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Original poster

Had a shock when I saw the gas bill....................

29 replies

northender · 02/05/2006 22:31

.................our consumption over the last 3 months was 30% higher than our average 3 month figure.I've been racking my brains trying to think how it's happened since we've been really cutting back and have had cavity wall and loft insulation put in. Anyone have any ideas? Can you have faulty meters? We only have heating and water on gas.

OP posts:

misdee · 02/05/2006 22:33

price hikes!

Original poster

northender · 02/05/2006 22:38

No this is actually the amount of gas used. With the price hikes as well it's astronomical!

OP posts:

SecondhandRose · 02/05/2006 22:45

How much is it? We are on oil and our bills are 100 a month at the moment but I have nothing to compare with.

Tortington · 02/05/2006 23:07

its a fkin rip off.

ask them to check meter
ask them if they have someone who can come and check how you use the gas.

get ofgem involved

milward · 02/05/2006 23:21

was it an estimate or the actual figures?

Original poster

northender · 03/05/2006 09:19

Custy couldn't agree more total rip off! Am going to get in touch with the company and watch the meter like a hawk for the next few months!
Milward it is actual figures not estimates. The thing is we've been trying to cut down and our electricity for the same period is less than our average so I just can't see how the gas can be so high.

OP posts:

TinyGang · 03/05/2006 09:23

Ours was high too - trying to make ends meet in this country is becoming a joke

janinlondon · 03/05/2006 10:03

Northender I have noticed that we have had the heating on much more in this 3 month period than in previous years over the same period. Often we've turned it off altogether at this time of year. Not sure with the insulation you've had put in though. There's no chance that you have a leak is there? Our plumber found one recently that must have been there for at least six years. We turned off ALL the gas supplied equipment and the meter was still going round. Have you tried this? Just a thought.

LIZS · 03/05/2006 10:10

was previous figure actual or estimated. Is the thermostat accurate and the boiler recently serviced ?

foxinsocks · 03/05/2006 10:11

our gas was what I expected (though higher because of the gas prices) but I nearly passed out when I saw our electricity bill

don't forget it was quite a cold and long winter so maybe your heating came on more than you thought

it's awful when you get high bills, especially when you don't expect it

Munz · 03/05/2006 10:35

northender ours is the same - up by £40 for the q/t on last year and we only have gas/water and the hob - i've put it down to increased charges and a colder winter.

Original poster

northender · 03/05/2006 13:00

I suppose it must be the effects of the cold winter. Blimey I'll be stocking up on woolly jumpers for next winter!!

OP posts:

Sherbert37 · 03/05/2006 13:17

My MIL had a shock like yours and insisted they come out to check the meter. They had made a mistake so worth trying. We had an electricity bill yesterday and the monthly s.o. has gone up from £35 to £64 per month. Managed to get then to take £50 per month by paying off the £125 we owe. Plus £60 per month for gas. 4 bed semi with double glazing and we never use our lovely gas fire now.

elliott · 03/05/2006 13:18

Ours was a lot more too. Must just be that its been so much colder and we've had the heating on more...

tallulah · 03/05/2006 17:31

Our latest gas bill was 3 times what is usually is, and the electricity was almost double. Both were estimates but when I checked the meters they had underestimated. I am seriously concerned at how we will get through next winter.

jalopy · 03/05/2006 18:21

Northender, our gas bill was £450.

Original poster

northender · 03/05/2006 20:44

Blimey jalopy that makes ours seem almost economical!

OP posts:

Sherbert37 · 04/05/2006 09:26

well this and talk at the school gate has prompted me to do something. Go to uswitch.com where you can get an idea if you should switch. Seems that it is best to have both with the same provider. Have put both with Powergen, capped to 2010 and with a 9% discount. Still astronomical mind you.

Jennypog · 04/05/2006 13:58

I worry about how people are going to make ends meet, what with huge mortgages, petrol increases and these huge household bills. We pay huge water bills too because our house had such a high rateable value, but we feel a bit afraid to have a water meter because we have got 2 children and do lots of washing, etc. I had a look on Uswitch, but still feel a bit nervous about getting a water meter.

I think these big rises are going to have a knock on effect too, particularly with house prices. Who can afford to borrow these massive sums of money with everything else that goes with it - council tax, gas, elec, petrol prices, water, etc, etc. It is all a bit worrying really.

Jennypog · 04/05/2006 13:59

Sherbert = we had this sort of thing as well, if we paid a certain amount in cash, they wouldn't hike up our monthly payment so high. Seemed a bit crazy to me, as the whole idea was to avoid getting a big bill every 3 months, but we paid up anyway.

Jennypog · 04/05/2006 14:00

oops

charliecat · 04/05/2006 14:01

Jennypog. I have a water meter fitted and my bills are 10 a month, 120 for the year. We have 1/2 baths a day between us. I never wear anything twice, none of us do, so tons of washing, theres 2 adults and 2 kids here. I am at home all day, washing the dishes, bla bla, using the water.
Everyones trained to switch off the tap while brushing teeth etc and have a hippo bag in the loo.
As well as a water butt for plants.
My mums not on a meter and pays more, she lives on her own and has a bath once every 2/3 days washing one laod every 2/3 day if that.

Jennypog · 04/05/2006 14:05

Wow, we pay something like 45 a month for 9 months, though - not 12. That is really cheap. I think we ought to go for it, but I just feel a bit unsure. Thanks for that, I will give it more thought. By the way, where do they put the meter?

charliecat · 06/05/2006 08:53

the meter, I think is onder the pavement/road outside/near your house...something like that.
Google your water company and see what it says :)

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