Hi people,

 I`m just doing a quick spot survey to see what people are paying for their gas and leccy a month.  Reason being is that apparently my winter quarter gas bill this year was 450 quid.  I called BG and they said there wasn`t any billing errors and that I should take a gas readin every day for a week.  I`m using on average 14 units a day, a number which is "apparently" the national average.  I`m not sure that this could be the case as I don`t know anyone with a similar sized house who has the same high gas bills.  1500 quid a year on gas seems a lot for a house, that has about 13 radiators (4 bedrooms), gas central heating and gas hob (oven is leccy).

 

Anyone with any views or similar high bills?

 Andy.

I pay less than £4 per month (for heating, cooking and hot water.)

Your bills don't seem that high. Except this winter has been very mild. Do you have the heating on unnecessarily? You mentioned you had 13 radiators. Does that mean you usually have them all switched on? Or just the ones in the living room? If so, why? Also, have you been with BG a long time and paying over the odds or are you on a competitive switcher's tariff?

There's probably no comparison between house sizes or anything like that, but I belted my gas central heating hard all winter. Had it on whenever I wanted, as well as on the timer mornings and evenings every day whether i was at home or not... Thermostat practically full up etc etc. I also cook with gas but everything else is uses electricity. 45 quid per month.

Hi Andy,

         Do you leave your heating on day and night? Do you have thermostatic control of your heating? How many people in your household? How often are they using bath/shower and laundry facilities? There are too many variables to say whether your bill is high or low.

                 Jaymus
 

 

 

 

3 people in the house, one under 2.  Approx 11 baths a week using gas and washer used approx 6 times.  No other real gas consuming applications.

 I`m coming from the perspective that my old house was a 3 bed semi, probably about 8 radiators and all other applicances used in a similar way as now, and my Gas bill was around 30 quid a month.  I don`t know how a gas bill can go 5x higher with probably a house double the size.  Maybe if it was like 6 bedrooms etc I could understand it.....

You need someone to come in and do an energy audit on the property. I live in a 3 bed semi with radiators in each room except the kitchen which uses an electric heater. We used 548 units total from Feb.06 to Feb.07 which averages out at 1.5 units per day. There are three adults and we keep the house warm during the day but off during the night( 11pm to 7am).We run the radiator in the small bedroom but seldom in the two main bedrooms as it gets too warm at night. With warm duvets you hardly need heat in the bedrooms especially if they are directly above a heated living area.

You now have a much bigger home and an extra wall to lose heat through . But your bills seem to be still too high.

  Jamus
 

My heating is on 2 timers, comes on at 4.30am, goes off at 9am, comes on at 3.30pm and goes off at 2am.

 British gas said the national average was 14 units a day.  Surely this can`t be right?

Hi Andy #

I work for a gas company and I agree that 450.00 per quarter it is a lot of money but at the same time there are a few thins to consider.

Firstly: yes, is a lot of money but not unusual for a winter bill to be that high, especially with the unit prices for this winter, so it is possible that you have us this amount of gas during the winter, I have seen it before on numerous occasions.

Secondly; you have to make sure that the readings they are billing you to and from are actual as if this is not the case they may are overcharging you or you may be paying for some of the gas that you have been using the quarter before. Remember that if the readings are correct the bill is correct.

You have been adv that the meter is not over registering. Have you double check your central heating? How old is your boiler? How often do you us your heating and how? All of these are thins that will make a huge difference on your bills.

If BG still adamant that the bill is correct and the meter is fine why don’t you get some energy efficiency adv from BG?

Finally I will not adv to compare with other properties as they may be similar but not every customer is on the same unit price.

Good luck

Vanessa

Hi Andy,dont get me wrong but you seriously need to 'manange' better ON at 4.30am OFF 2am,i my self  have stone walls 600mm thick, 4 beds, boiler 28yrs oldand STILL GOING STRONG,OK maybe i should up graded !!!! 3rooms AVE 15ftx15    3-14x16 kitchen,bath,shower,2 cellars live on top of a hill, although only 2 of us at home this winter ,out all day heating on 6-7am and 3.45- 9pm, weekends slightly different but only used 28 units aWEEK remember all doors kept closed, at all times,usual draught spots sealed,and heating off 1hr before bedtime last year winter bill  gas was only £400 for 3 mths and summer 2006 although exceptionally warm my gas which basically was for h/w was 100 quid for 6 mths, we would need a little more imfo to help further as someone has said WE all live differently but as i am OAP we tend to tighten our belts.

28 Units a week with a similar size house? 

Why do british gas tell me that 14 units a day is a UK average then, this is why I solicited a survey to see if they were being economical with the truth (if not their gas unit price).


Andy. 

Hi Andy,As Vannesa states we live our lives as we see,but there seems to be a lot of 'waste' here you need to take readings daily for a start or weekly if the wife is at home all day things can be difficult i know some people recon on leaving heating on constant turning the 'stat' down, but i prefer to manage myself, say  reset timers and do reading checks although spring is on us you should be able to look forward to next winter!!!!! with a little more knowledge.The 'heart' of the house you need to be warm is the Lounge/Kiddies room the rest are just passing' thro' ones, problems i used to have none of our 'tribe' everclosed doors after them,and as the wife is a teacher so the education authority paid for the schools bills but as i told her I pay for ours LOL 'SHUT THAT DOOR'

This still isn`t answering the base question of what the average units per day is, i.e. n respondents to the survey give a figure that I can total and divide by n, to see if BG`s "national average" of 14 is accurate, which I don`t think it is.

Check this out Andy house empty over Xmas clock settings on/off 8hrs periods of 4 12am-02-00   /06-45.08-45am. 13-45-16-00/ 21-00  23-00   26units used in  47hours???? if i have read your post correctly your clocks are on 15hrs pr day or another check i did was 4.25hrs per day =apprx 1unit per hour as you can see i,m'not boffered' about BG National!!!! after all their average price for central heating installation  £4,000 but your local 'corgi' agent would charge approx £2,800 maybe a little bit more if he knew their price first LOL, and it would possibly be the same man/firm doing it on BEHALF of BG IF THEY HAD THE CONTRACT

Hi Andy #

I can see that your question on what is the national average hasn’t been answer and unfortunately it will be very difficult to get an accurate answer as I mentioned the other day it depends on a number of thins, especially the type of meter that you have.

If your meter has 5 dials 14 units/d could be OK if it has 4 dials I think it may be a little high.

You can always call the energy savings trust on 0800 512 012 they may need to know the number of gas appliances, type of boiler number of dials on the meter…etc they are very good and helpful.

You can also have a chat with energy watch on 08459 06 07 08 //www.energywatch.org.uk

The other thin you can do is to call BG and request a meter accuracy text. This is a chargeable job around the £60.00 (don’t take my word on these) Price depends on the area you leave in, if the meter turns out to be faulty BG would pay for it and get you a new meter. Also all the previous bills would be cancelled and re bill according to the gas that the new meter registers, Unfortunately if the meter is up and running and you have us this gas then you would be liable to pay for the charges.

BG should send a letter for you to sing explaining the terms and conditions before the accuracy text gets done

Let us know how you get on

one again 

Good luck

Vanessa

I have a new combi condensing boiler, last winter the thermostat was on 22c all day and 20c at night 24 hours a day, I have 9 rads and all are on. My winter bill used an average of 2.3 units per day my bill was for £186. I think you are being ripped off.