BEAR Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Are you bothered about your electricity bills? I've noticed of late that my bills and monthly direct debit is rocketing, to the point now where im looking for the off peak times so I can do my washing and drying etc.... Are you concerned that the only electricity supplier here is the Hydro???? anywhere else it is illegal to have just one person monopolising the market so why here do we have to put up with just the hydro? (*** Mod - topic updated to reflect contents of thread ***) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JordanKZ Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Best thing I ever did was keep an eye on my meter readings each month. Last quarter, they attempt to over charge me by 1000 heating units. I mean, my bill is fairly high considering I live on my own and my heating is hardly ever on. It's a case of just being careful and not taking their word for how much you owe them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAStewart Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Always keep your own records. We're students and we have definitely saved hundreds of pounds by phoning them up and correcting their mistakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldscalloway Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 You are not stuck with the Hydro in Shetland. You can go on to any of the comparison websites, and receive quotes from several different companies. I did that in Shetland about 7 years ago, and saved a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Are you concerned that the only electricity supplier here is the Hydro???? anywhere else it is illegal to have just one person monopolising the market so why here do we have to put up with just the hydro? I don't think your right there. Pretty sure you can buy your electricity from other suppliers too. I've always stuck with the Hydro, but I do know of people supplied by british Gas for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallokaville Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 never ever trust the hydro with there readings.. keep track of your own readings and ask them for the calculations for your tariff. I used to pay by direct debit but i changed it to a standing order last year and they hate this method as they have no control over your payments. I hate the fact that shetland has no other choice of suppliers as we are on the ecomony 10 tariff. I did phone round other suppliers (Eon, scottish power etc) thay all said we could switch if we had remained on ecomony 7 tariff but its too late to do so know unless i pay for the hydro to remove my meter and pay for the new supplier to install the new metre.. after a much heated debate with the hydro last year. I stopped paying them the £225 that they estimated i was using as i knew i was using only between £110-£160 per month, so i paid them £55 per month until the matter was resolved. Last november the final bill come in and it totalled to £2700 after my calcuations it only came too £1900 and after the payments already made I was due them £1350 which i paid however the hydro refused my findings although it was based on their rates. after receiving many disconnection letters etc enough was enough and i contacted the Judge at the Sunday Mail/Daily Record and i will say doings this made the hydro listen. I got a phone call from the head of the Hydro' Customer Relatations Department about 2 weeks after i had paid them apologising for the letters and acknowledgement from the him that the hydro were wrong all this time and a small cheque/a gesture of good will so they called it for all the stress they had caused. However the same problem has started again this year. I know take a reading once a week and on the 26thof each month i amend my standing order to pay them for what i use and i carry over the last week from the previous month on to next months payment. So i can only suggest stop paying by direct debit, pay by standing order and calculate your bill every month and pay them for what you use, as this is what am i doing now and they hate it.. I'm still receiving letters threating disconnection so i will be making an official complaint to the regulators. And record the date/time/name of person who you speak too. ps.. last year it was in the news that some of the staff who worked forthe scottish hydro in call centres where passing their electricity bills onto other customers. the bunch of robbing b**tards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fjool Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Muppet is correct; it is possible to have your supply provided by all sorts of companies. Ultimately it all comes from the same place, but the rates and billing are handled by the company you deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAR Posted September 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 That in itself tells me not to belive the Hydro as they told me they were the only providers in Shetland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamnSaxon Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 In a word: Ebico. The UK's only not-for-profit energy supplier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piggywiggie Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 my electric bill was huge before...we only have one tv...no heating on.who is the cheapest??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodeyn Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 I just received a whopper of a bill £776 to be precise Phoned to query it and was told that they the hydro had forgotten to charge me night usage for the last 2 years!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piggywiggie Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 omg! one o our bills for 3 months was almost £700 which is shocking, I phoned to ask about it etc and the woman was so rude. Then our last bill for 3months was about £150 we dont have heating on in our house. we just sit with jackets on instead. cant afford their stupid prices! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandpeat Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 I have noticed that new houses seem to be missing a key element.... A chimney... Even here south, I always used the fire. It was so cheap... But it depends how you want to use it.... My heating used to heat the water, the water flowed arounf the radiators and hot water tank... I think maybe folk who have chimneys have opted for the easy option.... Those bills portrayed here are more expensive than the District Heating scheme...according to my Dads bills.... When my Mam was not well, the bills were over 800 pounds, in 1997.. So, with modern lighting, timers and being frugal there must be some savings...turning off TeeVees and unplugging stuff that does not have a positive on off isolator.. Obviously I cannot comment on folks usage, habits and medical needs... But there is always a bit of a saving somewhere.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piggywiggie Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 we turn things off at the walls. only thing that we leave on is the fridge freezer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandpeat Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 You can get grants to get solar panels and stuff, but you still need to spend some yourself....it all depends on how FRUGAL you feel you could be, turning thr thermostat down, turning the water temp in the tank down, keeping doors and windows closed as much as possible, and proper use of storage heaters.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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