Re: British Gas Profits
 

Hiya em, before you have anybody round, make sure your hot water tank is well lagged, curtains are not covering radiators, no furniture in front of rads, and your room thermostat is at about 21, you have a back boiler, which although one of the most reliable machines, is not the most efficient at about 60%, the quote from bb for his combi is a 77% efficient machine (unless new, then it's 90%) and he doesn't store hot water, so the system efficiency (differs from boiler efficiency) is a lot better than yours, in my opinion, you are not a long way off with your gas bills, considering you have that system, and a prepayment metre. Sorry for going off thread.

Re: British Gas Profits
 

I am paying lots more than Em, and believe me am doing everything to cut it down .. checking day to day and still running at about 4 gas units. Have just rung help lines (they have passed me on to another, but know they will ask me all those questions again).

Was just trying to say, they can test me meter .. but they charge around £65 to so .. if it is the meter I win and they will give me my money back including some of the gas consumed they think is incorrect; if not the meter I lose and they keep the fee. Sorta' gamble.. ah well, will just have to ring this other 0845 number again I guess.

Re: British Gas Profits
 

The prepayment meter may have been set to recover a debt incurred by the previous tenant. That sort of meter charges the highest tariffs of them all no matter who the supplier is. Ask for a quarterly meter and hope that when they do the change, they will discover that , due to the 'debt setting', you qualify for some money back.

Re: British Gas Profits
 

?? You talking to me Margaret or Em. :D

Am on a quarterly meter and pay direct debit ... which, wait for it, is £ 97 per month ..and this is only because last year was discovered overpaid from what they were charging me £128 per monthy !! The units are still running high and turning it down, etc., hardly ever use gas fire, but water was on all the time. Laugh is I am now bl**dy freezing and have to put blow heater on in the back room, where I now spend a lot of my time, which will be bumping my electric bill up .. summat just not right.

Not a big house and have double glazing throughout plus loft insulation. Anyway, am now going to try with the water turned off to see if this makes a difference. :(

Sorry if digressed from original subject.

Re: British Gas Profits
 

I was advising Em about the meter.
Kate - the new condenser boilers super 90% efficiency has made a big difference to my bills.
There is no way a direct comparison between costs at my place and yours.
My flat is larger than most and was designed for couples, but I have only 4 rooms and a hallway, low ceilings, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, double glazing, and the thermal additive I used in the ceiling and wall paint.

I have my heating on constantly 24/7 at 22C (and sometimes notch it up to 24C)
I am on a dual fuel internet tariff with Scottish Power.
Eleven weeks ending 13 Jan cost me £124.63 - £11.33 per week for gas and electric

Re: British Gas Profits
 

Thanks Margaret .. obviously something wrong .. don't think I can just turn the water off on it's own now due to faulty timer ..:( Can get fixed through my contract (again a fortune) but they would have to break the tiles and have no spare ones. May be worth the gaps though .. just perplexed by it all.

Re: British Gas Profits
 

Heating & hot water - central heating, efficient boilers - Energy Saving Trust
Search for grants and offers / Energy saving grants and offers / What can I do today? / Home - Energy Saving Trust
look at these Kate

Re: British Gas Profits
 

If I'm ever scratching my head about anything I'm definitely going to drop you a pm margaret, because if you don't know you usually find a link from somewhere, you seem to have the knack of finding things out, good of you:worthy:

Re: British Gas Profits
 

I just lurve googling :)

Re: British Gas Profits
 

Well I agree with you margaret, so get googling solar energy, with energy increases likely to be 30% again this year, solar heated hot water is definately now a viable option, I have done my training 2 years ago, but the rest of the staff have been booked to do thiers, in light of the new increases. :hothothot:D:D

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It won't be any good for either Margaret or myself Derek, unless Hyndburn Homes are feeing generous that is:D:rolleyes:

Re: British Gas Profits
 

You could still have it done, there are grants available from government and manufacturers, but it is more difficult and expensive if you have a combi boiler, if you have a new condensing combi as margaret does, it is still not a cost effective option until the boiler expires.

Re: British Gas Profits
 

Yes Derek my flat is identical to Margarets and we have the same type of boiler 13 months old, its just the thing of where to site the panels as I live in a ground floor flat

Re: British Gas Profits
 

some one once said that we had cheep north sea gas that would last for ever,now we have to inport it,at our expense.