How much do you pay for electricity and gas? Am I being ripped off?

[youandiaredominoes]

Hi everyone

Just sorting out my bills at the moment.

I live with my partner in a one bed flat and we aren't excessive users of gas and electricity but the gas bills I've been receiving seem expensive but maybe I'm just being naive... Is paying ?66 in the winter months a lot for 2 people?

M

[Alan Medic]

I suppose it depends on what you use gas for. Central heating, cooking, showers, baths? If that figure is per month it sounds alright to me. It's just not cheap.

[Greengod]

I'm in a 1 bed and pay ?105 a month for gas and electric. ?60 is the gas ?45 electric. I think it's allot but they take meter readings so it is what it is. I'm on the cheapest edf blue plan. Fixed till April 2014. I have gas central heating and combi boiler. I'm going to try shower more than bathing and use heating less to try get it down as seems allot for single person in a 1 bed.

[youandiaredominoes]

Thanks for the replies guys. Maybe it's just the grim reality of it all!

We have showered each morning and the occasional bath. Just use gas for all the usual stuff such as cooking. I was worried it was a gas leak or the upstairs neighbours were siphoning it off!

Greengod: I'm paying about ?18pm for electricity with southern electric direct debit.

Might buy some more jumpers for the winter...

[Loz]

You really need to look at how you are using gas.

If you have a boiler/tank, it's not how many showers you have but how long you have the boiler timer set for. Also, do you have gas powered central heating - how long is that on for?? Shortening the time the boiler is on will save money. Turning the room thermostat down 1 or 2 degrees will save money. Have you made sure your central heating timer is off for the summer months?

[Jessie]

I was paying 66 a month for gas but have just received a 500 quid refund from n power as I was in credit (great!). Now my direct debit has gone to 30 a month for a 2 bedroom ( though tiny) flat.

[Otta]

Greengod Wrote:

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> I'm in a 1 bed and pay ?105 a month for gas and

> electric. ?60 is the gas ?45 electric. I

> think it's allot but they take meter readings so

> it is what it is. I'm on the cheapest edf blue

> plan. Fixed till April 2014. I have gas

> central heating and combi boiler. I'm going to

> try shower more than bathing and use heating less

> to try get it down as seems allot for single

> person in a 1 bed.

That does seem a lot, we pay that for a 3 bed house, and we cook and heat with gas. I signed up for one of those fixed rate deals until some time next year, at which point we'll probably get stung.

[KalamityKel]

Otta Wrote:

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I signed up

> for one of those fixed rate deals until some time

> next year, at which point we'll probably get

> stung.

You're apparently meant to get the difference back if your stop that deal or move elsewhere - any money left from the payments you made that hasn't been used to pay for the energy used that is. That's what the sales man said to me anyway and I was quite pushy to get all the information before siging my life away!

[Saffron]

youandiaredominoes Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi everyone

>

> Just sorting out my bills at the moment.

>

> I live with my partner in a one bed flat and we

> aren't excessive users of gas and electricity but

> the gas bills I've been receiving seem expensive

> but maybe I'm just being naive... Is paying ?66 in

> the winter months a lot for 2 people?

>

> M

That seems on par with other people I know. Utilities are just expensive in general. What's the insulation like on your flat? Mr Saff and I are in an old victorian house, and it leaks heat like a sieve! Alas, we're only renters. Otherwise we'd make some serious changes. But even small changes can help too. If you feel drafts around your doors and windows, you are losing heat (and money).

[Otta]

"Mr Saff and I are in an old victorian house, and it leaks heat like a sieve! Alas, we're only renters. Otherwise we'd make some serious changes. "

Exactly the same here. Our house is very hot in summer, and freezing in winter. Once the heating is off, the house is cold again in minutes! Very annoying.

[Gidget]

Look into free insulation for your loft if you have one. Most of the utility companies offer it.

Keep reading your meters so that the utility companies don't overcharge you on your direct debit amounts. They will if they can. I have had mine reduced a few times as they presumed I used more than I did. Why give them extra money upfront and then have to battle to get it back at the end of the year.

Buy window insulation on Amazon to fit around gaps if you have draughty windows. Can also buy plastic film to put over windows during the winter. Doesn't cost much but makes a difference.

I have been heating one or two rooms at a time rather than the whole house and it makes a difference. Have been using space heaters.

[JMT]

We pay about ?40 for gas and ?40 for electricity. We have a 3 storey Victorian terraced house. Family of 4 with a lodger. 4 bed, 2 bath, occupied during the day.

We have done quite a lot to improve our house thermally - replaced sash beads with brushed beads, clad the side of our outrigger with insulation and timber cladding, extending the rear with a cavity walled rear extension on two levels. We also have a wood burning stove and solar water heating panels. I'm glad to see it seems to be paying off!

[ED2013]

Having new remote control heating control added to existing boiler system. From British gas on 8th oct http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/remote-heating-control.html

Let's you text and set heating or use app. So you can turn on a few minutes before you get home or override timer if you home late. Costs ?199. But will save about ?140 a year. Looks good