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.

And if the wonderfully useful in house display breaks after 12 months, energy companies won't replace it, you have to buy your own generic one for about £50 or use an app like Loop

If you pay by DD the amount is somewhat less.

For those of us who are able budget and do simple sums paying by fixed DD Is stupid.
My money is better off in my bank than in the utility companies.
I pay monthly by variable DD thus getting the DD discount of 5% and hanging onto my own money. Win Win.

That's what I do.

I can see what's coming and what the expensive months will be.
Variable DD

And the type of meter you have and manner in which you pay makes no real difference to that - it’s as old as time, some people pay a lot of detail and are very on top of their outgoings, other people coast along and pay the bills as and when but don’t know the minute details, and others wing it which sometimes is fine and other times very much not.

It's been all over the news how much prices have risen so even if someone is not submitting monthly reading they know they're going to be paying triple the amount they did last year.
She'll energy display their formula quite clearly, it's easy to work out your usage and costs.
I'm sur other energy companies have to do the same

Since it will cost the same I would rather be shocked than worry every day!
But like others because I know I how much I usually use this time of year I know how much it will cost.

I don’t think that many people will be shocked. We’ve all been talking about the cost of energy for over a year now.

You sound angry. You OK hun? You seem to be getting irrationally invested in other peoples lives. It's a bit odd.

@Laiste

www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/vulnerable-smart-meter-customers-could-be-forced-onto-prepayment-as-energy-bills-soar/

(Sorry - link to article.)

Ah yes thanks Laiste. Yet ANOTHER reason to not have one of these useless lumps of plastic. You can be switched off remotely, and/or be forced onto prepayment.

Smart meters can do one. I will never ever EVER have one.

We don't pay by DD. We pay for what we use, once we've used it. You are all lining the pockets of energy suppliers by being massively in credit! The world has gone bonkers.

You sound angry. You OK hun? Sad You seem to be getting irrationally invested in other peoples lives. It's a bit odd

It's my job. I get calls everyday from people who are struggling with their lives.

It’s not your job to post about it on MN and get all shouty with capitals though.

If people keep thinking this is about Smart Meters and trying to persuade people to get one, then I will get shouty about that.

Because it really isn't.

Why don’t you start a thread and explain what you are trying to do a bit better, because the message is totally lost here, and you’re getting angry.

Smart meters that can be changed stealthily to prepayment meters. Will stick to giving monthly reading and watching carefully how often the heating goes on.

My disabled son need home to be kept at a certain heat -or he will be hospitalised - we all dress in layers and have lots of bed coverings and lots of blankets whilst watching tv together in living room - but it really does come to the point how in the21st century people are actually freezing cold!

I havent got a smart meter as such. I had one in previous home. But here the electric use is automatically sent back to the supplier but I havent got the little gadget telling me usage. Gas I have to give a reading. I have been told the smart meters are not being fitted in my area, dont know why as I am with same company as before and only moved about a mile away in same town. All very strange.

I pay fixed rate, but in anticipation of price rises I am now using a third of the amount of gas for heating that I used last year to try and keep the bill reasonable. Which means the heat is on for 1.5 hours a day and I cut back on the hot water.

I try to be very frugal with the electric and check it on the app everyday for the day before.

But I cant see how much I am using at the time.

This. ^ The OP is irrationally angry about something that has got naff all to do with her.

If she DOES work in a job 'helping' people with financial issues/paying energy bills and struggling in life, then my heart goes out to these people. They have my sympathy.

I took my first meter reading today since 1st October. The £66 a month from the government has covered any increase so far.

We've only just started putting the heating on regularly though. I'm half expecting a shock next month.

I dont have a smart meter and I pay when the bill comes, I know how much I use and I am paying about 8% more for this privelidge,I am ok with that, I submit meter readings every month this generates a bill and I pay it there and then. I have no problems with how I do it,last month my bill was £235,00 and I just paid it, I am not being held randsom by a smart meter shattering my well being watching every turn,not daring to put the ketttle on or have a shower, I refuse, I will cut back on a few things but I will not be cold,I will not have washing strewn all over the house drying, its just not happening,So no shocks here over billing.Other than I cant believe how much its gone up to use!

Actually I get very good feedback on how supportive I am and how they value me listening to them.

The reason I am getting annoyed is because some people seem to have decided this thread is about Smart Meters. And seem to be talking about not getting one. Which is not what this thread is about but it''s what some people seem to have decided it's about.

Well YOU started it! And YOU mentioned smart meters in the flippin' title!

😬

Personally, I think the constant fear regarding gas bills is counterproductive and will lead to people freezing to death or becoming very ill this winter.

All the media coverage is about high bills and reducing usage, but I've not seen any official experimental data regarding the best way to run your heating.

The media tell us it's a ''myth" that running heating 24x7 is cheaper than intermittent heating. Even if we accept that's true, which I don't think it necessarily is, what is the percentage difference?

It is basic scientific fact that any energy lost, when an object cools, will need to be added again to heat it back up to the previous temperature. That gives a net saving of zero. The only difference is the thermodynamic aspect - i.e. a warmer object loses more heat than a cooler object.

How great is that thermodynamic element at various outdoor temperatures?

If it's only a few percent, then is it worth sitting in a freezing home? Is the thermodynamic element outweighed by enhanced boiler efficiency from small low power burns vs the long 'full whack' burns required for intermittent heating?

How about setting a constant 18C vs heating to 21C twice a day. Which is more expensive?

Without official government experimental data, how can people make informed decisions?

I worry that vulnerable people have been scared into turning off their heating or running it in an inefficient manner that results in long periods of freezing temperatures that don't actually have any tangible savings.