Need help to reduce bill urgently

[worriedabouthealth]

We are having massive issues with our electric bill. I’m stressed and upset as have tried to reduce it to no avail

It was too high but kept creeping up so we started to make changes and tbh we weren’t using tons anyway.
We accepted a smart meter to try and help
I thought the tumble dryer was a problem so we got a double washing line and 2 airers but still the bill went up

We made sure we turned off all lights etc.
Checked how energy efficient appliances were
Got different light bulbs to be better

Still the bill went up.

In desperation we decided last October to switch as found out we were on an expensive standard tariff and not allowed to switch so we decided to change suppliers.
We have been blocked at every turn it was meant to switch in early Dec but the company kept saying they weren’t aware we wanted to switch (they were as wrote to us ‘sorry you’re thinking of leaving us’??? )

The bills kept going up and the smart meter no matter what changes we made wasn’t showing less. Then it was showing more ???
We were living in darkness it was ridiculous

FINALLY after lying what we thought was the final bill we switched this week and having been carrying on our efforts so hopefully it will help BUT

We got another final bill for an astronomical amount from old supplier. The letter stated ‘tariff change in 4 Dec’ and they’d put us in an even more expensive one ???
It also said the bill was estimated ?

I called them and they denied both saying it’s not estimated (why does it say that ?) and they haven’t changed any tariff (again why does it say that ?)

I don’t know to do I’m worried we aren’t doing enough to save energy but I’m turning everything off at night and I’m the day I’m here and it’s dark and I’m not using anything I even use a flask and make one lot of tea in the morning so not boiling kettle a lot etc

I dont see how they could change the tariff to a more expensive one as we were switching they said I was mistaken it was just a price change

I’m so angry. They won’t accept there’s anything wrong I don’t know who can help
Plus I don’t know if there’s anything else I can do to reduce the electric usage and I’d really appreciate some help
Thankyou

I suppose it could be an appliance but I can rule out most as I go round turning things off at night so there isn’t much that’s actually on all the time

The fridge freezer is always on as is the cooker plugged in I suppose I will have to get dh to help me turn everything off and back on one by one as suggested

If it’s not possible to have issues with electric theft with a smart meter then it can’t be that as we def have one (took about 6 hours to have it fitted too)

That's crazy OP! As lots of people have said, there is a fault somewhere. We live in a 4 bed detached house, big loft space and basically all glass at the back of the house and we pay £65/m. I work from home and use an electric heater in the office during the day in the winter.

Your usage clearly doesn’t make sense OP.

If you don’t get anywhere with your energy company then enlist the help of your local MP. That usually gets some impetus going to resolve it.

Here’s hoping you’re due a nice fat refund in the future!

I’ve just checked and for the period 31 Oct-9 jan it was 2669 kWH I’m not sure what that means tbh I think it’s quite high I will look at the other amounts

10-13 jan says 135kwh

These are VERY high usages. Either the meter is faulty, or else someone must have tapped into your supply. First step is definitely to turn off everything (at main fuseboard is easiest) and then see if meter stops increasing.

Ds has a PlayStation which he turns on when he gets in from school about 430 and I turn it off at night when he goes to bed so that’s not on all the time

I can’t think what else it could be unless there’s a fault with the fridge or similar I’ll definitely have to turn everything off then back on again to see if anything causes a huge increase

Doesn’t help that the tariff was expensive too then increased further

Good grief! I pay £400 a month, but that includes at least two dishwasher, 3-4 washing and 3-4 tumble drying loads and lots of lights per DAY, as I work from home. There’s no way you should be paying that amount for the little that you’re using!

Do you run a laundry ?!

I wouldn't have thought a playstation would use that much, obviously it all mounts up but high usage items are usually things that heat up or like PPs open freezer which was constantly cooling.

There is a government cap on a standard tariff now so they can't just put it up willynilly.

Have you actually tried turning everything off and looking at your meter? It'll only take a few minutes to do and will at least indicate whether there is a meter or theft issue. Maybe do it at a couple of different times of day.

DH used to be an electrician- I have been showing him this thread.
He has seen a surprising number of houses where neighbours have been tapping into the supply.
One example: making a hole in the wall where the electric fires were fixed - tapping their cable into the neighbours cable. Or up in the lift space- this is tapped on after the meter, so meter seals not damaged.
It has to be done "live" so the thief runs the risk of a shock- but it definitely happens.

Do this at the weekend when your neighbours are in (don't let them know what you are doing). Go round and turn everything off and unplug absolutely everything.
Then check the meter.
You will soon see if you have a problem!
Keep photos or video what you are doing and of the meter as evidence.

Check that the meter you are reading is the same one that they are reading. Ie have they got someone else's smart meter against your address? (They should be ae to compare serial numbers)

I had this when I lived in a flat. The developers had just allocated random meters (all in a single cupboard) to random flats rather than working out what was wired up to what Seemingly no-one else had tried to move energy supplier until i did and it took months. But apparently isn't that unusual

I don’t pay by direct debit because my old electricity supplier SSE did the same to me.

I’ve gone back to reading the meter once a quarter and providing a reading. That way I pay for what I use, when I use it. I don’t leave money in their account. My leccy bill for a 4 bed gas/electric house is now £80 a month, consistently through the year.

Have you been online & checked your account to see how much you are in credit?

I have a 3 need semi, home most of the time, washing machine, dishwasher & tumble dryer usually running - I pay £68 per month for gas and electricity together, through Octopus.
Your bills are ridiculous... Refuse to pay. You can't have used that much.

We were stuck on standard tariff and told not allowed to change tariff
Suddenly on 4 Dec it said ‘tariff change’ so I contacted them to be told it’s not a tariff change ...... it’s a price increase
So why put tariff change

We have switched now but I’m not paying a massive bill I don’t think we owe plus now I’m feeling stupid for thinking it was is all this time but cutting down was making zero difference it’s like the big bill we received yesterday was so ridiculous I just knew it’s all been wrong

On the meter is a red flashing light which flashes fairly slowly until I put the kettle on then it goes really fast, have a look and see what yours is doing OP when various appliances are on.

What's your cost per hour? I know when all lights etc are off our running cost is 3/4p per hour. The smart metre tells me that.

Then switch on bedroom lights and it's 5 p per hour.

I nearly had a hernia the other day as it was reading 45p per hour at bed time.....realised it was the dishwasher - which then dropped massively - so decided the dishwasher must be like a kettle where it uses a lot of power initially to heat the water - then hardly any power....(it's a 3 hour cycle so better not cost £1.50 a time!!)

We are 5 bed detached SSE and pay £60 per month gas. (Electric is double).

I can also log in online to view my readings and useage....have you tried that?

Get hold of the Ombudsman. Keep log of all calls. Ask for an independent assessment. Switch to OVO, I've had great service from them after a dreadful time with SSE. Ombudsman finally sorted it. Good luck

This was the ‘tariff change’ explanation...

We pay a total of £95 a month for gas and electricity .
We live in a 4 bedroom detached house with a huge conservatory.

It definitely sounds like you are being tapped somehow as nothing you are doing sounds as if it would use that much a month.

Agree with others that you should switch everything off having read the meter and leave it off for 2 or 3 hours and then see what meter says.

I would only expect such a high reading if your heating was electric.

Oh it hasn’t posted the screenshots I’ll try again

It’s ok can see them now

It’s just been so hard to get any answers or sense from b gas

I’ll contact the new supplier too and I’ll do as advised when dh is here in case we have an appliance issue

we had a small flat years ago in Sailsbury as it was near DSDs. Our supplier was British Gas. Our neighbour used to read the meter for us and send them the readings. They ignored them and did us estimated bills every time. Our electric bill was usually about £32 but then they sent us one for £1000! We refused to pay until they sorted it it went on for months threatening us with baliffs etc. We stood our ground sending them registered letters and finally got them to agree that they were in the wrong but it was hugely unplesent.

Good luck, i suspect it is an estimated bill so stand firm....