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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what your heating/leccy costs?

84 replies

Passthegin99 · 13/03/2019 21:26

Bit yawn, sorry, but our energy provider (gas and electric) has just increased our direct debit to £160 per month and I'm slightly dismayed! Feels like LOADS. Is it loads or is that normal?

For context, me, DP and DS in a fairly large 4 bed Victorian end terrace. We don't heat two of the bedrooms and although I'm on mat leave so home a lot, we have special radiator valves (DP is a tech need) that are meant to let us heat rooms individually rather than heating the whole house just for one too.

Is £160 a month excessive?

OP posts:
Mamadothehump · 13/03/2019 21:29

I just switched today! From nearly £250 a month to £190. Large, modern, 5 bed detached. Such a huge outgoing. Increase in original bill came the same day as the council tax Shock

Firstbornunicorn · 13/03/2019 21:29

It might be because whatever you're paying on your current monthly payment plan hasn't been covering your usage, so you now have a debit built up which needs to be covered by future payments. Do you have a recent bill handy? That should tell you your balance.
Also, if your contract has ended and you'd agreed a discount for a period of time, the increase in costs bed to be factored in to future payments.

Idonotlikeyoudonaldtrump · 13/03/2019 21:29

Ours is 197. Me and four dc. I don’t think yours is exceptionally high.

Mamadothehump · 13/03/2019 21:30

Oh, also - we are £400+ in credit so no idea why the price increased with the original provider!

LittleG69 · 13/03/2019 21:31

£48 a month for gas and electric in a (small) 3 bed 1970s semi. We keep the thermostat at only 18 degrees though. Currently slightly in credit after the last meter read

nokidshere · 13/03/2019 21:37

Ours is 180 a month for dual fuel but that's because I live with someone who thinks 23° is freezing Confused

ATBhinchers · 13/03/2019 21:44

£94 per month for gas and electric got a large semi detached 3 bed house. Shop around and fix in every time.

Kattatty87 · 13/03/2019 21:45

I dont know if im allowed to say the company but we've recently switched companies and our bills have been going down whilst the big 6 continue to raise their prices. We're saving £50 a month at least and we're in credit as i religiously send our meter readings after a naive shock bill with my first property in my 20s!

dottyp0104 · 13/03/2019 21:53

This reply has been deleted

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PookieDo · 13/03/2019 21:53

I am stuck on pre payment meters (getting them removed when I can actually get hold of someone at Scottish power)

I paid £100pm for electricity (no gas) for a first floor 2 bed flat

I’m now in a new build 3 bed house (and it has some solar panels) so far I’ve paid around £120 for both gas and electric. Heating comes on for 3 very short periods a day, water once a day. Am out all day too as are DC I think we use a lot of electricity when Home!

ResistanceIsNecessary · 13/03/2019 21:54

3 bed detached and £77 combined per month. The heating is on 6-9am and 4-9pm and the thermostat is set to 18 degrees - any more than that and it's too hot! It's a bit chilly at the moment as it's gone off but I am very much of the school of thought that a blanket or jumper is better than sticking it back on for the sake of 30 minutes.

PookieDo · 13/03/2019 21:54

Oh and my heating is only set to 18. It can get really hot upstairs so I have turned down all the individual rads upstairs but downstairs can be cold

Lulutheboss · 13/03/2019 21:58

I asked a similar question not so long ago. Ours is £154 for gas and electric with Octopus. In January, we used £205!
Three bed end of terrace. I’m beginning to think that’s just the price having asked around.

NameChange112112321 · 13/03/2019 21:59

Mine is £150/month for electricity only in a 2 bed, 2 person flat where heating is only on 6-9 & 4-10. It's insane. I paid the same amount 18months ago in a 3 bed, 2 floor house with 3 people. I keep telling them there must be something wrong & they keep telling me that it's not!

lastqueenofscotland · 13/03/2019 22:00

God mines £90 a month and I thought that was extortionate Blush

PookieDo · 13/03/2019 22:03

I only have my heating on 6.30-7.30am, 5-6pm and 9-10pm I think this can help? Instead of very long periods?

PookieDo · 13/03/2019 22:04

@NameChange112112321

This is because a lot of tariffs for electricity are very expensive for the ‘day rate’ are you on economy 7?

Scottishgirl85 · 13/03/2019 22:06

1930s large 5 bed detached house - £78 for gas and electricity combined, but DH has just renewed at £100 per month as the direct debit wasn't quite covering it.

glueandstick · 13/03/2019 22:08

£67 a month dual fuel for 3 bed decent sized house.

Singlenotsingle · 13/03/2019 22:16

£209 pm for dual fuel, but we have got 2 kitchens and 3 bathrooms so not surprising really.

ViolaD77 · 13/03/2019 22:23

I just had a bill for 3 months of £609 from Scottish Power as they took over from extra energy and changed my tariff. My monthly bill was always £112 for both gas and electric with EE for a 5 bed house 'professional couple' so we aren't at home all day using energy. Avoid Scottish Power like the plague!

Highlandspring1991 · 13/03/2019 22:25

Ours was £70 a month 3 bed detached just me and DH. Kept giving meter readings was told was over £600 in credit so refunded us £400. I queried this as didn’t believe it to be correct and we are now £700 in Debit. Uped our payments to £175 to clear it. Use about £85 a month

runninguphills · 13/03/2019 22:33

Ours are set at £140pm, it's a decent size old 3 bedroom house with an annexe.

For all you with cheap bills - what are your providers/tariffs?

Numptysod · 13/03/2019 22:51

2 bed semi detached
Heating on 20

£85 month

BlimeyCalmDown · 13/03/2019 22:56

£87 for a 2 bed Victorian flat