Smart meters let you see the cost of the energy you are using immediately. 14 million households already have smart meters. But how useful are they in practice? And are there any problems? And is your supplier saying you have to get a smart meter as your meter is dangerous? There is one big issue you may not have heard of... This article looks at the pros and cons when you are thinking … [Read more...]
Articles about Energy Bills
“My energy direct debit can’t be right”
Has your energy supplier told you to pay a Direct Debit (DD) amount that sounds wrong? Not just more than you can afford, but one that doesn't sound right at all?: some numbers seem simply incredible, plucked out of nowhere; some seem to ignore the large credit on your account. You can't complain if the DD is so high just because prices are high - but you can complain if your … [Read more...]
Will a prepayment meter make it easier to budget?
Many people want to reduce their gas and electricity bills and are wondering if switching to a prepayment meter will help. So could a prepayment meter help you to use less energy and budget more easily for these high prices? Sometimes a supplier will suggest you should change, saying the budgeting will be easier. But in 2022 and early 2023, many energy suppliers forcibly installed prepayment … [Read more...]
Can’t pay your bills & debts? What help can you get?
What help can you get if you can't pay your important bills and debts? in March 2023, it has been a hard winter for millions. And many bills are increasing in April. If you don't think you can manage to pay everything, this article looks at your options for priority and nonpriority debts. And how to get help, with debts and with benefits. Get a budget & know what is top … [Read more...]
9 practical steps if you don’t want a prepayment meter
What are your options if you don't want to be forced to get a prepayment meter because of energy bill arrears? A prepayment meter doesn't make it easier to budget as you face very high charges over the winter. So it can be sensible to try to avoid one. This article has 9 practical steps that may help you to avoid having a prepayment meter. Try to reduce the amount you have to pay 1) … [Read more...]
“Can I switch from a Direct Debit to paying for energy by a monthly bill?”
A lot of people are asking about switching to paying a monthly energy bill instead of having a Direct Debit. Decided if they try to increase my direct debit to anything I can't afford I will tell them to cancel my Direct Debit and send me a paper bill. I will give weekly meter readings and pay for my usage AFTER I've used it, not a monthly amount ahead as a DD. Power companies hate when they … [Read more...]
Ofgem says don’t cancel direct debits – but has no good alternatives
Ofgem says you shouldn't cancel the direct debit to your energy supplier. This is in response to the Don't Pay UK campaign, which is suggesting supporters cancel their energy direct debits on October 1st: It's simple: we are demanding a reduction of energy bills to an affordable level. Our leverage is that we will gather a million people to pledge not to pay if the government goes ahead with … [Read more...]
Should you cancel your direct debit if you can’t pay your energy bill?
The situation in August 2022 The average UK household annual energy bill is now expected to jump 70% to £3,358 in October. Cornwall Insight predicts that in January 2023 there will be a further increase to about £3,600. That's almost treble what it was at the start of this year. The government's current help with energy bills, including £400 off everyone's electric bill this winter, and … [Read more...]
Ofgem names energy firms who must improve their Direct Debit setting
Ofgem has been investigating how energy suppliers set customers' direct debits. The energy regulator has found: more than 7 million consumers on a Standard Variable Tariff (SVT) had their direct debits increased between February and April 2022; direct debits went up 62% on average; half a million households had an increase of more than 100%. Ofgem has told 6 energy suppliers to take … [Read more...]