I was seeing if anyone could offer any advice. I live in a one bedroom apartment and 2 weeks ago submitted my meter readings as I was paying £267 a month in electric and gas which I thought was way to high. After submitting my readings EDF have increased my bill to £325 a month, I know energy prices right now as sky high but surely for a one bedroom apartment £325 a month is way to excessive? And if so, who can I take this issue to as EDF are no help at all.

£325 seems way too much, even half that seems a tad expensive for the property you have.

You can work your bill out yourself from your rates and usage.

Sounds like next door has a grow on and you're paying for it.

Almost £4,000 per year!

Unless they've been underestimating,

Ask to go on quarterly billing.

If they refuse, switch to a supplier that will bill you quarterly.

I don't have any pearls of wisdom to offer, me and my partner have generally found it difficult to deal with energy companies. But I certainly think you're right to question that price given the property you've described.

That's way way over the top. I work in the energy industry and there is no way that's correct. Speak to EDF and get them to send a meter reader round to read it, then request them to check the meter isn't faulty. Is your property a new build? Meter installers sometimes mess up when installing meters and you may be paying someone else's bills.

Have you got a smart meter?

Switch to Octopus if EDF are messing you about.

Ours with EDF, electricity and gas combined is averaging about £70 per month. What sort of tariff are you on?

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:29 am

Ours with EDF, electricity and gas combined is averaging about £70 per month. What sort of tariff are you on?

"Cannibis plant grower" tariff

Lancasterclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:32 am

"Cannibis plant grower" tariff

If you've moved into the house in the last couple of years Id go right back to that read and see if it was a read you took. Then look forward at your other readings to see if they were estimates.

If a read isnt taking when a change of tenancy or a change of supply takes place and then there is a long run of estimated readings you could suddenly be hit with a large bill that covers a period you weren't responsible.

This would be the starting point I would take as estimated bills are often the root cause of these kind of issues. If you do any checks on this and have any Qs post on here and i will try to help as I have been in and around the utilities and metering industry on and off for the last 20 years

Mine was high so I took daily readings. I also turned the electricity off overnight and it still moved. I have had a smart meter fitted and am now using less than half I was, including the standing charge. I'm trying to get money back from British Gas, as it was their meter that was wrong, and have the proof written down because I did the readings.

I am an EDF customer and cannot understand why your bills are so extortionete.

For customers out of contract and on standard tariff the average customer pays slightly less than £2K/annum up to October than £2.8K and just over £3K from January. After that its anyones guess.

EDF does offer a not so hot deal for existing customers around £2.5K/annum on normal average usage lasting 2 years witha £300 early exit fee.

May I suggest as it is very difficult to swop suppliers currently so see what options are available to you via your EDF account.

claretburns wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:10 am

I was seeing if anyone could offer any advice. I live in a one bedroom apartment and 2 weeks ago submitted my meter readings as I was paying £267 a month in electric and gas which I thought was way to high. After submitting my readings EDF have increased my bill to £325 a month, I know energy prices right now as sky high but surely for a one bedroom apartment £325 a month is way to excessive? And if so, who can I take this issue to as EDF are no help at all.

In addition to all the other posts, you should consider if EdF are setting your new monthly direct debit on the basis of their forecast of your energy usage over the next 12 months and arriving at the estimate based on current capped rate, or their expectation of capped rates which will come in on 1st October - and be revised again on 1st January. Our energy usage varies with the seasons. We use a lot of energy for heating our homes through the winter months. We don't use very much to heat our homes in the summer months. Of course, this can vary on where you live and vary with weather patterns. Summer and winter will also have this effect on lighting, of course, long days v dark nights.

When was the last time you submitted meter readings? Some energy suppliers now ask that this is done monthly. Of course, even if they receive monthly meter readings they will aim to estimate energy use over 12 months and aim to set an equal monthly direct debit. Each month you will receive a bill and show whether you are in positive or negative balance against this bill.

I always take photos of my meter readings and submit based on the photos. I keep the photos on file with my monthly bills - just in case I need to look back at them.

Is there anything in your apartment that could be using lots of energy? I have underfloor electric heating in bathroom. It's now switched off for summer, but I've left it on sometimes when I've been away in winter and sometimes the timing has needed adjusting.

Last bit. Did you read and submit the meter reading correctly? There are different types of meters and there are different rules for submitting the readings. Did you follow the rules for your meters correctly.

I’m with Octopus, they put our monthly electricity up from £53 to £98. Our gas is LPG so we don’t get the dual fuel discount. We are in a 4 bed detached bungalow so I think you need to change supplier.

Nothing to do with your company. All to do with what you are using and what is your meter doing.

For instance, if you turn everything off at the fuse box, does the meter still say you are using? Then you have a rogue... (neighbour poss or faulty meter)

If you then turn on and see what is being used wg fridge, then what effect does that have? Should be negligible .

If you are heating a tank of water, or your heat comes on, for some reason, then that could be whacking you.

So I will second the people saying get a smart meter.
I realised half my bill was things on stand by mode.

So now my overnight usage is 0.2 to 0.3 kWh and my spend by the time I get up is £1.40 to £1.60. That’s two freezers, a fridge freezer. CCTV and Sky on. Standby the boiler and pump for hot water. Everything else turned off over night.

My bill for a 3 bed detached is £230 a month with Octopus at 28 p per kWh for electric and 7.5p for gas. So your either not understanding what’s eating your energy or as people have said it could be a meter issue.

But get a smart meter, turn everything off and it should say your using nothing . If it’s doesn’t, you need to investigate.

It is hard to tell whether that is too much without knowing more of the detail.
Is the amount you quote, your monthly direct debit figure or your actual usage.
Do you know what your actual tarriff is per kWh? It will be on your bill.
The numbers Lowbank quotes above are reasonable? Are yours similar or much higher.
If your rates are higher then best to shop around to see if you can find a better rate.
If rates are similar then it could be that you are just using too much energy, faulty appliances or meter or your direct debit is just set too high.

It sounds like you are paying for other apartments and or communal areas, ask the management agent if everyone has meters, get them to check if the meter is in a communal area if other apartments have either connected to your supply deliberately or accidentally

That is enormous for a 1-bed apartment unless you are growing cannabis in the living room.

I live in a 3-bed (modernish) terraced house. Prior to the energy price hikes my g+e monthly dd was £65 per month. Now increased to £130 but Ive quickly got into credit on that.
I have gas heating and tend to wear undershirts/pullovers in winter but keep pretty warm, I also dry clothes outside when the weather is OK (tumble dryers are expensive). Otherwise I dont skimp and have radiators on in all rooms (thermostat set at 14C night times, 19C daytimes).

Cant help but suspect that you have a faulty meter or somebody is syphoning off your energy.

claretburns wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:10 am

I was seeing if anyone could offer any advice. I live in a one bedroom apartment and 2 weeks ago submitted my meter readings as I was paying £267 a month in electric and gas which I thought was way to high. After submitting my readings EDF have increased my bill to £325 a month, I know energy prices right now as sky high but surely for a one bedroom apartment £325 a month is way to excessive? And if so, who can I take this issue to as EDF are no help at all.

Goodness me. Switch supplier if you can find one who'll take you. Try Octupus.

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:28 am

Switch to Octopus if EDF are messing you about.

Do not switch to Octopus. They are perfectly ok if you have no problems. But if you do get a problem they are hopeless at sorting things out

claret54 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 06, 2022 5:05 pm

Do not switch to Octopus. They are perfectly ok if you have no problems. But if you do get a problem they are hopeless at sorting things out

I am about to have solar fitted and rang Octopus, they told me everything I needed to know. What certs I need to get export payments and even sent me links to websites on variable tariffs.
Let’s see if it runs smoothly when fitted.

My fixed rate ended this week with Ovo, it increased from £120 to £180 when I fixed a year ago. (Dual fuel)

Think I will chance my luck with their variable pricing…

Burnleyareback2 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 06, 2022 10:46 pm

2A6F7F2A-81FD-40CB-BEF7-CF6D2B4613DF.jpeg

My fixed rate ended this week with Ovo, it increased from £120 to £180 when I fixed a year ago. (Dual fuel)

Think I will chance my luck with their variable pricing…

All fixed rates are crazy at the moment as they are scared Russia will turn off the gas and prices will go mega crazy so they are building that in.

Lowbankclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:03 pm

All fixed rates are crazy at the moment as they are scared Russia will turn off the gas and prices will go mega crazy so they are building that in.

I didn’t expect to be covering the lights of red square in my fixed option!

Can I just state that, unless someone lives in the next door flat to you , with exactly the same dimensions then nobody can correctly comment in what your utility bill should be.

chipbutty wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:33 pm

Can I just state that, unless someone lives in the next door flat to you , with exactly the same dimensions then nobody can correctly comment in what your utility bill should be.

No but my bill is lower for 3 bed detached, we both live at home all day. Washing machine is on every day. Any excuse, dogs bedding, throws on the settee, our bedding, towels “well they have been in the airing cupboard for two weeks”, yes but unused.

Poor person, their bill should not be that high. It’s a one bed flat.

Just moved from a 2 bed flat and I was paying DD £135
s month with Octopus with a credit of £670 on its way.

We had E7 and no gas

Moved to a 4 bed detached house weeks ago and we now have dual fuel and are with shell energy and pay £237.00 p/m

EDF is owned by the French Government, nobody should be choosing them as they are using UK customers to subsidise their French ones.

Thanks for all the above replies and advice, it is appreciated.

I finally got through to someone at EDF today. The phone call took 2 minutes, I said I cannot afford to pay £325 a month and there reply was "this is OK, we'll change the direct debit to £130 instead".

So just makes me think the amount is definitely wrong that within a sentence they just knock £195 off the bill no questions asked.

claretburns wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 12, 2022 9:10 pm

Thanks for all the above replies and advice, it is appreciated.

I finally got through to someone at EDF today. The phone call took 2 minutes, I said I cannot afford to pay £325 a month and there reply was "this is OK, we'll change the direct debit to £130 instead".

So just makes me think the amount is definitely wrong that within a sentence they just knock £195 off the bill no questions asked.

You need to find out then if they owe you anything or if your’e in debit. Also ask them what your balance is and that you want to check it on line. They need to know your situation. Talk to them again and ask them if the calls are recorded, it’s best if they are for any future reference.

As Beddie says, you do need to do some more digging. Whilst they have reduced your monthly payments, will that actually cover your energy costs each month or would you be building up debt with them?
For them to change by such a large amount, something isn’t right.

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1547 ... CgBww&s=19

The French government are going to take full control of EDF, instead of just it's 84%.
This is bound to have an impact on prices here.

Claretburns, give Foulthrow a call, he'll be round in a heartbeat with a couple of car batteries and a plug or two.

claretburns wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 12, 2022 9:10 pm

Thanks for all the above replies and advice, it is appreciated.

I finally got through to someone at EDF today. The phone call took 2 minutes, I said I cannot afford to pay £325 a month and there reply was "this is OK, we'll change the direct debit to £130 instead".

So just makes me think the amount is definitely wrong that within a sentence they just knock £195 off the bill no questions asked.

Hi claretsburns, please don't confuse your monthly direct debit with your gas and elec consumption and the true costs you will be incurring. We all use a lot more gas and also more electricity in winter than we do in summer. We use gas to heat our homes we use elect to light our homes, so naturally we use more when it is colder and darker. Your monthly direct debits are not based on your actual consumption. They are an attempt by your energy supplier to estimate your usage and the cost of that usage. They can get your usage wrong. They can also get the future costs wrong, especially now that the cap applies to most of us and is going to be re-set by Ofgem every 3 months.

You might also find it worthwhile to take a look at this report published today on BBC. However, it appears that Ofgem think EdF are one of the few that doesn't have shortcomings in its direct debit processes.

Energy suppliers told to review soaring direct debits

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62148487

Surely all bills now have usage details, how much you've used and a comparison with the previous year plus your tariff. From this info you should be able to work out what's going on.