Electricity bills

[Mooshamoo]

I just got an electricity bill for 600 euro.

I'm shook. That's the highest it's ever been. I live in a small terraced house. I live alone right now.

600 euro!

Crap. Have you got Smart Meter. I take care of a small terrace house and the standing charge is a pain. Electric Ireland is supposedly the cheapest.

On the off chance you're with Airtricity, they're very accommodating in facilitating payment by instalments. Thats a lot to fork out in one go.

I'm with electric Ireland

Have you spoken to them yet at all? Now would be a good time to talk to them if you want a plan bc i think they're about to cut down on that type of thing. So do try to get in there quick.

Probably estimated, did you check your meter reading against the bill? Or maybe you left the immersion on for 24 hours, that would bring Father Ted out in a rash!

Is it a monthly or two monthly bill? If it's way out of whack with previous bills there's something wrong. Did you get the three X €200 credits? That'll take care of it. Get on the blower quick, we can't solve it for you.

He read the meter this time. I think it's so high because he estimated the last three bills. This time he read the meter, so obviously the estimates had been too low previously. And now it's catching up on those bills.

It's a two monthly bill. I have rang them and she said I can pay it in installments. I'm just shocked it's so high.

It was a terrible shock. My last bill was 180 estimated. This bill was 600 - after he came and read the meter

Have you come off a discount? Ring and ask what deals they can give you.

No discount.

I just think they estimated it too low for the last three bills. And when he came to read the meter this time, they corrected it to higher.

Do we get any electricity credits this winter like we got last winter, does anyone know

Budget not for another month regarding credits.
If you ring the providers they will all have discounts they can give, last time i spoke to EI it was 5.5%

Do you think we will get any government credits this year

Once you get yourself airted with this bill, go onto bonkers.ie and enter your information and they will show you comparissions of all the electricity companies and you need to move to whichever is cheapest for new customers, and you need to do this every 12-24 months depending how long your contract is. Best to start submitting your own meter read online every 2 months now too.

That's shocking. Our meter has been read every 2 months since we moved here a year ago so no estimated readings. Our current bill that just came in is €365. This seems reasonable for the amount of usage - its a big housw and kids have been home a lot more in the summer, me WFH a number of days a week. Not looking forward to the next bill now that the UFH is back on. I'll be trying bonkers.ie as PP said.

What @MILLYmo0se just said.

I normally change every 12 months to take advantage of introductory offers, although I stayed with EI this time as their kWh rates are "low" - even if they sneak their standing charges up.

Talk of two €100 credits this year. Sounds like you've had an actual bill after several months of estimates. This can be avoided with a smart meter.

I also read something on boards, someone mentioned you have to change providers to get the best offers. If they know you are someone that leaves, it looks like with BG you get a better discount.

Electric Ireland are usually very good once ring them or write to them about a payment plan as I was on one a few years ago as got a massive bill and could only pay off 25 per week. Every year now when contract is up I ring them to ask for a discount and I got 100 off and have a good discount, just missed out on 150 credit as they had stopped it the week before. If you have been with them a while ring them to say you need a new contract with a discount and credit to your account. I do not go on any of the smart plans as you may get discount say for night time use but do not use that but then daytime rate so much higher. They do lots of different plans so have a look but I just stuck with the standard plan as only 2 of us so other plans would have cost me more. If you are really stuck please ring St. Vincent De. Paul as they get a few million donated to them yearly by Electric Ireland and they can help you with a bill if you are really struggling. You can ring them, or send a message online and you can provide them with a copy of the bill and they should be able to help with some of it if there are funds still available from the electric ireland money they got to help people in hardship.

Also if you do get help with this bill then pay 20/25 weekly online or with pay card weekly as it will all add up for next bill and won't have such a lump sum to pay. I haven't put heating on yet just wearing more clothes and have warm blanket for watching tv.

That is great info @BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants . Only recently having to deal with huge drop in income due to separation and this is good advice. Also been told that for any service or bill that is becoming burdensome, to always contact providers, including mortgage. The fact that you are engaging with a company or bank will sways go in your favour.
This country , for all it's faults are particularly good for social welfare groups. Not perfect but compared to others , especially UK , I have found they do a good job .

To Soonenough, hope you are doing good and you will be fine once you adjust and will enjoy your peace of mind. Also if you are with Virgin Media and a long standing customer ring them yearly when the year contract is up, they usually contact you a month before to tell you when it is up, ring them and ask to speak to the loyalty department or a similar name, and ask for a discount, I get 6 mths a year half price as been with them a long time. One year though the customer service did not want to put me through to loyalty department and were pressurizing me to take new contract with no discount but I said a big NO thank you and insisted was put through loyalty department where I did get half price for 6mths and it does help. My son needs a good internet service for his college course and that is main cost. Also if you are struggling let St. Vincent de paul know and they can help you for a few weeks with food vouchers/Christmas food hamper until you get back on your feet as the cost of living has hit so many. Chin up as things will be better.