Comparing bills
We know every household uses energy differently. We also know that the amount of energy you use in your home varies throughout the year. This makes it difficult to compare your current bills with your previous ones and your own bills with your friends or neighbours’. However, we’ve put together some useful things to think about when making a comparison.
Comparing your bill with a previous one
Comparing your bill with a neighbour’s bill
Why are you paying more for your bill?
Find out more
Do you have any extra people living in the property?
If you do you’re likely to use more energy.
Do the bills you’re comparing cover the same amount of time?
If your new bill covers more days than the previous bill, the usage is likely be higher. This means your bill may be more.
Do the bills you are comparing cover the same time of year?
Different times of the year mean different weather conditions and hours of daylight. This has an effect on how much energy you’ll use. During warmer, lighter summer months you’ll probably use less energy than in colder, darker winter months.
Have you bought any extra appliances?
Any new electric or gas appliances in your home could increase the amount of energy you use and therefore change the cost of your bill.
Our guide to running costs will give you an idea of how much household appliances cost to run. If you’re looking to buy a new appliance and want to find the most energy efficient ones, why not try
our online shop?
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- How many people are in living in the property?
If the property you are comparing with has fewer people living in it, then it will probably mean they’re using less energy.
- Are the two properties the same age?
A newer property is likely to be more energy-efficient and have better insulation.
- Are both properties in the same position?
A mid-terrace house will benefit from the heat of the houses on either side, whereas an end-terrace house will not.
A property that gets more sun is likely to be warmer and lighter so use less energy.
- How well insulated are both properties?
If a property does not have good insulation then up to 25% of heat can be lost through the roof and up to 35% through the walls. Having the ideal amount of insulation will help keep the heat in and save you money. And it doesn’t have to be expensive to fit. See our advice on loft and wall insulation to find out about the help you can get towards the cost of insulating your home.
- Do both properties have double glazing?
Double glazing could you save money on your energy bills, but this doesn’t necessarily mean having new windows fitted. You can save money just by fitting secondary glazing panels. See our energy efficiency advice to find out more.
- Do both properties have insulation on the hot water tank and pipes?
Insulating your hot water tank and pipes could save you money and prevents pipes from freezing in cold weather.
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- Is your bill based on an estimated reading?
If your bill is estimated you could be paying more for your energy than you should be. You can learn how to check if your bill is estimated.
If your current reading isn’t estimated, check the reading on your previous bill. If this was estimated, it might have been too low which means your current bill might be more than you expected. Learn how to read your meter and provide us your reading so we can base your bills on the right amount of energy you’re using.
- Have prices changed?
We have a fair pricing policy and aim to keep our prices as low as possible. But we’ll let you know about any price increases. If you’re unsure when making a comparison check the prices on your current bill with your previous bill. Our prices are available for you to check at any time. You can also view our pricing plans to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
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You can use the following links to:
Find out about ways to pay your bill
Change your price plan
If you are still concerned that you are paying too much for your gas or electric, please contact us or call us on 0845 7444 555 for electric or 0845 758 5401 for gas.
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