Thanks that's really interesting - it might make a big difference to the amount we're paying if the direct debits have been calculated over an 18 month period taking in two winters. £500 a month is like a second mortgage!

Thanks for all the advice, in answer to your question the house is a five bedroom terraced property built in the last thirty years. It is heated by gas and our gas bills have always been low. Our electricity bills have always been very high though which I put down to the fact that we have a large family with a lot of washing, and the tumble dryer ...

Hi - the average UK household gets through 3,000-4,000 a year apparently - so we are getting through 12 times as much! Any advice welcome.

Our electricity bills have always been high, but I put it down to the fact that we were a large household - we have five children. But over the last three months we have really been making an effort to cut back after the latest bill put us up to £500 a month (gas and electric combined). I rang npower this morning to give them the latest ...