Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
The Fire Service says do not run washing machines, dishwashers or tumble dryers overnight as they can easily cause fires.
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[Finance] Paying energy bills by direct debit - scam?
- Thread starter Harry Wilson's tackle
- Start date
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
as in they can never cause a fire during the day?
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
They can, but usually there is someone up and about to switch off the power, or call the fire brigade. So equally, don't set them off and go shopping.
At least one fire a day is caused by white goods, in any area.
Since1982
Well-known member
I've just had my latest water bill - go figure how an average bill of £39 per month over the last year should translate into a "recommended payment" of £71 per month.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
Out of the millions of appliances I’ll take those odds
Cheshire Cat
The most curious thing..
The algorithms do have a problem if you have a debit balance, as they seem add that to the estimated annual usage figure to get you pay it off (or something like that).
Although I just tried that with your bill and it didn't work. (39.20 x 12) + 190.52) / 12 = £55.08. So who knows.....
Not sure - but is it because you owe them £190 already, and they're trying to recoup it?
Since1982
Well-known member
Well that bill arrived yesterday so doubt it. I can't make any sense of it. I'll continue to make this the only utility I pay on receipt of the bill rather than via DD - water companies are in my view the worst.
- Thread starter
- #109
It's simple. They take money in advance from you, invest it, and pay you 5% interest - much better investment than saving with a building society.
Apparently.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
There are 45 Brigade areas so approximately 45 fires due to electical faults in white goods every day. 315 a week on average.
Take those odds to save a few pence on the heating and electricity?
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Do you have a water meter and is the reading correct?
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
Actually i’ve saved quite a bit by using timers etc for overnight usage and have done for years and don’t know anyone having a. Issue with fires ..I’ll trust my judgement but thanks for the advice
Since1982
Well-known member
Yes and yes.
I can recommend smoke alarms upstairs and down just in case too......pretty much mitigates the relative (and miniscule) risk differential between a daytime and night time fire
I would - let's say there are 25 million homes, each with a conservative 2 uses of white goods per day - that's 50 million individual uses of those white goods, spread equally across the 45 areas makes the odds of one catching fire just over 1.1 million to 1. Further mitigate that if your house has things like an up to date consumer board, alarms and the white goods are in good repair and being used properly then those odds lengthen further.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Then ask the water company to come and check for leaks. I did and there was a leak in the garden between the meter and the input pipe. It was repaired free of charge and an adjustment made to the bill.
Since1982
Well-known member
Other than this bill is exactly in line with what I would expect, if anything a bit less given the hosepipe ban I assume. I'm curious but not concerned!
Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
Isn't part of the point now with smart meters that they allow you to use white goods in lower demand times of day, rather than just night time to smooth out the call for power?
They can't do anything without prior notification. Also, what makes you think I said they were pushed just to allow an indoor display? I just pointed out that was a useful function which has helped me reduce my usage.
Guess you don't use a bank either then.
In practice
What happens if your energy supplier goes bust
Sit tight and wait for Ofgem to appoint a new supplier. Your supply won’t be disrupted.