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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

energy price increase for my electric bill which i think is unfair

122 replies

masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 20:29

im with sse energy i changed to them (stupidly ) August last year and i was told it was a fixed price for 2 years no increases my direct debit was set up for £46 for electric and £41 for gas sse have now told me theyre increasing my electric from £46 a month to £67 a month as ive just got bill in saying my electric is supposedly £34 in arears which i find weird as i live on my own and i only use electricity for one room at a time i think its bad that they can increase your direct debit like this without concent i was with scottish power before if you fell in arears with them they allowed you to catch up or make a payment for any outstanding balance they didnt just increase your direct debit by 50% how should i handle this? as im worried and angry but dont want to phone them with an attitude and make things worse

OP posts:
Chloemol · 22/02/2022 22:53

@masterofdoomv1

of course i have fridge freezer plugged in theyve always been plugged in mrs but my parents paid £100 a month with three of us living here with fridge and freezer plugged in yet im living on my own i must be using less yet im paying more
Just stop fixating on the fact you paymore now than when your parents were there as well

It may have been £100 a month, but did that actually cover the cost, or is in fact the arrears down to them not paying enough?

Whilst you are on your own do you use more technology that needs charging than they did, phone, tablet, TV, games console etc where usage may have gone up now you are on your own. Dont forget that washing machine cooker, fridge etc etc will be the same regardless of the number of people in the house

Is this the first meter reading used? Where other bills estimated?

And you will find that the per KWH cost is probably more than your parents were paying so the bills will be higher

Just see what they say when you phone them

cakeorwine · 22/02/2022 22:55

@masterofdoomv1

ok im getting confused lol too much to take in ill phone them tomorow and see if i can arrange to pay more each month but at a lower level see what happens thansk for feedback people
You need to ask them what your predicted usage is in KWH.

That will let you work out what your rough costs should be with the deal you are on.

Chloemol · 22/02/2022 22:56

@masterofdoomv1

i wont go off at them chloei know that doesnt help anyone i have a smart meter no dishwasher we used to have one but did away with it i find it better washing dishes by hand ill try umplugging things when i go to bed and yeah i have a smart meter
Then track your use

I go in every so often and see what’s happening. If you go in now you will see what days electricity is higher than other days and that might help you work out why

But it’s often said that two can live as cheaply as one, and that’s the case with most utilities, being on your own doesn’t reduce usage very much , if at all

FourTeaFallOut · 22/02/2022 22:57

Could you put you hand on an old power bill and nail down what the previous annual usage was and how much you were paying per unit? It might make it easier to see the biggest driver of your current costs - is it the amount you are using or the cost per unit?

Proudboomer · 22/02/2022 22:57

Have a look at one of your parents old bills and compare the unit price to your bill. The cost per unit has gone up massively in the last year so that is probably why you are paying more than your parents did.

MrsHGWells · 22/02/2022 22:58

I would suggest calling and revising the Direct debit; Utility companies are stepping up DD in preparation for price hikes, and higher usage to create a buffer, also companies over estimate actual usage.

Our utility wound up last year and we were taken over by EDF. First bill only received February was advised an increase in our DD from £190 to £40O; no phone call no warning. Almost fainted.
Second letter from EDF advised we were also £950 in deficit. In complete shock by this stage as our usage was fairly stable from last yr ( covid and working from home etc;)

No surprise- EDF have grossly over estimated all bills from last Sept to current month. Phoned and corrected-back to our regular DD. If in doubt take regular meter readings and keep utilities honest.

Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 22:58

no need for sarcasm bear ive been nothing but polite if you cant be constructive go somewhere else

OP posts:
PriamFarrl · 22/02/2022 23:00

You need to track your use.
Do you have old bills from when your parents were there? You need to look at the units used, not the price.

Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 23:00

ok thanks mrs ill phone them tomorow i have no issues paying a bit more but im struggling as it is so hopefully can make arrangement im off now

OP posts:
cakeorwine · 22/02/2022 23:00

I would suggest calling and revising the Direct debit; Utility companies are stepping up DD in preparation for price hikes, and higher usage to create a buffer, also companies over estimate actual usage

Yes. Scottish Power gave themselves a very generous estimation of what they thought I would use.

So I left and went to Tonik. Who collapsed. And Pure Planet. Who then collapsed.

I am now with Shell and have decided to pay each bill monthly by DD, putting money aside in the summer months.

Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 23:02

sounds like things are getting bad cake and mrs i look back and realise how lucky we had it not just with energy but with where we live with things closing due to lack of funding makes me wary of what else is to come

OP posts:
User8721643839 · 22/02/2022 23:04

@masterofdoomv1

i dont understand though that theyre saying im using more per month than when it was me and my parents that lived in the house (my parents passed away last year) like i said i only use one room at a time so how can it go up by that much a month doesnt make sense i still think as well they should notify you you have an outstanding balance and give you the choice of paying that or increasing your direct debit at an agreed ammount times are difficuilt just now
We are all in the same boat. You'll just have to suck it up like the rest of us and accept your bill is going up...🤷
Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 23:05

We are all in the same boat. You'll just have to suck it up like the rest of us and accept your bill is going up

yet another constructive comment if you cant be helpfull go somewhere else dont need the attitude

OP posts:
BearOfEasttown · 22/02/2022 23:06

What on earth do you expect people to say @masterofdoomv1 ?!

Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 23:08

if you cant be constructive or helpfull dont post bear its easy if i spoke to you guys the way you and user have spoken to me id be accused of having a lousy attitude and being agressive so take your lousy crappy attitude somewhere else

OP posts:
User8721643839 · 22/02/2022 23:08

@masterofdoomv1

strange that inthenight my parents paid £100 per month with three of us living at the same property yet im living on my own at same address and im paying £108 yet im using less because im living on my own what a rip off
It costs the same to light and heat a house with 3 people or 1 person. You sound like you are making this up
BearOfEasttown · 22/02/2022 23:09

@masterofdoomv1

You have 85% of votes saying you are being unreasonable, and most POSTS say you are too.

If you only wanted people to post, to fawn over you and say 'awwww hun I feel so sorry for you, do you want me to send you £200 via internet banking to help you out?' and completely agree 100% with everything you said, you should have said so in your OP! Hmm

Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 23:09

You sound like you are making this up

run along user

OP posts:
FourTeaFallOut · 22/02/2022 23:10

Well fixed power bills don't just go up. If the bill is increased beyond the ops expectations it is either because they fixed at a unit rate higher than they realised back in August or their usage has increased.

Branster · 22/02/2022 23:10

It's annoying when thus happens.
Unless you can prove your energy consumption has remained the same or lower (historic meter readings) it is a bit confusing.
Maybe the fixed rate you are on now is higher than the rate at the time your parents were with you?
Maybe your parents made one off payments on top of the regular direct debits at the time.
Direct Debits are estimated to start with (under or over) and if it is a variable direct debit they can change it based on new estimates and actual recent consumption.
It happened to us whereby the DD jumped by over £100 last spring and short notice.
I'm sorry I can't help with a clear answer, just a few ideas, but I completely understand the frustration.
It's quite difficult to budget for energy at present with all these changes.
I hope you get some clarity tomorrow from your energy provider.

Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 23:11

If you only wanted people to post, to fawn over you and say 'awwww hun I feel so sorry for you, do you want me to send you £200 via internet banking to help you out?' and completely agree 100% with everything you said, you should have said so in your OP

bear ive been nothing but pleasant and polite on this board you and user are the ones with attitudes not me

OP posts:
MintJulia · 22/02/2022 23:11

You said you've stopped using the dishwasher, and now hand wash dishes.

Handwashing is more expensive, in terms of the amount of water used and the electricity needed to heat the increased amount of water. So that might be one increased cost of living on your own

Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 23:12

ok as i said before im leaving before this topic goes anymore downhill to all those who were helpfull thank you much appreciated

OP posts:
BearOfEasttown · 22/02/2022 23:13

@masterofdoomv1

if you cant be constructive or helpfull dont post bear its easy if i spoke to you guys the way you and user have spoken to me id be accused of having a lousy attitude and being agressive so take your lousy crappy attitude somewhere else
WTF are you on about? Who has been aggressive with a crappy attitude? Confused NO-ONE. Hmm

As I said, what on earth do you expect people to say?!

Original poster
masterofdoomv1 · 22/02/2022 23:14

and mint for the most part i still had to wash dishes even after they were done in dishwasher as there were still marks on dishes thats why we did away with it but each to theyre own bye people ill phone sse tomorow and take things up with them

OP posts: