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.

The point I am making is that the cost of gas has gone up 2.5 times - which is more than the increase in the price cap over the same period.

Winter bills are also gas heavy - so winter bills will be high - and maybe higher than some people may assume even if they know the cost of energy is increasing.

This thread is NOT about direct debits.
Nor smart meters.

@Knockagain its easy to move you to pre payment either way if they want to and its because the goverment have told them they have to switch x anount of people by a certain date
Its costs the energy companies to change meters so no odds to them

It is the government that wants everyone on smart meters, that's why the energy companies don't care if they work properly or not, as long as you have one fitted they have done their bit to meet the targets set by the government

No. I can log onto my energy provider's website whenever I like and see my usage and add meter readings.

@cakeorwine I think people don't get what your saying as they are basing it purely in them , but its clear from the thread many don't know as much as they think they do
And your right a lot of people who haven't or can't give readings may be shocked or underestimate add that to the very cold spell we are having so more heating on
Energy suppliers give you an estimate based on last year etc but im well over their estimate on gas

The thread title literally mentions Smart Meters…

My estimate based on last year is £2900, it will probably be nearer £3500 as last year was mild, hence paying more direct debit to cover it.

Why do some people think that smart meters end up costing your more than taking your own readings? Why are some people afraid of them?

And the cost of gas has gone up proportionally more than the price of electricity.

(21 p to 32 p here)

So a cold spell, more heating, more gas use compared to last year will see some higher than expected bills.

I know we are going to get more calls in January.

Well, mine doesn't seem to be sending any readings to BG, despite seemingly being connected to the DCC, I checked on citizens advice. So not a lot of use

@healthadvice123 we have a Smets1 meter (so have had it for years). We never even had the IHD plugged in until more recently. So for a number of years it didn’t change our behaviours whatsoever. However, our consumption patterns would be difficult to sustain when energy costs go up in April and beyond especially if government support is removed. So I have plugged the IHD and been monitoring and have started reducing wasteful/unnecessary consumption.

but why will that cost you more ?

Yes - it mentions them.
In the fact that people who have them are aware of what they are spending every day

But getting people onto them is not the purpose of the thread. It's about those people who submit meter readings and who might be in for a shock when the bill arrives once the reading has been submitted.

And who don't pay by direct direct

You asked why people are afraid of them, I will just pay for what I consume anyway but people are afraid of them because many don't work properly and because it is the government that want these, the energy companies are not bothered about non working smart meters which people are stuck with

Well it is a bit of a shock anyway that my yearly energy bill will probably be around £3500, smart meter or not.

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.

This is us monthly dd went up at least twice before winter- though DH did finally get fed up of phone calls and e-mails so we said yes to smart meter. They fucked it up and have had 6 week of frustration and now have to wait another two weeks before it may get sorted.

So we currently have less information than usually but last information stuff from them based on previous years usages we should be in credit at end of winter or just about - and while we can afford the higher bills - which have gone up twice since summer would struggle with any much higher.

I think some of MIL friends may end up with unexpected bills they were on fixed rates paying set monthly amount but thought they could suddenly use much more energy and not have to pay more.

What bearing does the payment method have?

Not paying by direct debit doesn’t make you less intelligent and incapable of being able to multiply numbers!

I do have a spreadsheet with the costs of energy. Assuming I don't change anything my predicted gas cost in Jan 23 will go up from £70 in Jan 22 to £170 in Jan 23

So, if I've read it right, all your knowing the price of the KWH and the amount each item is using and having your spreadsheet, has actually brought you to the exact conclusion that I came to by hearing an 8 second piece on the radio news. The conclusion that your bills (and mine) are likely to be 2.5x higher than last year.
Which seems to rather argue against your own argument that everyone needs to be following the minute detail every hour of every day.

Plus, of course, all your figures about people not understanding bills - which I agree with, they are unnecessarily complicated - isn't factoring in the fact that the poorest in society actually have to pay the most expensive way, using pre-payment meters. Those people know exactly what they are spending, as they spend it.

OP - I don't disagree that there will still be some who will be shocked at the cost of energy in their next bill in spite of all the publicity etc. Always some people who simply don't understand these things or how they work or anything.

I don't understand the purpose of this post though. You seem to be trying to get the message out there ( which is fine if directed to the right audience) - but for one thing you are posting on Mumsnet where many/most users are generally more educated and more knowledgeable than compared with some of the clients you will often see in your workplace and your post simply sounds patronising to many on here.

Secondly - what has a Smart Meter got to do with anything? The Smart Meters are only as good as the In Home displays, in terms of keeping an eye on what you are spending. Those who don't really understand are unlikely to benefit from them in any case. You have to check them and understand how to use them to effect. And has been pointed out, many Smart Meters still don't work in a 'Smart' way.

So, I'm sorry, but while I don't totally disagree with what you are saying about people being potentially shocked, I don't believe this is the right forum for you trying to get the message out there

How do we predict bills when the weather varies year to year? Other than just look at the meter weekly?

So, if I've read it right, all your knowing the price of the KWH and the amount each item is using and having your spreadsheet, has actually brought you to the exact conclusion that I came to by hearing an 8 second piece on the radio news. The conclusion that your bills (and mine) are likely to be 2.5x higher than last year

Actually - my spreadsheet has been going for 2 years, adjusted for the price cap (which is now quarterly) and helped me see exactly what my gas and electricity bills are going to be (assuming similar consumption) and the effect of reducing consumption in particular months on bills.

The main thing I have against smart meters is that many are either not connected or don't work properly and no one in the energy companies seems to give a damn about it

Our smart meters aren't connected to our account - so apps/internal displays are out as we have no meters when you look at the accounts - keep being told it's all fine the meters are holding the information just nether the company nor us have it.

i really wished we'd not said yes and stuck with what we had.

Because if you pay by DD, it's the same amount every month ( but adjusted with new readings)

Whereas paying on receipt is that - big bills in winter, smaller bills in summer.