Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

How are you coping with the rise in gas and electricity bills?

63 replies

SleepDreamThinkHuge · 05/03/2023 16:09

My provider owed me money so far I have not made any extra payments yet but from April or May they predict (looking at my current use age) my payments will be rise to just under £600 from £150 a month currently! That has really shocked me as I my use age is not that high. Tried talking to them but they said they cannot do anything about it.

Anyone in a similar situation? How much has your utility bills gone up by? How are you managing to afford the big rise?

OP posts:
Okunevo · 05/03/2023 20:58

I've got through the last three months for £300 by cutting usage. I'm relying on rates staying the same or dropping as I can't make many more cuts and still keep the house warm. We have acclimatised but I don't know if you just keep acclimatising or if there is a limit. I need to keep this bill the same as food and other bills are going up.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 05/03/2023 21:57

Boiler broke in 09, not had heating since, cant afford new boiler. Had an electric fan heater but it broke beginning of jan, didn't replace. Monthly DD it's £75 elec, £10 gas. Then get the rebate back, so elec been about £10 a month. Currently nearly £600 in credit on elec, but only billed twice a year.

soboredoflooking · 05/03/2023 22:02

It's shocking how much it is costing. I live in a 4 bed detached house. We shouldn't have to think about how much we are spending when it's cold. Mine was about £400 last month combined and it hasn't been that cold.

I do have heating on a lot but not like I used to where it would be on for about 16hrs a day set with the thermostat to 20. So wld come on and off throughout the day. Now it's prob on about 10-12hrs per day but some days less if I'm not in much.

Also use the tumble dryer. I stopped using it for a month and it didn't make a huge difference about £30 difference. It is quite new so maybe more eco friendly.

I can see the government discount though on the bill was a lot about £150 and then the £66 credit so that would mean it should have been over £600!

We used to pay £95 a month and end up getting a few hundred back at the end of the year when I switched suppliers.

Our nursery bill has gone down as 3yr old got funding recently and it will be going on energy bills and general price increases on food and council tax etc.

Okunevo · 05/03/2023 22:12

AlmostAJillSandwich · 05/03/2023 21:57

Boiler broke in 09, not had heating since, cant afford new boiler. Had an electric fan heater but it broke beginning of jan, didn't replace. Monthly DD it's £75 elec, £10 gas. Then get the rebate back, so elec been about £10 a month. Currently nearly £600 in credit on elec, but only billed twice a year.

Is your gas just the stovetop then? Would it be cheaper to have the gas cut off and just use an electric hotplate? Most of that £10 will be standing charges.

Nettel · 07/03/2023 12:54

I don’t think I’ve been affected as much as others just yet, I’ve been paying £60pm for gas all winter and my electricity usage is covered by the government payment. I have my thermostat set to 21 degrees 24/7 so the house is always really warm, I hate the cold. I paid £65pm dual fuel before the energy crisis (2 bed house with 3 occupants) so it’s already doubled, my fixed rate ends this December so I’m dreading that and trying to quickly pay off some old bank loans to free up some money to cover it. So stressful, I’m praying that things stabilise a bit before then!

xogossipgirlxo · 07/03/2023 13:36

I don't pay DD, I save fixed amount on my savings account instead. Before the big rise it was £150, now it's £300 monthly and it's more than we need, so I must admit it's not too bad for us. I just don't look at smart meter anymore, otherwise it gets depressing. Both me and my husband got used to lower temperature at home. We are feeling hot when it's 21C now.

BooseysMom · 09/03/2023 01:20

Nettel · 07/03/2023 12:54

I don’t think I’ve been affected as much as others just yet, I’ve been paying £60pm for gas all winter and my electricity usage is covered by the government payment. I have my thermostat set to 21 degrees 24/7 so the house is always really warm, I hate the cold. I paid £65pm dual fuel before the energy crisis (2 bed house with 3 occupants) so it’s already doubled, my fixed rate ends this December so I’m dreading that and trying to quickly pay off some old bank loans to free up some money to cover it. So stressful, I’m praying that things stabilise a bit before then!

You are in almost exactly the same position as us! 2 bed house with 3 people. £65 p/m is what we were paying so the government covered this but our fixed rate ends next month and we've been told it will go up to £150 based on current usage. Our thermo is set at 18 and goes up to 19 in the evenings..I'm really stressing too. We can't afford the increase and have to hope that it doesn't stay this high when we go into next winter.

Zippedydoo123 · 09/03/2023 07:49

Me and 18 yr old ds in a two bed house. Used to be £80 dual fuel but now £190.

Given the £67 is stopping from April I am selling my car soon. I work from home and ds education a nd extra curricular is now finished. We have a very reliable bus route for the weekly local shops and Asd a delivers weekly food shop anyway. Ds uses public transport for his jobs.

Crumpetdisappointment · 11/03/2023 08:02

they are still chagring me £63, with £67 from government.
but in august i was hugely in credit
now £800 in debit
i decided to increase dd to £80
they never made any suggestions at all which made me nervous
the heating is rarely on higher than 20 or 21. despite being cold,
i wear extra clothes, have blankets.
getting warmer now

Okunevo · 11/03/2023 12:30

@Crumpetdisappointment Can you look at your estimated annual cost on your bill and divide by 12 to see what your dd should be?

Crumpetdisappointment · 11/03/2023 12:31

i oculd do @Okunevo
i am leaving my trust in the company!
but i have increased it now
i will take a look thanks

Itawapuddytat · 11/03/2023 18:25

Our very nice 2 year fixed rate of £120/month (Scottish Power, dual fuel, 3 bed end of terrace with 2 adults+2 children) just finished, and the recommended direct debit amount is £260. To be honest, I was expecting more and budgeted for more, so this is fine and affordable. We try to be careful, but we are still comfortable and warm. Shame that everything else has gone up too (food, especially, as we managed to negotiate a good 5 year mortgage fixed rate last summer so at least we're paying pretty much the same for our mortgage). Fortunately, so far we can afford the increased prices but I am aware that a lot of people can't.

Blondeshavemorefun · 11/03/2023 21:28

HeavenIsAHalfpipe · 05/03/2023 16:19

How is anyone going to honestly answer this? If people are coping OK (with the £66-67 a month grant from the government for the electric, and a not-too-high gas bill,) and they tell everyone that on here, they will be accused of being smug, thoughtless, and inconsiderate of other people really suffering.

What I don't get is the people who had say, a £130-£150 a month dual energy bill pre 2022, and have had their dual energy bill go up to £450-£500 a month. How and why has it gone up that much? I don't get it. Most people I know IRL have had their bills go from £130-180 a month for dual energy, to about £220-£275. No £400 to £500 a month from anyone I know. Not even families with children, in 3 and 4 bed houses.

Coz last year I was paying 3p and now 10p for gas

Same for electricity

Using much less but bills much higher

New posts on this thread. Refresh page