Electricity Bills skyrocketed

Butterflies24

Hi all,

Electricity bill cost has almost doubled when I compare my usage from August last year to this year. Interestingly it seems to have started getting much more expensive since a smart meter was installed. Has anyone else found this?

Who would be my first port of call with this issue - ESB or my provider? Not on a smart meter plan, stuck to the plan we had when it was installed.

€800 every 2 months is not a welcome bill!!

TheChizler

Did you possibly change to a smart plan at the time and use a lot of electricity between 5 and 7pm? Has your actual usage in units gone up or just the bill?

Edit sorry missed that you mentioned your plan

L1011

Some old mechanical meters had very worn springs and massively under-read. Most cases of people seeing a huge increase in unit usage since going to a smart meter are down to this.

Now, are you seeing an increase in unit usage or just in cost?

Have you changed plans within the last year? You really do need to change annually.

If it is in units; faulty meters do exist but its more likely the old one was faulty. Turn everything off and see if the meter stops pulsing, then turn on something with a known medium/high draw to see if its pulsing at the expected rate.

Allinall

First thing to do is compare the number of units used, bearing in mind that last years bill may have been estimated, and go from there.

If the number of units is similar, then look at the cost per unit.

You may have come out of contract and been moved to a standard rate with no discount.

Butterflies24

The cost per unit has actually come down - example, I'm comparing June 2023 & 2024.

June 2023 - 961 day units used. 0.487c per unit. Bill was €560.

June 2024 - 1565 day units used. 0.383c per unit. Bill €870.

It's a massive difference in usage but nothing has changed since 2023, it would be same usage as before!

JamBur

People working from home? What do you have thats a big energy consumer? Heating (water or room)? Do you have an electric vehicle?

Butterflies24

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122531162#Comment_122531162

Hubby works from home 2 days a week. No electrical vehicle. Air to water / underfloor.

Only things that are used on a daily basis would be oven, dishwasher, washing machine maybe twice a week, dryer once a week.

YellowLead

Mine has become more expensive since I got my smart meter a few months ago, I’m with electric Ireland. I’m assuming I just selected the wrong plan for my usage so I’ll see.
To be fair it might balance out in winter because I have storage heaters that come on at night.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365588/electricity-bills-skyrocketed

ignore the cost.
what is your usage in kWh ?

How was last August compared to this August ?

was last August estimated and if so when was the next reading taking ?

ted1

Was last year based on an actualReading or estimation ?

we had the coldest and wettest June on record. You may have use the dryer more, some heating , etc

Red Silurian

I presume your smart meter isn't activated for smart plans? Sounds like the meter needs calibration

jj880

Related to this?

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/customers-advised-to-switch-to-smart-tariffs-ahead-of-increase-in-electricity-charged-1666055.html

"And this is a really key message for customers to have today, where the average standard plan for a typical household will see them pay approximately €1,580 right now."

"But if they switch to smart tariffs they can see that reduce, according to the average plans right now in the markets, to approximately €1,150. We would suggest, and we would encourage people to go to the accredited price comparison websites."

Is there a thread on this topic somewhere?

I did get a smart meter in but have not switched plans. I cant make sense of this. It sounds like Im fecked if I dont get a smart plan but Im also fecked if I do get a smart plan and activate the smart meter. Jaysus.

zell12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555287#Comment_122555287

CRU are introducing charge of €102pa from 02 November. It is up to suppliers to pass it on in customer bills. EI said they would not. He is just telling customers to shop around and switch. No need to activate Smart

Speak Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122531288#Comment_122531288

While June was cooler than average it certainly wasn't coldest on record. Also rainfall was below average, obviously no where near wettest on record.

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593996#Comment_122593996

we got our heat pump serviced this year and I think it’s a really good thing to do every couple of years. Just to ensure there’s no issue from that.

AndrewJRenko

Anything strange happening with kitchen appliances? We noticed increased bills in the first four months of last year, after which our fridge freezer gave up the ghost. Engineer told us it was overloaded due to poor ventilation, and would have been running much more than expected.

Your local library should have an energy monitoring kit, but there may be a waiting list for this.

https://twitter.com/Pidge/status/1468592558372757509

Hotblack Desiato

Something you plug in with a display on it isn't much use with a fixed kitchen appliance as the socket is usually hidden in behind it.

mrcheez

Israeli chips in new appliances perhaps?

Toby22

Hi, not sure if this is the correct forum, but it’s the nearest I could find to answer my question. I am in contract with a company on a dual fuel tariff, electricity is on now what is called a legacy rate, ie not a smart plan. I was offered a good deal by a competitor who called to the door, they also refund the cancellation charge from my current provider. Interesting they said to stay on my “legacy” electricity plan. I was called today my my current provider who offered a better rate, along with a €100 credit and a free boiler service. However I had to sign to a smart tariff plan. I have asked my friends, googled and cannot find anyone who has taken the smart tariff. I am reluctant to do so, as once gone from the legacy plan, can never go back. Any advice welcome

Speak Now

Only advice I'd give is never sign up to someone that calls to the door.

Firblog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122658268#Comment_122658268

So wrong, on 6.5c per Kw night rate now (more than half my usage is at night) thanks to guy who called to my door.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593977#Comment_122593977

Cheers for that. Didn't know that was coming, but I'm with EI years so good I'm not impacted.

I have a smart meter about 2 years now but still on an older plan with level pay - same amount every month regardless of usage, assessed annually. Suits me far better than "bill shock" or the inevitable messed up DD on their end that leaves me out of pocket etc.

This move by the CRU sounds like a push to get people on smart plans though which I read early on were just going to cost everyone more really so I'm in no rush to sign up to one.

Dazler97

My work is with prepay (my personally don't like it but that's just me ) and the boss got the units down from 51 cent a unit to 28 cent so where already noticing the difference, I personally also think not everyone should get the energy credits for example people on well paid jobs etc , shop around if your contract is coming to an end you never know ....

Brenireland

Hi all, I'm just looking for some advice or direction. I am renting a small one bedroom house, have been there just short of 2 years. My electric bills have ranged from €90 to €130, but recently I have been hit with a massive bil of over €1,828.78. Can anybody help me or advise me on this or just direction. There is a smart meter.

L1011

You need to check your last years of bills and see how many of the previous ones have "e" readings. Smart meters can end up with no signal and not report back.

90 would be a very very low two monthly bill and I suspect you may have been on a far too low estimate reading for years.

zell12

Looks like your previous bills were underestimated for 12 months

€279 bi-monthly bill for a one bed is off the scale high. Something is clearly wrong, email ESBN with your details/outline general usage and ask them to send someone to check the meter/connection

Brenireland

Thank you both very much, I have storage heaters,2 of them in use, I turned them on 6 weeks ago been off since last april, I don't use TV, have electric shower, don't really use electric cooker. Charge phone but I can't thunk what otherappliances could be causing a problem. Buy I will check the previous bills to see how many have been estimated.

L1011

Electric shower and storage heaters (that potential estimate period indicated on those bills covers the entirety of last winter) are both very high draw. TVs are not.

Hotblack Desiato

Storage heaters but you seem to be on a 24 hour tariff? no night rate discount or smart tarriff? 😯

Storage heaters are bad enough at the best of times but running them on full rate electricity is nuts.

Brenireland

How do I get night rate discount or smart tariff??

Hotblack Desiato

Looks like you're with Electric Ireland, give them a call. Try arguing that if you'd been billed properly you would have realised this mistake well before now and switched. Really they should have asked you when you signed up whether you had storage heaters, just mho rather than an obligation on their part but signing people with storage heaters onto a 24 hour tariff is just wrong.

Brenireland

Yes, I am with Electric Ireland. Many thanks Hotblack Desiato for your help and advice and same to all who have given their time to reply and offer advice. All much appreciated. I have never received a bill like the above, so it was a shock particularly at this stage in the year, I just wanted some help so thank you all.

Gooser14

A lesson for everyone here is to check the bill on receipt to establish whether the readings are "estimated". If they are then actual readings should be submitted immediately.

Brenireland

Absolutely, hard hitting lesson.

A350-900

Storage heaters on a 24 tariff is madness.

Brenireland

I've only ever rented accommodation, so usually had electricity included in my rent, so when I was getting the bills the last 2 years I only ever read the bottom line and the sum to be paid. I am not smart or well versed in bills or plans, but I will request that he changes from the 24 hour tariff as bill is in his name. This bill has ended my Christmas 😅

Hotblack Desiato

There's no breakdown of how the "correction of previous readings" part was calculated, there really should be.

Gooser14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122900398#Comment_122900398

Have you asked them whether they could accommodate a phased repayment plan over say 6 to 12 months. Nothing to be lost in asking.

Brenireland

No I haven't, but I will do so @Gooser14 it would be a big help, the picture above is what I received yesterday.

phormium

It's obviously a result of estimated bills compounded by the fact the storage heating is not set up correctly, when it's a rental surely the landlord should have the storage heating set up with a night rate meter? Worth questioning.

Hotblack Desiato

Was there a day and night meter installed before, OP? There should have been and that's on the landlord if there wasn't.

If there was a day/night meter before, and then when the smart meter went in you went onto a flat rate (24 hour) tariff then that's a mistake. EI should have put you on an equivalent plan on the smart meter.

10 weeks for a payment plan after landing a bill on you which is arguably their fault is some joke.

Brenireland

Thanks again for taking the time to message, Hotblack Desiato, I can't answer that as I'm not sure if there was a day/night meter in place before the smart meter but I will question that this afternoon. Yes 10 weeks at that rate is still very hard hitting, I honestly am baffled and so raging with this at this time of the year.

Lucan123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122901397#Comment_122901397

Current smart meters are not compatible with storage heaters. You could try the angle why was a smart meter installed in the first place when the heating is storage heaters - they are supposed to check. Smart meters are not able to tell the heaters when to come on and off, so it looks like yours are just stuck on 24/7

Brenireland

Yes, they have been on pretty much 24/7 for the last 3 months at 18.5°C

Gooser14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122901114#Comment_122901114

Avoid the Pay-As-You-Go meter at all costs. I would suggest you go back to them & try to negotiate a longer pay back period of say 10 months.

Also have a read of the following:

https://www.cru.ie/consumer-information/billing/payment-difficulties/