Can anyone explain why my gas is so much more expensive than my electricity?
By dorypanda
@dorypanda (1601)
May 18, 2009 2:49pm CST
I use an electric cooker, my heating is gas and electric and there is usually at least one computer switched on most of the evening.
Bill Summary
Amount
Total Electricity Charges £92.12
Total Gas Charges £282.89
Total (Ex VAT) £375.01
VAT @ 5% on £375.01 £18.75
Total (Including VAT) £393.76
Balance brought forward on account dated 10th February, 2009 £531.55 (and does THIS mean I'm actually owed money? I'm very confused, any help is more than welcome).
1 person likes this
3 responses
@nannacroc (4049)
•
18 May 09
Not sure but I do know the gas providers seem to think evryone has used £200 worth of gas, even someone who hasn't even been living in their house since January. It will say CR if you are in credit.
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@dorypanda (1601)
•
19 May 09
So, do you reckon there's something funny going on there then?
It says CR on some bits, but not on others, it's very confusing.
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@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
20 May 09
I'll have a look if you want. I'm quite good at translating these things.
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
20 May 09
I think gas units are more expensive than electricity although your bill doesn't seem to make sense but then, apparently, I owe £50 for a fuel bill to a company whom I was not with for that particular month. I think they just make up the charges and add loads more onto the bills of those who pay in order to recoup for the ones who don't pay. Perhaps they think you won't notice. The "people" I have spoken to from my supplier seem to think that anyone with a problem is stupid.
As for you balance brought forward, it should say whether it is Credit or Debit. I'm assuming that your bill is quarterly, in which case your electricity seems about right but you should dispute the gas because that's ridiculous. I had a simliar problem having not actually used any gas and everything being electric, I disputed the gas bill and it turned out I was actually owed money. Funny thing is though that when I tried to claim that money, my bill was suddenly "estimated" so that it turned out I wasn't really in that much credit. Now I'm being asked to pay an outstanding balance on another "estimated" bill. How can it be outstanding if it was estimated?
Anyway, I think you should get in touch with your supplier and explain the situation. Unless you've had your heating on really high permanently for 6 months or have a gas leak or something then there is no reason why your bill should be that high.
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@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
21 May 09
Send them your meter readings anyway. They won't actually tell you why things are too expensive but they might lower it. I've told mine I don't owe what they say I do and all I had was a letter saying something about setting up direct debit to help with financial difficulties. Obviously, a direct debit is ok if you know you've got enough money to pay it every month but I do wonder how these companies think these direct debits will help people who can't pay the amount they want to take.
They shouldn't really be asking for so much for an estimated bill as I'm guessing that's not been your bill before otherwise you wouldn't be surprised by it. You could pay what you think you owe (if you know what that might be and if you have it to pay) and then wait for them to correct the bill from your own meter readings. If you still have a problem, you should 'phone them. Not that they will be any better on the 'phone as none of them seem to understand English but at least you can try and explain the bits they misunderstand at the time rather than typing out a whole other email.
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@RieRie (820)
•
21 May 09
My estimated gas bill for this quarter was over £200 and that's only for potentially 1 month, as I haven't been at home to use any gas a month after the last bill, I called up cos I only actually received a reminder and not a bill and they said it was wrong and was substantially lower after I gave them the reading, but as my September bill was about £180, they used that and added more because of prices going up. It would be better if they could average it out instead, as I've had bills ranging from about £3 to about £200
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