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Rank 2
November 17, 2024
Solved

Can someone help me understand my gas usage?

  • November 17, 2024
  • 28 replies
  • 333 views

I've recently moved to a bungalow, it's just me and I only use the radiator on the bedroom on 20c for around 2 hours every night and my bill is over £100 pm  !  My shower is electric. Gas only used for radiators. I don't use much tap hotwater at all, rarely actually to save... and I washing in a bowl  I can't really understand the kW in the ovo app.  Could someone explain what I'm possibly doing wrong to cost this much?!   Am I better to use my sitting room wall electric heater? 

Best answer by BeePee

Hi. To me the gas meter looks to be an old style “dumb” meter (installed 2006?).

Is your bill being estimated? What is the split between gas and electricity charges?

Gas is about a quarter the cost of electricity so it should (generally) be cheaper heating by gas than electricity.

28 replies

Rank 2
November 17, 2024

That's what I was told !   But my electric is around £40  and I' use the airfryer and steamer everyday at least twice as I steam up my dogs food as well as my own plus all other normal household appliances.   I don't think so, I pay £65 then whatever the balance over I transfer straightaway.     I'm getting robbed aren't I?   What should I do in your opinion? 

Super User
November 17, 2024

You will need to check your last bill to see if the gas and electricity readings used to calculate your bill were “smart”, manual or estimated.

Are we talking about your last bill or are you paying by monthly direct debit and this is your direct debit amount?

Annually: Petrol 1315l to 442l, Electricity 3779 kWh to 2465 kWh, Gas 17,853 kWh to 9128 kWh. 20 years of monitoring and tweaking.
Rank 2
November 17, 2024

 

Rank 2
November 17, 2024

My bills are on the app and I can't find anywhere that says either of those three words 

And yes £65 is my monthly pay via direct debit that's the plan they put me on and if more I simply make an extra payment on the app 

Super User
November 17, 2024

Thanks for the snapshot, but it doesn’t tell me how the bill was calculated. Did the bill use actual (smart or manual) readings or were the readings estimated. If you have only recently moved in then any estimated readings may use the previous occupants usage patterns.

Annually: Petrol 1315l to 442l, Electricity 3779 kWh to 2465 kWh, Gas 17,853 kWh to 9128 kWh. 20 years of monitoring and tweaking.
Rank 2
November 17, 2024

Sorry.  Found it.   Yes it says smart next to the  reading history on the electricity but says manual next to the gas which I did on November 14th for the first time since moving here in June as I was playing with app and saw I can enter it whereas I was always getting a bill so I didn't known had to.    Is that the issue do you think?   Perhaps I'll call them to morrow and also ask about the 'dumb' meter haha.   Thqnkyou x

Rank 2
November 17, 2024

 

Rank 2
November 17, 2024

That is the day I moved in and 14th I just randomly did it, but I've always been billed since I moved in so I assume they don't need the reading ?    I've not a clue :(

Super User
November 17, 2024

Try to submit your gas meter reading just before your billing date. That way your bills will be based on what you have used rather than an estimate. You can submit them via the app using the “usage” tab, and about half way down you will see “Meter Readings, View and submit reading. >”

You could also check to see how your current reading compares with the estimate. Hopefully the estimate is greater than the actual.

Annually: Petrol 1315l to 442l, Electricity 3779 kWh to 2465 kWh, Gas 17,853 kWh to 9128 kWh. 20 years of monitoring and tweaking.
Rank 2
November 17, 2024

Yes it said smart on the electricity bill but manual next to the gas bill 

yes perhaps thats what ive done wrong but no one told me this just told me id get billed...      but Brilliant thank you so so much for you're help, 

I'm not sure how to compare the current reading with the estimate ?