Any one else struggle to work out how your Utility bills are calculated?

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Not really, mine seems quite straightforward? There's a standing charge that is multiplied by the number of days in the billing period. Then there's the units I've used which is simply the difference between my meter readings. Say my meter said 15000 last month and now it's 15200, then I've used 200 units. The number of units is then multiplied by the unit price. Add those two together to get the amount I owe them. I pay by direct debit a fixed amount each month. So then they take off what I've already paid them. The amount at the end shows my current balance. No difficult maths involved really.

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EverydayDan@reddit

The only difference in my experience come with gas, as a unit on the meter isn’t 1 kWh or whatever it is You have to multiply it by 40 (roughly) to get the calorific value? It’s all explained on the bill though. My smart meter thankfully has done away with all of that.

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SirLoinThatSaysNi@reddit

They are usually pretty straightforward and the bill will have it broken down so you can see each stage. (Energy use * rate) + ( daily rate * no.days)

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08ovi@reddit (OP)

You'd think. But why do I need nearly a whole a4 sheet of paper with dates that don't really correspond to anything, arnt set periods in length and don't make a frigging blind bit of sense.

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BibbleBeans@reddit

Why are you still getting paper bills

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08ovi@reddit (OP)

I'm not, but my online pdf bill is essential an A4 sized piece of paper

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BibbleBeans@reddit

Ah okay But without actually seeing I doubt anyone can truly explain what you’ve got going on.

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SirLoinThatSaysNi@reddit

> But why do I need nearly a whole a4 sheet of paper Because you've got big writing?

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Own-Design-8903@reddit

It just annoys me when they send a bill that has charges for periods that aren't directly comparable to other months, e.g. one month they will send a random bill for seven days of gas, then for 21 days of both gas and electricity, then back to a whole month for one or both.

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SirLoinThatSaysNi@reddit

That's usually when the tariff changes, so you'll have different calculations for different rates.

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Bearha1r@reddit

My mum is on a two year fix that's about to expire so I've been looking at options for her. Gone through her last year of bills and no two months are the same. Some bills have two entries per month, eg 26th June to 14th July and then 15th July to 25th July, others have 45+ days on one bill. It's been a right pain in the arse just to get an annual consumption for comparison, nevermind then having to add the standing charge on.

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TC_FPV@reddit

They list your annual consumption figures on your bill in the section that tells your what your tariff rates are - this section is there on all bills. Are the sections "about your tariff" on the second picture. The future at the bottom is what you use for comparison because that's what the suppliers use https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/how-do-i-read-my-octopus-energy-bill/

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Bearha1r@reddit

It's says it's an estimated usage and it seems to be quite a bit out.

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TC_FPV@reddit

It's not the same as an estimated read, and is quite tightly calculated based on average use . https://help.so.energy/support/solutions/articles/7000070156-what-is-my-estimated-annual-consumption-and-where-can-i-find-it-#:~:text=Your%20estimated%20annual%20consumption%20is,on%20your%20average%20daily%20usage.

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Bearha1r@reddit

What happened to TCR? I was looking at an old spreadsheet I put together in 2016 and noticed that a few years worth of tariffs had this to aid comparison. Not to mention it's bloody depressing looking back on the rates we were getting back then.

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spaceshipcommander@reddit

Very simple really. It's the cost of the materials, cost of supply plus the maximum number they can add on before people go bankrupt and stop paying.

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twotwixten@reddit

Agreed on gas & electric. But even more so on water bill - how the feck do I know it’s not just figure in the air situation - furthermore, how could you ever prove/get a sense check of consumptions. Nuts system

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SirLoinThatSaysNi@reddit

> how the feck do I know it’s not just figure from a finger in the air situation You either have a water meter, in which case they do know how much you've used, otherwise I believe it's based on the ratable value of the property and so will be fixed.

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twotwixten@reddit

Not once looked at my water meter, it’s not quite attached to my prop like my gas/electric, which is why I feel a little detached from it. Also, aren’t the meters accessed by the service teams of the utility co supplying. Not like gas/electric where you I put usage.

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cookie_monster66@reddit

If you have a water meter it should be the pavement or road outside your property. Usually there’s a little cover with ‘water’ stamped on it. Can usually open it with a flat blade screwdriver. In there should be your meter which has a little dial on it a bit like on your gas or elect meter. Usually 1 unit = 1 cubic meter of water

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Al-Calavicci@reddit

They are really simple. Units used at “X pence”, standing change at “X pence per day” plus VAT at 5%. It’s not hard.

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MDKrouzer@reddit

It's pretty straight forward isn't it? Assuming you mean electricity and gas, you get charged X amount per kWh of each + a daily standing charge. With electricity that's already measured as kWh consumption. With gas, they measure volume and there is a formula to convert that into kWh. If your rates change during the billing period (maybe you're on a variable tariff or swapped fixed tariffs) then those will be reflected by their own calculations. If you're on Economy 7 this will also be shown as different consumption amounts for transparency. If you're on a smart tariff like Octopus Go, Intelligent or Agile, then your bill (fortunately digital) is several pages long because your consumption is recorded for every 30 minute period of every day.

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IntergalacticBanshee@reddit

It’s not at all easy or fair if it’s got a habit to fluctuate from single digits one month to triple ones the next. I had been challenging my bill issued by a third party known for fraudulent totals and double billing and plain meter misreading and human error for years.

Any one else struggle to work out how your Utility bills are calculated?

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25 Comments

BobbyB52@reddit

destria@reddit

EverydayDan@reddit

SirLoinThatSaysNi@reddit

08ovi@reddit (OP)

BibbleBeans@reddit

08ovi@reddit (OP)

BibbleBeans@reddit

SirLoinThatSaysNi@reddit

Own-Design-8903@reddit

SirLoinThatSaysNi@reddit

Bearha1r@reddit

TC_FPV@reddit

Bearha1r@reddit

TC_FPV@reddit

Bearha1r@reddit

spaceshipcommander@reddit

twotwixten@reddit

SirLoinThatSaysNi@reddit

twotwixten@reddit

cookie_monster66@reddit

Al-Calavicci@reddit

MDKrouzer@reddit

IntergalacticBanshee@reddit

chris_282@reddit