That it’s bonkers this is my FIX? Sorry another ENERGY one

[Ineedtoletgo83]

I wish I’d fixed in Oct 2021 but on MSE advice I didn’t then. Wow now this is our situation, what can we do? cut down usage is our option.

I did the MSE calculator is suggesting I strongly fix at £483 per month. Paying £165 atm due to go to £220.

I mean we could reduce our usage but really how much will that affect our bills?

large 4 bed semi, dreaded open plan area. Gas central heating.

we use 17800 kWh of gas?!

and 3744 kWh of Electricity.

I wfh 5 days a week. DH two days a week. Kids home from 4ish most days.

I currently pay £250 pm for dual fuel. A fix is £800 pm, if I dont fix they want to put my DD up to £450pm, why in earth would I fix ?
Oh and, if I fix I’ve got the choice of one with boiler insurance or one with a charity donation - FFS I can’t afford a charity donation at £800pm !!

That's a lot of gas! I've used 7000 KWH in one year, 3 bed family of 5. You could easily get your usage down if you wanted too.

Don't fix then!
BTW the monthly amount is meaningless. Look at the price per kwh and standing charge

I mean we could reduce our usage but really how much will that affect our bills?

It’s the only way to actually affect your bills isn’t it

And yes, reducing usage will be the only way to reduce your bills.

No idea how we use such an insane amount of gas. We do cook on gas and heat with gas. Heating is on maybe 7-9 in the mornings in winter and then 5-10 in evenings. Thermostat can be set quite high though like 22 cos it doesn’t heat up in the open plan area otherwise.

Yes sorry. I guess I’m thinking fix and use all you want (older house concerned about damp etc but all savings gone!!!) or cut usage which I think we can do to some extent.

22 degrees is pretty hot!

(tbf our gas usage is 23,000 so I can’t talk apparently)

Are your windows well-insulated, do you have carpets on the floor or at least massive rugs? They might help

But surely fixing means you fix a cost per KwH for 2 years or whatever. It doesn’t mean you don’t pay for what you use?

That's not how a fix works.
You fix the rate per kwh and standing charge but if you use more you pay more.

Yes bifolds (3 years old) and relatively new double glazing.

it doesn’t get to 22 in the open plan area.

carpets in the main areas.

attached the rates we are being offered.

Sainsburys energy

lower one being gas.

I'm wondering if you could cut down on your gas usage. Admittedly, we're careful but use approx 7600kw a year - that's for a draughty four bed, 3 people, DH sometimes wfh. In the average day, there's someone year 22/24 hours.

Turn your thermostat down and heat the person not the room.
Base layers will help

Oh really omg! I didn’t know that. Ffs.

That's not how it works! If you use more KWH than predicted for your fix you still have to pay more.

Your charged per KWH. Maybe read up online before you make this choice as you don't seem to understand.

OP - Even on a fixed rate you won't be able to 'use all you want'. A fixed price simply means that your price per unit and standing charge won't go up if there's another price rise.

That's why your using to much. You have it on quite a lot of the day, and 22 is really high!

Mines set at 17 (and I live up north it gets bitterly cold!) and for a hour before we wake up and then two hours in the evening. We have open plan too and it's fine for us.

Got the message on how fix works, sorry folks. I guess cos we’ve never gone above our usual DD before. This is awful.

Yes, there is no 'all you can eat' energy deal. You pay for what you use regardless of payment method.

Are you sure you don't have a gas leak? I had one my bills have gone down since it was repaired

My usage in a 4 bed house in Scotland is
Electricity 5845
Gas 13862

Heating on timer and thermostat set to around 19⁰C during colder months although the thermostat is turned right down just now. Hot water only on for 1 hour per day. Gas hob and electric oven. Electric shower and big full sized fridge and freezer.

It gets cold straightaway!!! If the heating goes off we feel it. I should say our house was baking in the heatwave so think retains heat well.

Curtains at the bifolds would help keep the heat in at night?

Cardigans for everyone else. Basically we need to become our grandparents/great grandparents

I should say we are on a combo boiler.

we have a tumble dryer we use only at weekends in the main.

dishwasher on once a day.

we have a small snug. The plan is to use that in the evenings. I work in the open plan but I’m happy with blankets and jumpers!