Why Is My Energy Bill Suddenly So High?

If you’ve been shocked by a high energy bill, it may be time to investigate.

The majority of energy bill providers will only ever charge for the amount of gas or electricity you’ve used on a monthly basis.

However, some tariffs may differ depending on what you have signed up for. 

It can be hard to pinpoint exactly what is causing your energy bill to be so high but the good news is there are ways to reduce your costs.

In this article, we take a look at some of the main energy-consuming culprits along with ways you could save.

In a time where every little action helps when it comes to cutting energy costs, this article is worth the time it’ll take to read. 

How To Reduce Your Energy Bill & Deal With a High Charge

Below, we’ve included 4 easy tips to follow on how to reduce your bill and what you can do if you’ve been impacted by the changes to energy tariffs in the U.K.

1. Review whether your bill is estimated or not

For those that aren’t required to supply meter readings on a monthly basis for energy consumption, you’ll be sent an estimated bill. The problem with this sort of tariff is that the price of your energy is always estimated rather than accurate.

A good example of this is you may find that during the summer months you are charged an estimated bill based on your winter usage.

To avoid any bill mishaps that have been incorrectly estimated, check!

If you find that you’ve been paying for an estimated fee, start to submit your meter readings instead. You will likely find that you end up paying less than compared to before.

So long as you remember to submit your meter reading each month, you should find that your bills stay pretty consistent.

Should you find that you can’t afford to pay your bill, your energy supplier will be able to assist you with setting up a payment plan.

2. Look at whether your appliances are impacting your bills

You’d be surprised to learn just how much some electrical appliances cost to run. If your bulls are high, it’s always a good idea to do a check of the appliances you use regularly.

Appliances such as tumble dryers, hot tubs, and heaters can really cause your bills to hike up. If you find that you are paying prices you’re struggling to afford it may be time to reduce the use of such appliances.

3. See if your energy supplier has increased their prices

Energy suppliers must let their customers know by their preferred method of contact if they are changing their prices. However, your contract will state your agreed pricing, so it is certainly worth reading if you haven’t done so already.

When you do review your bills, you should also check whether the ‘standing charge’ or ‘unit rate’ have changed. If you find that there have been changes, you will need to contact your energy provider to discuss the bill with them.

4. Double-check that your meter readings are accurate

Another way to ensure that you have been billed correctly is to check the numbers associated with your meter reading. When you submit your reading, it is important to not make any mistakes, if you do, you could end up paying for more energy than you actually used that month.

We recommend looking at your most recent bill and carefully reviewing the numbers match. If a mistake has been made, it is easy enough to rectify through contacting your energy supplier.

If you live in an apartment block for example, there is a small possibility that you could have been billed for a different apartment’s electricity.

Where you need to, send a new meter reading and you should find that you’ll be billed the right amount.