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New monthly amount for duel fuel

7 replies

1000yellowdaisies · 01/11/2022 20:10

I have been paying 112 monthly for duel fuel with edf for over a year... i submitted a reading on the app a couple of days ago and based on my estimated usage and price increase they have increased my direct debits from November to 285.
I have cut right down on absolutely everything. I time my showers, heating is rarely on, do economy washes.... I have 2 small children so need to keep the house warm but its a 2 bed end terrace so it can't be that much to heat. How has it possibly gone up by that much and what else can i do? Its just me and the kids so the increase is a lot for me.

OP posts:
hamsterchump · 01/11/2022 20:55

How is your heating powered and hot water heated? Those make up over 50% of most household's bills so they're the best things to cut down on, remember electricity is a lot more expensive than gas so if you're not dual fuel you pay a lot more.

After you've reduced heating (layers, oodies, blankets, heated throws, electric blankets in beds, hot water bottles, thick curtains, fix draughts, increase insulation) and hot water (eliminate or cut down on baths, save up dishes and heat water for less time, turn down water temperature, 2-5 min showers, shave at the sink or turn off shower water during) then you can think about other items within the home.

Make sure all your bulbs are low energy ones (these use 10% of the power of incandescent) but once they are don't worry about using them, led bulbs are very cheap to run, much cheaper than buying candles for instance which a lot of people aren't aware of so don't sit in the dark.

In general things which heat up use the most electricity so it's usually not your telly or laptop or phone charging that's draining the power but your hot tub or vivarium or tropical fish tank or tumble dryer that are more likely culprits.

gloriouswinter · 02/11/2022 04:48

The amount they are suggesting is based on an estimate, typically on your usage over the last 12 months.

Take a look at your exact usage (it's on your bills) and pay for exactly what you use.

Maze76 · 02/11/2022 04:59

My DD went from 175 to 387! I contacted EDF and I now take meter readings and pay monthly- my last bill was 165 and I’m in a small 3 bed mid terrace.
Contact your provider and explain the situation.

MintJulia · 02/11/2022 05:00

Yes, if you were on a good deal,.it has more than doubled.

Cutting usage with all of the above measures, and budgeting, plus if you are in the U.K. you get£66 a month assistance until the end of March.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 02/11/2022 05:41

Convert to month bills by variable direct debit, therefore only paying for what you use.
Keep an eye on your readings during the month and keep a running total of your bill so there will be no nasty surprises.

BarbaraofSeville · 02/11/2022 05:51

How has it possibly gone up by that much

The unit rate for electricity has more than doubled in a year and the gas rate has tripled in the last year. The standing charge has also increased. £112 to £285 sounds about right, maybe slightly over but not hugely so, assuming that the £112 was right and you don't have a big debt or credit on your account.

what else can i do

See if you can use less, it's the only way. If the price of something has more than doubled, it will cost more than twice as much, unless you use less of it.

You need to check your bills to make sure they're based on actual usage not estimates and look for your annual usage figures to check what your DD should be. The Moneysaving Expert energy section has a calculator and lots of other advice on what you can do and what extra help you might receive.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/

Outtasteamandluck · 02/11/2022 06:31

I use to pay £125 now pay £285. That's with the help from the government so I'm meant to be paying £340. Crazy!!!

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