Sally and Sid

[Vicky]

Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%

When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.

We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

[Sally Thompson]

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

I was alarmed when I saw your headline and was going to deny all-)

I’m not a typical user because we now have an air source heat pump so we
are high users but since we are no longer using oil we estimate that our
total costs for the year will go down. We have no gas in the village.
However, our usage in the last two months was 1691 in January and 1302 in
February. They say the increase in electricity prices will cost us an extra
69 pence a month so they won’t increase our monthly payment. Your monthly
increase seems totally out of proportion to that so I wonder if there is a
mistake on their part, or if you have misread it?

[Sally Thompson]

Post by Sally Thompson

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

I was alarmed when I saw your headline and was going to deny all-)
I’m not a typical user because we now have an air source heat pump so we
are high users but since we are no longer using oil we estimate that our
total costs for the year will go down. We have no gas in the village.
However, our usage in the last two months was 1691 in January and 1302 in
February. They say the increase in electricity prices will cost us an extra
69 pence a month so they won’t increase our monthly payment. Your monthly
increase seems totally out of proportion to that so I wonder if there is a
mistake on their part, or if you have misread it?

That should read 59p increase a month, not 69p.

[the Omrud]

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

We used 1067 kWh in the last three months, so about 350 kWh per month.
I see that the same period a year ago was higher, at 1190 kWh for three
months. Quite similar to your usage in both cases.

[Vicky]

Post by the Omrud

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

We used 1067 kWh in the last three months, so about 350 kWh per month.
I see that the same period a year ago was higher, at 1190 kWh for three
months. Quite similar to your usage in both cases.

Are you with bulb too? Were the charges similar? B has been insisting
they are all the same and get you when you change and make wonderful
promises to make you come to them. He wasn't keen on me swopping.

[the Omrud]

Post by Vicky

Post by the Omrud

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

We used 1067 kWh in the last three months, so about 350 kWh per month.
I see that the same period a year ago was higher, at 1190 kWh for three
months. Quite similar to your usage in both cases.

Are you with bulb too? Were the charges similar? B has been insisting
they are all the same and get you when you change and make wonderful
promises to make you come to them. He wasn't keen on me swopping.

Nope, we're on a bog-standard quarterly contract with Scottish Power,
and we have a smart meter. We moved here 24 years ago and we've never
switched supplier. Our original supplier, Manweb, was absorbed into
Scottish Power at some point.

[Nick Odell]

Post by Vicky

Post by the Omrud

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

We used 1067 kWh in the last three months, so about 350 kWh per month.
I see that the same period a year ago was higher, at 1190 kWh for three
months. Quite similar to your usage in both cases.

Are you with bulb too? Were the charges similar? B has been insisting
they are all the same and get you when you change and make wonderful
promises to make you come to them. He wasn't keen on me swopping.

I changed from British Gas to nPower in 2007 and that was only because I
moved house and nPower was already "on." I'm on the standard variable
tariff. I don't have a lot of spare money to throw away but I don't feel
hard done by at all. And I don't have to spend my spare time doing hard
sums.

Nick

[Sid Nuncius]

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

Our electricity usage is similar to yours. I can't say yet how much the
bills are because I've only just submitted the first monthly reading.
Costs are much higher at this time of year, of course, and usage in the
summer will be far lower, so it may average out OK.

Bulb reckon the increase will cost us an extra £18 per year, which is
£1.50 per month. Are you sure you've got yours right? I suspect it's
more like an extra £11.20 per year.

[Sally Thompson]

Post by Sid Nuncius

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

Our electricity usage is similar to yours. I can't say yet how much the
bills are because I've only just submitted the first monthly reading.
Costs are much higher at this time of year, of course, and usage in the
summer will be far lower, so it may average out OK.
Bulb reckon the increase will cost us an extra £18 per year, which is
£1.50 per month. Are you sure you've got yours right? I suspect it's
more like an extra £11.20 per year.

Yes, that was my thought too Sid. If ours is only going to be an extra 59p
a month, I can’t see how Vicky’s could be an extra £11.20 a month, on much
lower usage than ours. We had to do a big estimate of course because we
were changing heating source as well as supplier. However, no more oil or
oil bills!

[Vicky]

On Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:13:08 +0000, Sid Nuncius

Post by Sid Nuncius

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

Our electricity usage is similar to yours. I can't say yet how much the
bills are because I've only just submitted the first monthly reading.
Costs are much higher at this time of year, of course, and usage in the
summer will be far lower, so it may average out OK.
Bulb reckon the increase will cost us an extra £18 per year, which is
£1.50 per month. Are you sure you've got yours right? I suspect it's
more like an extra £11.20 per year.

the email says "For you, this means your energy will cost £11.20 more
each month.
"
attached letter...

"increased cost £135 a year" projected yearly cost for electricty
£2900! They said just over £700 for gas and electricity when I asked
for a quote and gave my annual usage. Could they charge different
rates in different areas? But that still doesn't explain the three
times the estimated cost they quoted.

[Sally Thompson]

Post by Vicky
On Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:13:08 +0000, Sid Nuncius

Post by Sid Nuncius

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

Our electricity usage is similar to yours. I can't say yet how much the
bills are because I've only just submitted the first monthly reading.
Costs are much higher at this time of year, of course, and usage in the
summer will be far lower, so it may average out OK.
Bulb reckon the increase will cost us an extra £18 per year, which is
£1.50 per month. Are you sure you've got yours right? I suspect it's
more like an extra £11.20 per year.

the email says "For you, this means your energy will cost £11.20 more
each month.
"
attached letter...
"increased cost £135 a year" projected yearly cost for electricty
£2900! They said just over £700 for gas and electricity when I asked
for a quote and gave my annual usage. Could they charge different
rates in different areas? But that still doesn't explain the three
times the estimated cost they quoted.

Vicky, you need to phone them or email them. I cannot believe the projected
yearly cost could be that high based on what you have said. I found them
very helpful on the phone. Possibly it’s just some glaring mistake on
their part.

[Vicky]

On 28 Feb 2018 23:53:57 GMT, Sally Thompson

Post by Sally Thompson

Post by Vicky
On Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:13:08 +0000, Sid Nuncius

Post by Sid Nuncius

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

Our electricity usage is similar to yours. I can't say yet how much the
bills are because I've only just submitted the first monthly reading.
Costs are much higher at this time of year, of course, and usage in the
summer will be far lower, so it may average out OK.
Bulb reckon the increase will cost us an extra £18 per year, which is
£1.50 per month. Are you sure you've got yours right? I suspect it's
more like an extra £11.20 per year.

the email says "For you, this means your energy will cost £11.20 more
each month.
"
attached letter...
"increased cost £135 a year" projected yearly cost for electricty
£2900! They said just over £700 for gas and electricity when I asked
for a quote and gave my annual usage. Could they charge different
rates in different areas? But that still doesn't explain the three
times the estimated cost they quoted.

Vicky, you need to phone them or email them. I cannot believe the projected
yearly cost could be that high based on what you have said. I found them
very helpful on the phone. Possibly it’s just some glaring mistake on
their part.

I emailed and that takes a couple of days for a reply. I don't like
doing things on the phone as want a record of the conversation :)

[Sid Nuncius]

Post by Sally Thompson

Post by Vicky
On Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:13:08 +0000, Sid Nuncius

Post by Sid Nuncius

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

Our electricity usage is similar to yours. I can't say yet how much the
bills are because I've only just submitted the first monthly reading.
Costs are much higher at this time of year, of course, and usage in the
summer will be far lower, so it may average out OK.
Bulb reckon the increase will cost us an extra £18 per year, which is
£1.50 per month. Are you sure you've got yours right? I suspect it's
more like an extra £11.20 per year.

the email says "For you, this means your energy will cost £11.20 more
each month.
"
attached letter...
"increased cost £135 a year" projected yearly cost for electricty
£2900! They said just over £700 for gas and electricity when I asked
for a quote and gave my annual usage. Could they charge different
rates in different areas? But that still doesn't explain the three
times the estimated cost they quoted.

Vicky, you need to phone them or email them. I cannot believe the projected
yearly cost could be that high based on what you have said. I found them
very helpful on the phone. Possibly it’s just some glaring mistake on
their part.

Agreed. That's absurd. Must be a cock-up somewhere.

[Penny]

On Wed, 28 Feb 2018 21:33:53 +0000, Vicky <***@gmail.com> scrawled
in the dust...

Post by Vicky
the email says "For you, this means your energy will cost £11.20 more
each month.
"
attached letter...
"increased cost £135 a year" projected yearly cost for electricty
£2900! They said just over £700 for gas and electricity when I asked
for a quote and gave my annual usage. Could they charge different
rates in different areas? But that still doesn't explain the three
times the estimated cost they quoted.

That does sound mad!
I'd give you my usage data but as I have solar panels it probably wouldn't
be a fair comparison. The panels 'earn' more each year than I pay out for
gas and electric - I still have to pay but get the money back.

Have you been in touch with them and queried it?
Have both fuels been switched properly now?
It really does sound like there's an error somewhere.

[Nick Odell]

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

Somewhat off topic but I couldn't think where else to put this:

From another newsgroup, today -

66
Apparently gas consumption today would be 400M cubic metres, but
there's only 350M cubic metres available, so a gas deficit has been
declared. This means large industrial users will have their gas cut
off for part of the day.

The two contributory factors are 1/3rd extra usage today over normal
due to the weather, and two gas import docks broken down.

Centrica closed our North Sea gas storage last year, which held 9
weeks supply of gas, due ot it being not commercially viable
anymore. Gas spot price currently 190p/therm.

Andrew Gabriel
99

So the wholesalers will be okay: they'll sell their stocks and make a
profit doing so. No incentive to consider the country or their
customers, only the bottom line.

Nick

[BrritSki]

Post by Nick Odell

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

From another newsgroup, today -
66
Apparently gas consumption today would be 400M cubic metres, but
there's only 350M cubic metres available, so a gas deficit has been
declared. This means large industrial users will have their gas cut
off for part of the day.
The two contributory factors are 1/3rd extra usage today over normal
due to the weather, and two gas import docks broken down.
Centrica closed our North Sea gas storage last year, which held 9
weeks supply of gas, due ot it being not commercially viable
anymore. Gas spot price currently 190p/therm.
Andrew Gabriel
99
So the wholesalers will be okay: they'll sell their stocks and make a
profit doing so. No incentive to consider the country or their
customers, only the bottom line.

There's nothing to worry about, we have all that wind and solar energy
to fall back on !

</sarc>

[198kHz]

Post by Vicky
Can I ask how many units of electricty you use a month?
I have had the first one month bill from bulb for electricty only,
together with a letter saying their charges are increasing by 2.8%
When I decided to switch the estimate I got was around £64 for both G
& E and the gas has not switched yet but E was £66.65 so I was a
little disconcerted. I will see how the gas goes when that switches.
We used 468 units. this is normal use for us.
They say the increase will cost us an extra £11.20 a month. :(

FWIW I'm with Bulb, and if I enter 468 units into my spreadsheet for
month ending 15 Feb it returns a total charge of £65.17. Slightly
different to yours, as charges vary slightly in different regions.

There should be an "Estimated annual usage" figure on your statement.

For comparison, my estimates are 3848 for electric and 19294 for gas,
and the email from Bulb says my estimated extra monthly cost will be
£3.68 per month. £11.20 doesn't sound right.