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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate my electric company??

30 replies

Parmaviolets13 · 15/01/2017 15:13

Just a bit of a moan to be honest!!
My house has no heating (currently saving and getting quotes to be installed) so have been using electric heaters the last few months to warm us up.

We knew it would be expensive.
We moved in in June, Eon set our gas and electric (gas fire we don't use) at £58 a month, pricey I thought for a one bed terraced house but as we just moved in they needed estimates.

We had a email yesterday saying we used so much between November and now, and are changing the direct debit to £58 to £110 a month. They have guessed what we have used will be the same for the next 6 months.

I spent most of yesterday crying because although it's 'only' £55 ish more, it's a lot of money to us. We earn very little. And it's a tiny house!!

I just wanted a moan really.

As you were 😃

OP posts:
Dizzywizz · 15/01/2017 15:20

With electric heating (& water?) I'm afraid I would have immediately thought your dd was too low. But then i used to work for the electric company and it is electric heating that catches people out most. E-on should have set it higher yes, but presumably you could have looked at some estimates online, and even read the meter after a month to keep an eye on it.

I would still do that to make sure the amount you are paying is covering the usage AND paying the debt back. Then you won't get caught out again.

Dizzywizz · 15/01/2017 15:20

Sorry, i hope that didn't seem about harsh.

Dizzywizz · 15/01/2017 15:20

*a bit not about!!

Original poster
Parmaviolets13 · 15/01/2017 15:22

Really? Do you think £58 a month is too low for a one bed house? When I first heard that I thought it was high! Then realised it was about right 😁
But £110 a month is ridiculous, although it is our fault for using the heaters.
Can't wait for central heating!

OP posts:
DesolateWaist · 15/01/2017 15:24

I lived in a small terrace with no heating and used electric heaters.
My DD was £90 a month. However, when I moved out the remaining balance was £900!

Original poster
Parmaviolets13 · 15/01/2017 15:25

Eek desolate! We are heading that way! Obviously what we owe hasn't been covered by our DD. I now don't want to use heaters at all but it's cold and we don't have much of a choice

OP posts:
Akire · 15/01/2017 15:27

I'm in a one bed flat a pay about £15 week in electric plus about £18 for gas (heating and cooking) so £23 week would be £100 a month. Sounds about right

Manumission · 15/01/2017 15:27

Why don't you use the gas heater? Safety concerns? Gas is much cheaper than electric heaters.

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 15/01/2017 15:27

We live in a 2 bed and I'm out at work all day, dp works nights so is in bed all day so our heating isn't on much but our gas/electric dd is £95 a month

DesolateWaist · 15/01/2017 15:29

I know, it was a real shock.

We would only heat one room really and made sure that was well insulated.
I would turn on the heater in the bedroom for half an hour or so before we went to bed. We still ran up a huge bill.
I'm now in a three bed semi and my gas and electric bill is half what it was in the terrace.

Look at managing your bill online and giving regular meter readings. That way you shouldn't get a surprise. Also, look into getting a smart meter.

britbat23 · 15/01/2017 15:29

If you think the DD they suggest is too high, then do not agree to it. Make a lower monthly payment. But be prepared for an even higher monthly payment next year if your calculations are wrong.

The electricity companies base their estimates on enormous amounts of data. They have a reasonably good sense of how much electricity will be consumed by a house of a certain size, heated in a certain way. They overestimate a bit to prevent customers from getting into debt, but often their estimates are pretty accurate.

DesolateWaist · 15/01/2017 15:31

If you think the DD they suggest is too high, then do not agree to it. Make a lower monthly payment. But be prepared for an even higher monthly payment next year if your calculations are wrong.

That's what I did. Which is why I ended up with a settlement bill for £900.

Perfectlypurple · 15/01/2017 15:34

I'm not sure why you hate your electricity company for charging you for the electric you have used. November and December are cold months so are January and February so they are probably about right thinking you will use the same amount for the next 6 months. Surely it is better than getting a massive bill that you cannot pay.

TreeTop7 · 15/01/2017 15:37

I pay £99 per month for gas and elec. My house is big but modern and has a high energy efficiency rating. I also use a company that gives lower prices in return for the fact that you can't ring them - it's all managed online, it's impersonal but it suits me.

unicornpoopoop · 15/01/2017 15:39

I'm with ovo and only pay £70 a month for a 3 bedroom house and 5 people in it

HermioneJeanGranger · 15/01/2017 15:59

Sounds about right for electric heaters I'm afraid.

Original poster
Parmaviolets13 · 15/01/2017 20:29

It's amazing the contrast. £70 a month for a three bed house in one area and £100 for a one bed house elsewhere.

I understand I have to pay for electric I use, I was just upset yesterday for the leap in price. It's been an eventful, stressful, shit six months in this new house!!

And yes can't use gas Fire for safety reasons, the house hasn't got the correct ventilation

OP posts:
Original poster
Parmaviolets13 · 15/01/2017 20:29

* one bed flat for £100 - as pp posted

OP posts:
F1ipFlopFrus · 15/01/2017 20:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

F1ipFlopFrus · 15/01/2017 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Grindelwaldswand · 15/01/2017 20:43

I pay £68 a month for gas and electric on a dual fuel plan with OVO I actually had EON take £22 out of my account the other day though despite never been a customer or associated with them Hmm dodgy company

Grindelwaldswand · 15/01/2017 20:44

For context im in a 2 bedroom apartment and have Central Heating on full blast this time of year and we take large baths and showers everyday

harderandharder2breathe · 15/01/2017 20:53

I have a 1 bed flat, with no gas and expensive to run electric heating. I can easily spend £110 a month during the winter (prepayment meter). In the summer it drops right down to about £40 though. Being able to spread the cost throughout the year would be preferable but as I rent and my contract is due for renewal in September, I don't want to risk putting loads of money into the electric all summer and then being told I have to move.

panicstationscentral · 15/01/2017 21:25

I sympathise! I completely understand why you hate them.

When I moved into my previous house we were over 200 a month on gas and electric and we were freezing! Heating only on an hour in morning and three at night. I was convinced there was something wrong etc. The letting agency and the gas people never found anything. Ultimately I think it was to do with the house being ancient and the boiler was an aga.

It's ridiculous that this is what it costs to be warm and my heart breaks my heart for those who are vulnerable and can't afford it and those who end up in terrible debt.

People shouldn't be allowed to profit on necessities such as this. Flowers

panicstationscentral · 15/01/2017 21:28

What about oil filled radiators? Is that what you are using? We used them when DD was born and it didn't seem to break the bank.

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