I've no idea what to do or what to expect

[energycrysis]

Regarding my energy bills.

I'm with British Gas, and purely because I stayed with them since I moved house at the beginning of the year.

I'm on a Standard Variable rate, no fixed term. I currently pay £100 p/m for gas and £25 p/m for electricity. I'm apparently in credit of £165 and £190 respectively.

I know there doesn't seem to be anything I can do now anyway, as the comparison sites aren't even running quotes now, but have I massively dropped the ball here by not acting sooner? I've buried my head in the sand due to other challenges in life recently.

I find it all baffling if I'm honest.

I've stayed on DDM but have told them I want to pay for what I use. So far it's been significantly less than they wanted.

There haven’t been any decent fixes for awhile now. You will be protected by the cap on the price per kWh and you will get the £400 help. You’ve got credit and the month,y bills aren’t high so just roll with it.

It doesn't help that the British Gas app is utter crap!

It's not giving me any data for my gas usage at all since I moved in, even though I'm sure it did previously, and it's telling me my electricity usage is bang on 29kw/h every single week since May, even the week I was away on holiday.

But thanks for replying!

I'm not sure what you're asking. It sounds like you're on the price cap. What is it you want to know?

I did not fix, variable rate was cheaper.

Me too! I upped our DD last month- but not because they told me too.
No idea what's going to happen- feels daunting.

Have you been giving regular meter readings, or are you on a smart meter?. Identical monthly usage would ring alarm bells to me.
Im with Octopus and they send me a monthly statement so I can see exactly what im using and being billed for - not sure if British has do that?.

I have smart meters, and when I logged in and updated the app yesterday (maybe today), it told me my smart meter readings were up to date.

But BG also sent me letter yesterday telling me they forgot to send my bills in March, so I'm not sure I trust them. I can see the hills on the app, but still. The whole set up makes me nervous.

Look at your annual usage for both, go on Mse , look at the capped rates, multiply the unit rate by your usage for each. Then multiply your standing charge by 365 for each, add the gas total together divide by twelve, add your electricity totals up and divide by twelve. Add those two amounts together and that will give you approximately what your monthly direct debit should be

I’ve just left BG after being moved to them when my provider went under. No better deal, I just couldn’t cope with their inability to generate a correct bill. They were cancelling DD payments as I was building up so much credit because they were continuously under billing. The final bill had no gas on at all, not even the standing charge!

You haven't dropped a ball at all. The standard variable rate is protected by the price cap and there haven't been any fixed rate tariffs available for a fair while. I'm with British Gas, had a cheap fixed deal that came to an end at the start of this year. But there were no decent fixed rate deals to switch to, from any provider. So I stayed on the standard variable, same as you. No better option available right now.

You are in credit to the tune of £355 which is a decent buffer. It's probably worth submitting a meter reading tomorrow, as it's the last day of the current standard variable rate before the prices go up.

People on smart meters don’t need to submit a reading

Maybe just make a record of the meter readings tomorrow then, if you can't submit them manually. Just in case of any dispute or doubt over accuracy. Especially if they forgot to send you a bill one month and if you're suspicious that the identical reading each week are not right.

@energycrysis I'm with you! The NG website and appis utter rubbish