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Original poster

Out of interest...Heating- are you in credit or debit? Have you got your heating on today?

240 replies

sunshineandkindle · 14/09/2025 07:07

I've got -£250 on my electric ccount now which is pretty good as we managed to pay off all the winter debt of £2k over the year.
When's everyone putting there's on? Do you hold off as long as possible?

OP posts:
Allthings · 14/09/2025 08:35

A couple of things I have noted in the comments is that some people are paying bills monthly. Unless you are on a variable direct debit, this is the most expensive way to pay for your energy. Not all suppliers allow a variable direct debit, but it’s worth asking. Alternatively consider moving to a standard direct debit if you want to reduce your costs.

The other is DDs going up. If this is due to being on the standard variable rate which will be going up on 1 October, it is worth looking to see if there is a fixed tariff which will be cheaper. Most fixed tariffs have exit fees, but some suppliers allow you to switch to another of their fixed tariffs without penalty. So if you fix and prices drop, you can move to a better tariff.

Soontobe60 · 14/09/2025 08:39

Around £450 in credit here plus a recent delivery of logs for the wood burner which will see us through a cozy winter. DH retired this summer and will obviously be home more plus we’ll be looking after our grandchild 2 days a week soon, so there’s no way we’re going to scrimp on the heating.
We did put it on the other day for an hour as the house felt cold and damp - we’ve had torrential rain for a few days. Probably won’t light the wood burner until the last day of half term in October.
I did check on our account how much gas we used last winter price wise, so I know our DD payments will cover our bills easily this winter as our tariff has slightly gone down.

gamerchick · 14/09/2025 08:39

No idea I'm locked out of my account until I unblock them, so they can go back to harassing me about smart meters. Which means I'm stuck on the tariff the none smart meter scum have to put up with

But heating doesn't need to go on yet. Just unpack the warm clothes.

It's a sad day when it's time to pack away the summer clothes though.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living
PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 14/09/2025 08:39

£400 in credit. I tested the heating yesterday to make sure it will come on before we actually need it. It hasn't clicked on again since then so it's still too mild to need it. It's on a thermostat so it's the temperature that decides if it goes on, not the date.

Teachingagain · 14/09/2025 08:41

suggestionsplease1 · 14/09/2025 08:23

It was 5C in Glasgow overnight and only 8C this morning, so pretty chilly here at the moment.

Show quote history

But what is the temp in your house?

I’m a cold person and jean, T shirt, jumper and trainers is needed for the morning school run, around 12.5c this week at that time. I like to be cosy unless I’m moving around jumper has stayed on inside where it’s been around 19c.

DeathMetalMum · 14/09/2025 08:42

I will be in some sort of credit but not sure how much.

Haven't had the heating on yet. We have only just shut windows that have been open pretty much all summer. Have used the tumble dryer once and have bought out the dehumidifier for washing and helping dry out the bathroom after showers. I will put the heating on when I feel cold though, it doesn't matter what it says on the calendar. Living room is currently 19c which is fine with a blanket. I've switched from t-shirts to light jumpers this week. Mostly because of the chilly mornings.

fourelementary · 14/09/2025 08:42

£675 in credit and nope.

Original poster
sunshineandkindle · 14/09/2025 08:43

I'm wanting to get thermal curtains to keep the cold out. Has anyone does this?

OP posts:
Cadenza12 · 14/09/2025 08:45

£400 in credit and it's come on as it's in a stat set for 20c. They wanted to increase the DD at the end of winter! Nice try.

Allthings · 14/09/2025 08:46

@sunshineandkindle our curtains have thermal linings. I noticed a difference in the living room when we got thermal linings.

ShiftySquirrel · 14/09/2025 08:46

No heating yet, we give meter readings and pay the exact amount each month. Heating usually goes on mid October, but this September is definitely more autumnal than the last few.

We have triple glazing, but no trickle vents so run a dehumidifier or we get condensation mould. We also use a wood burner, the kids have electric blankets, and we wear massive hoodies when it's properly chilly.

breakfastdinnerandtea · 14/09/2025 08:47

Shortdaysalready · 14/09/2025 07:37

Where on earth in the country are all the people who are so cold they have put their heating on or are thinking of doing so? I'm in the West of Scotland and it's nowhere near cold enough for heating yet!

My energy is still in credit but the energy company recently put my direct debit up because when I do eventually start using heating I will soon use up my credit.

You have actually reminded me OP that I need to have a look at my tariff as my fixed one comes to an end soon.

Edited

This was my thought too! We are in NW England and I had the window open and the blower on last night. I mean, I am pregnant but DH didn’t mind it either. It’s getting cooler but not cold enough for the heating to be on

MYOB12 · 14/09/2025 08:47

Not checked ours in a while but did so just now after seeing this thread! We’re in credit by one months direct debit. At one point we were a couple of thousand in credit and had to fight to get it back! Heating has been on in short bursts for a couple of weeks now.

HappiestSleeping · 14/09/2025 08:52

No idea about credit. Heating not on, and have the windows open.

Allthings · 14/09/2025 08:52

@MYOB12 we had solar installed this year and my credit was getting large. My suppliers immediate response was to lower the DD and hold on to the credit, but I politely and firmly requested a full refund and the DD to be lowered. Which they did. Hopefully the DD will cover the electric usage over winter, but at the moment I don’t have a clue as to how much energy we will be using from the grid, so I am prepared for it to go back up.

We have separate accounts for gas and electric (with same supplier) which makes managing things a lot easier for me.

Typicalwave · 14/09/2025 08:53

We’re even. I’m still sleeping under a sheet (very light blanket on top in the early hours as we just dipped into single figures)

Our heating won’t go on until December.

I think we had it on a dozen times last winter

Everyonelikecapybaras · 14/09/2025 08:55

NotOrange · 14/09/2025 07:58

I am nothing in credit, I pay by a ridiculously high direct debit every month, and I’m never in credit, never too much in debit when the bill arrives.

Perhaps others have solar power?

Although we are talking about electricity here, and our central heating is Gas…but also no credit there, just huge expense.

Its chilly here this morning, but no heat on yet.

Do you give them actual reading or do they jusy estate? Are you on good tarrif?
Most people don't have solar.
Your gas would generally be in credit over summer months unless you lower the DD.
Absolutely triple check the units on your meters and bills.

Navigatinglife100 · 14/09/2025 08:56

sunshineandkindle · 14/09/2025 08:43

I'm wanting to get thermal curtains to keep the cold out. Has anyone does this?

We have thermal linings. Curtains on their own work to stop cold getting into the room from.large cold glass panels. Then thermal linings help even more.

If you get a good size that fit well, curtains can stop draughts too.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 14/09/2025 08:57

I think we had it on a dozen times last winter

You must be a hardy bunch! Or maybe you've got an additional heating source like a fire?

AcquadiP · 14/09/2025 08:58

Well done for paying off most of your winter bill. I'm £250 in credit which will be used up over the winter. I've not put the central heating on yet, I'm holding off for as long as possible.

Westfacing · 14/09/2025 09:04

Typicalwave · 14/09/2025 08:53

We’re even. I’m still sleeping under a sheet (very light blanket on top in the early hours as we just dipped into single figures)

Our heating won’t go on until December.

I think we had it on a dozen times last winter

Our heating won’t go on until December.

But what if it's a very cold November - or do you have a log-burner or similar?

RampantIvy · 14/09/2025 09:05

Our heating comes on when it drops below 20 degrees in our living room. It has come on a few times in the morning recently.

Thanks to all the lovely sunshine we have had this year we have generated loads of electricity from our solar panels and are just under £600 in credit, which will get eaten up in the colder months. Due to DH's health issues we keep our house warm and comfortable in the colder months and refuse to be martyrs to the cold.

We don't use the calendar to decide when the heating comes on, just the temperature.

Allthings · 14/09/2025 09:07

@gamerchick at some point in the future you will have no choice about having a smart meter as non smart meters are no longer manufactured, so if yours fails or needs changing as its so old, it will be a smart meter. But in the meantime, you can continue to refuse. They should not be harassing you to the extent that you can’t view your account.

Most of the issues (but not all) with smart meters have been them not sending readings automatically, but if that is the case you have to send manual readings as you do currently. We were early adopters and have not had any issues in a decade, although I appreciate that a small proportion of people have had significant issues. What I like about a smart meter is access to different tariffs and things like half price electric on a Sunday and other saving events which helped reduce what we were paying.

Doggymummar · 14/09/2025 09:08

We pay in full monthly. So neither it comes on automatically if the indoor temp dips under 18 degrees and is been on a few times in August and September. Yesterday we cranked it up to 30 as we had the carpets shampooed and needed them to dry.

YouCouldFallOutWithYourselfInAnEmptyRoom · 14/09/2025 09:09

Wondering where @MagneticSquirrel @Ginmonkeyagain live that it’s 21degrees inside.

My house was 16 degrees when I woke up at 6am and it’s only 17 degrees now! I put the extra thick blanket on my bed last night and will be swapping my summer duvet for the winter duvet when I next change the bed. Fleecy jumper and extra socks went on yesterday because it was so cold.

Holding off putting the heating on, hoping I can get to October. I am in credit, I keep my DD the same all year round to build up credit so I can go into winter without being too terrified of turning my heating on. That said, I only ever have the thermostat set between 15-18 degrees. It cold and miserable, but we wear jumpers. I can’t afford to have the house toastie and warm.