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Original poster

Huge gas bill, advice needed

68 replies

Jet888 · 06/02/2021 09:25

Hi all
Need some advice and comparison please.
Moved into 4 bed house, got direct debit set up with octopus energy for £80 per month. Got latest bill, based on a smart meter reading of £250!
Now I know it's winter but that seems insane! Apparently the gas usage was over 3000 kw (or whatever the correct unit is!)
So, my question is any ideas why it could be this insanely high? We have heating on 2 hours in morning and 3 hours in evening. Oven is electric. We had new boiler fitted this month so I thought ot would be more energy efficient, any ideas if it could be due to problem with new boiler and if so what the problem could be, based on people's past experience and expertise?
Could it be a smart meter problem? Or does 5 hours of heating a day for a month really cost around £170??

OP posts:
121hugsneeded · 06/02/2021 09:31

Had similar and I phoned them and they agreed it seemed wrong, they sent someone around and found a leak.

dementedpixie · 06/02/2021 09:37

Does £80 cover gas and electricity or just gas?
How long is your hot water on for or do you have a combi boiler?

My heating is on 6-10am and 5-10pm unless I'm cold and then I'll boost it during the day and my gas usage has increased over the last few months to about £80 (electricity was also £80 last month). My hot water is on a couple of times a day for an hour or so.

Beenaboutabit · 06/02/2021 09:44

It's far too high for your usage.

Either there is a problem with the smart meter (it happens) or a leak. Either way call them and they'll sort it out.

abc31 · 06/02/2021 09:57

I have a large 4 bed house but am stingy with the heating, it's on an hour in the morning and for probably another two hours over the course of the day in increments.

I've just looked at our usage as our combined gas and electricity bill is over £3,000 a year (we have an electric pool heater in the summer, we don't plough through stupid amounts of electricity outside of that...). Our annual gas consumption last year was 34,000 kWh. If that's of any help.

Original poster
Jet888 · 06/02/2021 09:59

Thanks everyone, just wanted to get some other views so really helpful! Il call energy company and speak to them

OP posts:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 06/02/2021 10:02

Is this for gas and electricity? I don’t find that insanely high depending on the tariff and the time of year. We live in a 6 bed house. It is well insulated and we have 2 nest thermostats so can control heating quite well. We use 32k of gas a year and around 9k of electricity. Pay octopus £200 a month. But we are on a cheapish octopus tariff through a comparison site exclusive.

Do you use your smart display for the meter? What does that say about daily usage?

abc31 · 06/02/2021 10:09

We use 32k of gas a year and around 9k of electricity. Pay octopus £200 a month. But we are on a cheapish octopus tariff through a comparison site exclusive.

Sorry, slight sidetrack but this sounds a lot better than my current deal (my supplier stopped trading so I've had to come off my fixed rate). Is yours a fixed rate that's no longer available? I have pretty much the same annual use as you but couldn't find anything less than £275 a month despite having gone through the price comparison site several times over the last month.** You have a great rate!

rhowton · 06/02/2021 10:42

Ours is £130 for gas and electric and we have the heating on at least 6 hours a day. Sometimes way more, like at the weekend! We pay £130 regardless of the month as in the summer we use no gas, but in the winter we use gas likes it's going out of fashion. I refuse to be cold in my house .

PigletJohn · 06/02/2021 10:57

Do the meter readings on the bill correspond with the actual meter readings from when you moved in?

How many cubic metres of gas is it?

Funnyfive · 06/02/2021 10:58

3 bed semi here with Pure Energy - last month we spent £50 on gas and used about 1,600kw - heating on every day for at least 3 hours as we are at home every day now.

So that does sound expensive- I would get a nest though, I love ours and it makes monitoring hearing usage much easier.

murbblurb · 06/02/2021 11:01

as planned the answer is to speak to/email Octopus - they are quite good at customer service.

it would be useful to know the actual unit rates and standing charges. If you are on their smart meter tracker tariff, electric rates will have rocketed (winter, windfarms, high demand) although I don't know about gas.

or the smart meter could be faulty/not connected - this is quite likely.

mootymoo · 06/02/2021 11:07

Sorry but seems a lot of hours of gas to me - mine is on 3 hours a day and is £110 combined electric and gas. That's averaged over the year though so £170 in the winter perhaps? Dp used to pay £260 a month for his last house, detached 5 bed

Original poster
Jet888 · 06/02/2021 11:52

Hi there, calling them mon as offices closed now. Our first month of billing seemed normal, just this month gone crazy. Am wondering whether it's linked to new boiler. Maybe I need to check settings?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 06/02/2021 12:06

Can you not contact them online? Its available every day

Original poster
Jet888 · 06/02/2021 13:19

Good point! Just contacted them online, awaiting reply

OP posts:
Therealone · 06/02/2021 13:25

My annual gas usage is 12,400, that's for a 4 Bed semi on from 9 in the morning to 10 at night continuously if it's cold the heating comes on, water is on the same time as the heating. On 18 in the day and 20 at night. Gas hob and boiler.
Yours seems extremely high.

Original poster
Jet888 · 08/02/2021 13:35

So contacted energy company. They told us to firstly test whether smart meter keeps going when gas off. Then keep record of meter readings over next few months to see if they stay high. If they do then they'll send someone to check the smart meter. Bit annoying but seems like all I can do fir now!
Although, could I ask a question me and dh were discussing? He said best to have valves on radiators on 6 (max) then set thermostat lower as they'll heat quicker than turn off boiler quicker, rather than having radiator valves turned down low with a higher temperature on the thermostat. Is he right? What's the best thing to do to reduce my gas usage (whilst not having a blooming freezing house!) Thanks all x

OP posts:
murbblurb · 08/02/2021 14:12

I dont think that is acceptable - there is obviously something wrong and a dodgy smart meter is the obvious suspect. Tell octopus to check it. They were keen enough to fit the thing.

boredwiththeoldname · 08/02/2021 14:21

@Jet888

So contacted energy company. They told us to firstly test whether smart meter keeps going when gas off. Then keep record of meter readings over next few months to see if they stay high. If they do then they'll send someone to check the smart meter. Bit annoying but seems like all I can do fir now! Although, could I ask a question me and dh were discussing? He said best to have valves on radiators on 6 (max) then set thermostat lower as they'll heat quicker than turn off boiler quicker, rather than having radiator valves turned down low with a higher temperature on the thermostat. Is he right? What's the best thing to do to reduce my gas usage (whilst not having a blooming freezing house!) Thanks all x
Speak to the plumber who installed the boiler and go with what they suggest about the thermostat and the radiators.
PlanDeRaccordement · 08/02/2021 14:25

He said best to have valves on radiators on 6 (max) then set thermostat lower as they'll heat quicker than turn off boiler quicker

This is correct. In addition it takes more gas to heat a cold house than it does to keep it warm. So turning the heat on and off several times a day can actually use more gas than setting the thermostat a few degrees lower at night while you sleep or in day while out of the house instead of shutting off the heat completely.

PlanDeRaccordement · 08/02/2021 14:26

Do you know EPC for your home?

Wester · 08/02/2021 14:27

I live in a 4 bed house, gas is approx 3000kwh a year! I have heating on full in the morning and evening in colder months. We also have lots of baths instead of showers and have a gas hob.

Set the thermostat to the temp you want and use the radiator valves to control what radiators you want on.

I have the heating come on in the living room and bedroom, but not the hallway or landing as an example. Then keep doors closed to keep the warmth in.

Defo worth checking if you are using gas when all your appliances are off.

You can save a huge amount of money by popping on an extra jumper during the day, or not hearing the kids bedrooms whilst they are at school/ playing in the living room.

Original poster
Jet888 · 08/02/2021 16:28

Thanks everyone. Yes, we have heating come on in morning then very low all day, temp up again evening for few hours so not on and off. I've gone round and turned down valves in hallways etc.
Have also contacted our boiler installer who is going to try and pop round some point to look/advise.
I do have epc somewhere as recently moved but need to look it up!
Really hoping I can get it under control. The irony is I actually like quite a cool house!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 08/02/2021 16:43

I thought it was a myth about keeping heating on all day. It's supposed to be cheaper to have it on a timer and go on and off as required.

It does depend how well your house is insulated as well though

PigletJohn · 08/02/2021 16:43

Do you know your meter readings?