How Much Energy Credit Should I Have?

Why credit builds in warmer months

A fixed monthly payment collects the same amount every month, while your usage is heavily weighted toward autumn and winter. The surplus collected in spring and summer is the buffer that stops you facing very large winter bills.

Why a snapshot balance is misleading

A balance on its own tells you nothing without the date and your annual cost. Credit at the end of summer is expected. The same credit at the end of winter suggests the payment may be running ahead of your usage.

What to judge your balance against

• Your annual consumption in kWh for each fuel
• Your expected annual cost at your current rates
• The winter usage still ahead of you this season
• Whether your recent readings are actual or estimated
• Whether twelve months of payments broadly match your expected annual cost

Warning signs that credit may be accumulating unnecessarily

• The balance is higher at the end of winter than it was the previous spring.
• Credit has grown year on year without a matching rise in your usage.
• Twelve months of payments clearly exceed your estimated annual cost.
• The account has been billed on estimates for a long period.

What to do about it

Submit an actual reading, estimate your annual cost, then decide whether you want a lower payment, a partial refund, or both. Keeping some seasonal credit is often sensible; keeping a year's worth rarely is.