[Karo08]

Hi how does the unit rate charges work? I changed into prepayment 2 months ago, first went I changed I was being charged a lot about £4 for and hour heating. Last month (November) I was being charged the same for the first about 2 weeks then changed into less. Yesterday (1st December) I noticed the electric was changed unit rate 2 and gas was unit rate 1. This morning they both unit rate 1 as of right now. Can someone explain how does the prepayment charging work how does the unit rate work. How much do I have to use on gas or electric to be charged unit 1 and 2! I can’t afford paying £4 everyday for an hour heating when I have 3 kids under 5 so I need the heating more often !

[Pinkprincess]

@Karo08 I have similar issues.my rate 1 charge for both gas and electric should be charged for the first 2kwh of usage and then rate 2 charged for the rest of the day




My electricity does this but my gas doesn't.
I'm being charged rate 1 for the first 61kwh of gas I use per month, then rate 2 for the rest of the month.
I had my gas meter replaced during November as have been charged rate 1 for 3 days of gas meaning I've paid over £12 a day for my usual usage which should cost me around £3.50.
I have raised the issue with utilita but nothing has been done about it as if yet.

[Karo08]

I have spoke to someone on Facebook, live chat and over the phone. Nobody every gave me straight answer to this! And yes it’s correct we should be charged unit rate 1 for the first 2kwh but that’s not how my gas being charged! I just had heating on again for an hour and that’s another £3.60 gone! Last month from about middle November I was being charged around £1.50 no more then £2 for 1.5h! So where is the price coming from again! Nobody is willing to properly explain how is the unit rates charged on pre payment smart meters!!! @Pinkprincess

[Pinkprincess]

You will find you ae being charged the correct rate but not kwh. So for me, my average daily usage is 45kwh but I'm being charged rate 1 which is 29.225p a kwh for all of it and not 2kwh at 29.225p then 43kwh at 10.542.
if you need to work it out take your total kwh a day and deduct 2. Multiply the 2 by rate 1 and divide by 100 to tell you what your 2kwh is. Then take the rest of the kwh and multiply by rate 2 and divide by 100 and add both totals together.

Example for 45 kwh a day
45 - 2 = 43 kwh at rate 2
rate 1, ((29.225 x 2) ÷ 100) = 58p rounded up
rate 2, ((10.542 x 43) ÷ 100) = £4.53
Total cost for 45kwh
58p + £4.53 = £5.11 per day




I was charged £12.96 for 44.36kwh on the 29th as my meter was fixed on the 28th which reset my kwh to 61 at rate 1.




It says on my annual statement and app what I should be charged but I'm not actually charged that which is a breach of contract.




you can check on your home hub under tariff information and it will tell you your rate and how many kwh you are being charged before it changes.




I have had this issue since my original gas meter needed changing last November as the battery was low. I had it changed again this November as the screen was blank and nothing has been right since then. I'm going to my local utilita hub tomorrow with all the information and evidence I have (videos of my meter and screen shots of the app etc) to see if they can sort it out and I will make a complaint before I go to the ombudsman.




I woke up this morning with the app telling me I'm in emergency credit and each hour it rises, it's now saying I owe £362.11p which I know isn't true as I topped up £50 on tuesday. Customer service is a joke and it seems my issues and other peoples are being brushed under the carpet instead of being dealt with as they should.

[Karo08]

@Pinkprincess I no longer know what is happening but would love answer from utilita worker. My device is showing I used 14.5kwh so far today and still being charged rate 1. My app is showing me I have more on my gas then what my meter says. I’m just confused

[Pinkprincess]

There is always a discrepency between the meter, the hub and the app for your balance and this is normal as there is a time delay and it's only an estimate.
If you've used your first 2kwh and are still being charged rate 1 then I would assume you're being charged the higher rate for 61kwh.


It will still work out the same over the month if you were charged at 2kwh for rate 1 and rate 2 for the rest of the day as all it is doing is spreading the cost through the month.

The issue I have is having to top up more for the first few days usage before my lower rate kicks in and the fact I wasn't told that this would happen, potentially causing me to fall into debt.