Check your gas bills - dodgy billing

We've made a concerted effort to cut fuel usage and cost recently and changed from quarterly bills with two different providers to a dual fuel tarriff with BG.

We use very little gas, but have had high electricity bills for years.

Our long-term average for electric has been over 18 units per day and over the last week it is now down to 12.25, without any noticeable impact on our lifestyle.

The main change has been our fridge. If your fridge is over ten years old a modern A- rated one can use as little as 25% of the electricity. We got rid of a fridge/freezer and a separate fridge and replaced them both with a new bigger fridge/freezer.

Neb

Well, I waited for a while to see if you got any other hits, but no comments on this. So here's my 2p:

Gas is paid a year in advance by the gas suppliers. Hence we already know the prices they will be paying in a year's time. This is significantly more than now. Hence a good 'capped price' deal is worth while, because there is no gamble. The prices are going up significantly. However, you have now missed the boat on the best capped deals. They were switched off about two months ago.

John

In message , Nebulous writes

I just checked mine, (I live alone) and this quarter's average is 6.029 units per day! I must be doing something right, because this quarter in 2006 it was just over 9 units/day, and in 2007 it was over 10 units.

My smartest move was going from economy 7 electric storage heaters to GCH, about 9 years ago, and the saving was such that the combined bills have this year only just topped the year 2000 all-electric bill.

I don't need a huge fridge-freezer, but I need a more energy efficient one, that would be worthwhile, as it is on 24/7, subject to thermostatic control. We really have to take these things seriously now, rather than shrugging our shoulders and saying "We can afford it".

In message , John E writes

I'm afraid that is the conclusion I have come to. :-(