. They won't cut you off but if you can, agree to pay by DD every month as it's so much easier and you build up credit in the summer to help with the winter months.

The meter is dangerous as it's just below the high ceiling. I'm disabled & I have to climb on a chair to stand to see it. I pay every month so ots accurate (if the meter is? the last inspection label it has is 1997).

Look like it's the gas usage that has jumped. Is that meter more accessible?

I’m not sure there is a settings issue - it’s not that much higher gas consumption than last January which is the most comparable month. If you have an F rated house you would have burnt a lot of gas when it was below freezing for two months to be not particularly warm when you had the heating on at all. If the house can’t be made more efficient perhaps the long term answer is to move? I know it’s not an easy thing to do but your house is clearly very expensive to run.

@medianewbie have you got the actual readings from your meter? The electric consumption looks like at least 650 kWh from what you've posted - that's really high if you're not using it for heating and water.

I've been with SP for 16 years & used to pay quarterly. Bill was in exH name then he walked out. They'd only allow me to continue with account in my name if I paid monthly for a year which I did bang on. Asked for dd & they quoted me £600/m as prices had gone up by then.

You could apply to the British Gas (includes Scottish Gas) Energy Trust. They can do grants to cover energy debt which might help you out. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau might also have a specialist to help you complete the forms if you need it.

Do you have the actual bill breakdown rather than the graphs?

I don't have a timer. I have controls on each radiator set to number 2. I have the heating on for 2 hours a day, max. We're cold.

So:

What is your predicted annual usage in kWh for electricity and gas?

A £600 DD sounds like a large predicted usage

You need to look at your previous bills and see what your usage is and your predicted usage.

It should be on a bill

Do you have your current and previous readings?
No figures mixed up on them?

So sorry to hear this op. I am disabled too and we struggle with heating costs etc so I know how horrible it is.

Are you claiming everything you’re entitled to? Pip, etc? Try a benefits calculator online like turn to us if you’re not sure and see if there’s anything you’re missing.

I can’t link to it but there’s a very good group on Facebook called Energy Support and Advice UK (search for it) it’s been paused for new posts for the festive period but you can join and read posts from others in similar situations and how they’ve solved things. There might be something useful there.

Gas meter is in basement & even older.
Readings on 2 Dec were: Gas: 0956 (today 1039) Electric: 53803 (today 54557)