to think people who don't have Smart Meters and who pay monthly or quarterly are going to be in for a shock at their next bill?

[cakeorwine]

Gas has gone up from 4p a kWH this time last year to 10p a kWH this year.
Obviously people with Smart Meters can see this on their display.

But if you still give readings and wait till the bill arrives, I think there are going to be some real surprises. Gas use is at its highest over the next few months.

I know people will have the £66 off their bill - but it's going to be high.

At least with Smart Meters, you can see daily use. Submitting a reading and then getting a statement and bill is going to be a shock for some people.

Thanks for saying this. I thought maybe I'd misunderstood what a smart meter was.

Oh and BTW OP we aren't "getting £66 off our bills". Not the gas ones anyway, which is what this thread seems to be about so I hope you haven't included that in your calculations.

Thank you for clarifying that and satisfying my curiosity💐

Well if you have Scottish power, you might be unable to log in plus unable to speak to any human. You might have tried repeatedly over months and been totally unable to see your account details or speak to a human. You might have selected the forgot password link on numerous occasions and no email ever arrived to enable you to reset the password.

The sooner the energy market is reformed, the better.

Tbf i had felt I hadn't noticed the electric going up to much with a few tweaks to our usage but now we are using the gas foe heating , I am suprised how much its costing ( on pre payment )

Tbf to OP i work with lots of people who don't understand reading meter regulary etc and how much things are
Some are just not switching on as they are worrying its going to be £2500 etc some think it won't be much more than before etc
Not everyone is sure

We are getting £66 off our dual fuel bills...

I have a pretty fair idea of what my usage will be. I’m working on the assumption it will be the same as last year but n actual fact it will probably be lower as I no longer have Ds and dd at home and none of us are working from home any more.

@PurpleButterflyWings the OP never said anyone should switch ? Calm down a little
I have a smart meter its never malfunctioned ? I don't watch it obsessively but i can see which days i use more and work out why of i need to and save on that if getting end of month as I have Payg so no credit on , no nothing
There are a lot of people who have no idea what bill will be and are hoping that they are paying enough dd etc as not everyone can work it out
My nan can't crawl at look at her meter in the outside cupboard for example
She knows its gone up and shes paying more but until she has that first bill she can't compare
I work with people who won't even put the heating on as they are scared by all the prices mentioned in the paper
I get not everyone wants or can have a smart meter, but in the same breath not everyone can access there meters easily and understand reading and working them out

That's only because you have one bill for gas and electricity though. And the £66 comes off the electricity bill.

But in that case it makes no difference which fuel its technically for I guess.

I’ve also turned my thermostat down 1 degree to 19 degrees whereas last year it was set to 20 and on much longer hours in the day so I expect a pleasant surprise in March when my 6 monthly bill comes.

@WeDontNeedToTalkAboutJamie we are getting £66 of our energy bills wether you use that for gas or electric is up to you or in some cases your supplier
Mine adds all the credit to the electric but i can transfer if needed
Many people i know on dd are just getting the £66 credited to bank account so up to them of they put on gas , electric or even the shopping
So clearly people don't get everything

We have a smart meter.

I don't look at it, ever.

The prices are ridiculous but I can't change that. I use the electricity and gas I need and want which isn't excessive. I'm not going to have no heating on when it's -3 outside, when I have the privilege of some money left over at the end of the month. I'd rather save that money than spend it, but I'd also rather spend it than be cold and miserable.

Obviously, it's a travesty that so many people in this rich nation don't have the same choice as the millions like me.

Yes. All true.

But as there was a thread a couple of weeks ago where someone couldn't work out why they'd had the £66 applied to their electricity bill, but hadn't received the gas one yet, some people have misunderstood and think they are getting money off of both.

I'm just pointing out that we aren't. We get it off the electricity. Depending on how that's done you might be able to use it for something else.

I haven't received mine at all and no one seems to be able to help me

My electricity supplier is desperate to get me on a smart meter but I refuse. They try telling me it’ll save me money and they’ll come round and install it all for free. Sounds great, only, if it’s really going to result in me paying them less money, then why are they so keen to install on for me? I’m on a prepayment meter, so I can also see my daily usage and exactly what stuff is costing me to run. I’m paying about £12 a day right now. My mum is on a smart meter and is paying £21 per day and she has gas (mine is electric only) so I’ll stick with my prepayment meter thanks!

Yeah, I wonder why they are so keen to swap everyone to a smart meter? Energy companies aren’t known for their altruism, so I’m guessing it’s not because they just really want to save us money.

@WeDontNeedToTalkAboutJamie which i think backs up what the OP is saying then as well some people don't understand it all

I have lots of reasons not to get a smart meter and I will always refuse one. I do obtain monthly bills and do readings and I took one today and not surprisingly the gas is much higher than the month before. I don't think I am going to be too surprised.

Yep.

@Shutthegatepeter isn't it because the goverment have a target for them to reach ? I could be wrong but thats what out thought as they think people use less when they can see it ( sometimes the case but certainly not always )

@Shutthegatepeter energy companies are expect to get everyone on to smart meters by the end of 2025. Prepayment meters can also be smart meters.

Not really as it gives me an estimate. I’m expecting it to be high, and I’ve turned it down

People are going to be in for a very huge shock. Especially as some the bills will hit after Xmas.

These prices are insanely unreasonable. UK is the most expensive place in the world for energy.

@Ihavedogs thats what i thought so goes to show everyone not as savvy as they think about it all
I have prepayment and also smart meter , can't say it makes me use less though as if its cold i put heating on etc but does make me go oh shit used £7.50 gas today must try better , and at work we all discuss our usage like a competition

If you have a smart meter it’s easier for them to switch you to prepayment card if you fall in arrears - I should think that’s the main reason they’re pushing them.

No - most people have had their direct debits adjusted accordingly, or were at least advised by the suppliers what to put the direct debits to and have either gone with that or haggled to get a lower one, so maybe not in credit enough but it won’t be a shock as such as have been prewarned.

Smart meter may impact behaviour for some people but I’m not convinced it would for us, hence very deliberately don’t have one. Simply submit regular meter reading instead.

Not everyone is same and will be some who have their heads in the sand, but that’s on them. It’s had so much press attention etc