How much are you paying for your energy?

[Howandwhy]

I'm curious to know what everyone else is paying as I was previously with octopus energy paying £100 per month (old tariff) for gas and electric and always has a surplus at the end of each month.

When that tariff expired, U switch suggested So Energy, so I moved to them. They were charging £110 per month. After around 10 months or so I got a call from So Energy to say that I'm £900 behind in payments, but I've been paying each month. They explain that my usage is high!

I'm in a 4 bed semi, 1 adult and 1 primary school aged child. Heating is only used in the rooms being used, double glazing and insulation throughout, tumble dryer used once a week to dry towels. I work from home a few days a week without the heating on.

We agreed I'd pay £150 per month to clear the debt (yes this will take time but they wanted £400 a month)! We agreed this over the phone and in an email setting out the agreement but there was a sticking point.

Before we made this agreement they wanted to take the £900 in one go, which I refused. I cancelled the direct debit and set up a standing order to prevent them helping themselves. The Citizens Advice Bureau said that was the right thing to do, as they often get calls from people who's bank accounts have already been ransacked.

In our written agreement they say they would prefer direct debit (of course they would) but will accept my standing order but as their system is automated and doesn't recognise standing orders I'll still receive letters from them from time to time about the outstanding amount. I said that's fine as we have a written agreement.

I paid as usual each month to the agreed amount but a few months later I get a call from debt collectors for So Energy. I explain that I already have an agreement and email this to them. They agree that this looks like an agreement and put their actions on hold whilst they queried the agreement with So Energy.

In the meantime So Energy have made a negative mark on my credit file. I was not told to expect any of this when we made our agreement.

Yesterday I got a call from their debt collectors (and they've been to my house) to say that the arrears are now £1,500 which was built up over the summer months when no heating was being used and still isn't being used and I am still paying £150 per month. I don't understand why this bill is still climbing?

I reminded the debt collectors (connexus) about the written agreement between So Energy and I buy they said that So Energy told them to disregard that and continue as as far as they're concerned, there is no agreement!

We have gone down a dangerous road when these companies can have a written agreement but then decide to breech it with the full support of the agencies set up to help us, the public.

The Energy Ombudsman's response was that So Energy had the right to recover their costs. The Ombudsman's report never once mentioned the written agreement. Citizens Advice said they get many calls about this but there's nothing that they can do.

Has anyone else experienced this?

3/4 adults and teens paying about £160 per month. Probably use around 10 kWh each of electricity and gas per day in the summer. Have you checked your bills to see if they are estimated as if you have an older smart meter it may not connect properly? If you are on economy 7 or other time of day tariff then check the readings are the right way round as ours got switched soon after changing supplier. You won't be able to switch supplier with a debt.

Asking your neighbour is a good idea. Is it rented or owned?

They sound incredibly aggressive, the irony is Octopus are actually great with arrears and not in anyway aggressive

Check your tariff as they may have moved you onto the standard variable tariff once you cancelled the direct debit as it's usually a condition of the tariff. The other option was to asked for a fixed direct debit instead of variable, they wouldn't be allowed to change that without your consent.

My electricity meter is in a pine cupboard nine feet up on the wall in the front hall. Ladder and torch needed to read it. 😂

You need to add DH to the account, and then remove yourself. Arrears are attributed to the person, not the house. Once you are removed from the account, immediately do a switch to a better provider to stop these arrears increasing on an unfair tariff you are trapped in. I've just escaped a provider this exact way.

This is very similar to me. My annual dual fuel estimate is £920 this year. It’s an upstairs 3 bed flat in a terrace. Thermostat set at 21 all year round but only kicks in during the winter. DH retired, and home nearly all day. I’m on PAYG so I can manage it myself according to how much money I’ve got but I aim for an average of £40 each on gas and electricity every month. Need to put a bit more on gas when it’s very cold.

I’m paying Octopus £135 pm and I am in credit. 4 bed detached, 3/4 adults (one at uni so not always home) 2 people WFH most days, only put the heating on daytime if it’s really cold, try to keep warm in other ways. House is well insulated and double glazed.

Just moved to Octopus Tracker tariff and prices are currently much cheaper than what I was paying before. We will see if I feel the same when it’s freezing midwinter but feedback I’ve seen is it saves people hundreds per year.

My god. These prices are crazy?!

£102 fixed with octopus (reduced it at beginning of September.

3 bed semi. Me and 2 teenagers. We are out all day and honestly 3 of the evenings too. But when we are here, we don't scrimp on anything electrical or use of gas. We have new windows. But not cavity wall insulation etc.

Those who are paying triple that. For the same size house (mine is old btw). Is your heating on already? Have you a faulty appliance? I just don't see how you could possibly be using triple what we are? Unless heating on all day (whilst we are at work etc)

Something doesn't add up. How were you even able to open account with no meter readings as that's the first thing your asked for yes you say you don't know where meter is lol...anyway £201 a month for gas and electric 4 bed currently in credit £307 which means we never go in debt over winter. Also have heating on 80% of the year because I have a disability that makes me feel cold all the time

Have you considered a smart meter?

You’re probably aware that it’s your unit rates and standing charges which are fixed, not the monthly payments of £102.

4 bedroom detached house with 2 adults and 2 teenagers. Smart meter and solar panels. One EV. High use household as there is always someone at home; working from home, eldest teen has home study days twice a week and a shift worker who is often awake and using electricity whilst the rest of the house sleeps. £103 per month, £300 in credit. Octopus - pretty happy with it at the moment, expecting an increase obviously during Winter.

6 bed semi 4 adults 1 child we pay £336 per month but building up credit for winter and have an electric car x

I’m with So Energy and my direct debit is set to exactly what I use that month. I’m not on smart meter (despite them hassling me) and read my meter myself every month (plus take a photo of the readings).
Mine is electricity only about £75 a month on the variable tariff. Just me and adult son when he’s home. I have off grid central heating.

£130 a month for electric and about £3k a year for gas.

How did you set up an account with no meter reading? It's the first thing they ask for so that they know from which point to charge you - this sounds incredibly odd to me, even with a smart meter (if you have one) they always need to clarify the first reading with you. Honestly I can't quite get past the dubiousness of this whole thing - they sound like cowboys.

Two bed, ground floor flat, live alone. Summer months - £50-£60 per month. Winter months - £70-£100. With Octopus, pay entirety each month and fixed cap until August next year.

£250 a month electric
£250 a month ( but buy when needed) oil
Three bedroomed 2 receptioned house but old & rural so takes a bit of heating
Two adults .

Less than £60 a month. What anyone else is paying tells you nothing whatsoever. How much are people using in kwh gives a little more information, but you can also easily find out what a typical household uses. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/average-gas-and-electricity-use-explained

btw, I have solar, batteries, EV and a ridiculously low gas tariff which was offered in error and is being honoured.

October bill is £53 for gas and electric combined

Gas Central heating not required yet, very mild autumn so far.

2 adults, 2 older teens, in a 3 bed semi. £160 per month, £210 in credit.
We haven’t put our heating on yet, the coldest it’s dropped to in the house is 18.

Electric

usage162.0 kWh @ 21.72p/kWh £35.19

standing charge 30 days @ 52.24p/day £15.67

that was for 17th September to 18th October - o give monthly readings and pay what I owe every month
Gas

usage 601.8 kWh @ 5.15p/kWh £30.97

standing charge 30 days @ 28.03p/day. £8.4

add VAT and it comes to £94.75

Indeed, I just pay for what I use and put the money each month for gas and electric in an account earning interest - through the summer months the money builds up and I get interest on the money. Then during the winter months the money decreases.

Its a con to give a company your money every month as they then have your money and not you, what happens if you pay far to much, you could have a £1000 in the account. That just seems silly

I live in a 1 bedroom flat and pay £70 a month for gas and electricity. I think it's quite high but I charge a mobility scooter every night and being disabled im home most of the time.

I pay £200 pcm for gas and electric to Octopus for a 6 bedroom house. I am about £700 in credit from summer months when my usage was only in region of £130pcm. I was on holiday for a month so no gas or electricity being used that month but still those standing charges. Can you move back to Octopus?

I pay by DD as that is the cheapest way of paying. If you pay by receipt of bill you will be paying more per kWh and SC than any other form of payment. Paying by DD is a condition of some tariffs (it’s a condition for my EV tariff).

See if you can pay by a variable DD so you only pay for what you use when you are billed. That will give you the benefit of lower rates, but still paying in a similar manner as you do now.

I pay 200 quid a month. 4 bed house, no tumble drier.

When you set up a standing order, you're supposed to pay outright the outsinding balance and then pay any outstanding extra when the bills come out OP. You dont just leave the arrears and pay what you want. The standing order is so they can't help themselves when they feel like it.