Really high electric and gas bill from Southern Electric/SWALEC

[Cloudstrife]

Hey everyone, got a frightening bill this morning from Southern Electric/SWALEC amounting to £550.50 for 12 January to 12 April 2010 for the Electric and £160.69 for the same dates on Gas.

 

For 3 weeks during those dates noone was at our property and also the previous readings have all been estimated, this states its been read however the guy came only yesterday to read the meter and this is dated for the 22nd. Without speaking to the others I cant state whether someone actually did come and read the meter, but yeah more on that when I know.

 

Anyways it really is abnormally high, our previous gas and electric bills have been about 60 on electric and 30 on gas, thats between four of us.

 

We've only been living here since September as well and it's a student property so if they think that means we wont argue it then they are very wrong indeed lol

 

Any advice and help would be great

 

Thanks

 

Cloud

 

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

 

The strange markings on the pieces of compressed tree:

 

Electric Bill:

_____________________________________________

 

This bill is for the period 15 Jan 2010 to 12 Apr 2010

_____________________________________________

 

Total From Previous Bill: £55.00

 

Payment last recieved : -£55.00

 

Less Your Payments Thank You : -£55.00

________________________________

 

Your Electricity Usage:

 

Reading last Reading last Units

time time

Meter : 1981550

Unrestricted Units 58656 (E) 62928 4272

_____________________________________________

 

Your Electricty Bill

Your Tariff is Domestic Standard

 

15 Jan 2010 - 31 Mar 2010

 

Standard energy units

3690 at 12.04p each £444.28

Standing charge at 13.440p for 76 day(s) £10.21

 

01 Apr 2010 - 12 Apr 2010

 

Standard energy units

582 at 12.04p each £70.07

Standing charge at 13.440p for 12 day(s) £1.61

______

 

Total charges before VAT £526.17

 

VAT at 5.00% £25.65

(on charges of £526.17 less prompt payment discount offer of £13.12)

 

Total charges this bill including VAT £551.82

 

Less prompt payment discount from last bill -£1.32

_____________________________________________

 

Please pay £550.50

 

_____________________________________________

 

 

Phew... now for the Gas Bill!

 

 

_____________________________________________

 

This bill is for the period 15 Jan 2010 to 12 Apr 2010

_____________________________________________

 

Total from previous bill £25.97

 

Payment recieved 25 Jan 2010 -£25.97

 

Less your payments -£25.97

_____________________________________

 

Your gas usage

 

 

Reading last Reading this Units

time time

 

Meter : 000197081

Gas Meter Advance 9026 (E) 9166 140

 

140 units x factor 100 x correction factor

1.02264 14316.96

14316.96 x conversion factor 0.0283 405.16

405.16 cu mtrs x calorific value 39.2

/conversion factor 3.6 4411.74

 

Units converted to kilowatt hours 4411.74

_____________________________________________

 

Your Gas Bill

Your tariff is General Saver

 

15 Jan 2010 - 28 Mar 2010

Standard Energy

3660 kWh at 3.240p each £118.58

Standing charge at 13.360p for 73 day(s) £9.75

 

29 Mar 2010 - 12 Apr 2010

Standard energy

751.74 kWh at 2.880p each £21.65

Standing charge at 25.570p for 15 day(s) £3.84

_______

Total charges before VAT £153.82

 

VAT at 5.00% £7.49

(on charges of £153.82 less prompt payment discount off of £3.83)

___________________________________________

 

Total charges this bill including VAT: £161.31

___________________________________________

 

Less prompt payment discount from last bill -£0.62

___________________

 

Please pay £160.69

===================================

 

That took a while lol, big thanks to those who made reading all the way through it and hopefully you have an awesome idea on what I/We should do about this

 

^_^

[reallymadwoman]

First, check the readings on this bill against your meters.

 

Second, did you get the meters read before you moved in? If so, check those readings against your previous bills.

 

If the readings are accurate, the most likely explanation is that your previous bills were seriously under-estimated, in which case speak to the supplier and see what they can do about spreading the payments out. If any of the readings are not accurate, again you need to speak to them.

[Cloudstrife]

Just checked the electric meter, it reads as 63290

 

thats an increase of 372 over the bill.

 

So what does that mean? The central heating hasnt been on, its been too warm, and usually just one or two PCs and 2 laptops on most of the time and rarely anything else.

 

Unsure as to where the Gas meter is in the house, it is likely outside and I need to get ready for the day first lol

[Cloudstrife]

We did get readings when we moved in, however I cannot find the piece of paper they were written on

[reallymadwoman]

You really need to know when the meter was read - it can't have been yesterday's readings that they've used, but it seems a bit unusual for them to come out again so quickly.

Speak to everyone else first and get the full picture, then come back for some more advice.

Have a good day!

[Cloudstrife]

Will do soon as everyone is awake, then I will post an update here Bloody students haha

 

You have a good day as well and thanks for your help! ^_^

[Cloudstrife]

Found out it was 2 weeks ago the dude came to check the meter

 

Will ring them later to find out whats going on

 

Does anyone have any advice on what to say to them about this?

[reallymadwoman]

I'd tell them your bills seem to have suddenly jumped (you do need to find the gas meter and get a reading from that too) and ask what they suggest.

The reading you took this morning is about half the daily rate that they're billing you for, but of course it was the (really, really) coldest part of the year when you can expect your bills to go up.

I've never been in this situation, so I've no idea what, if anything, they might suggest. I suspect the earlier bills were all estimated, and were far too low, so this one is just catching up, but don't suggest that to them, wait to see what they say.

If you're not sure at any point, get a name and say you need to ask your housemates' opinion and you'll get back to them, then come and ask on here. Mostly just listen and say as little as possible.