Ecotricity Explains: Your winter energy bills
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As the seasons change, your energy usage will probably be changing too. If you pay by Fixed Direct Debit, your account might even have a credit balance.
In summer, most people use less energy to power their home as the days are longer, lighter and warmer. It can be tempting to ask for a refund of any built-up credit as we head into the winter months – but before you do, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions first:
1) When did we last bill you to accurate meter readings? Check out our handy blog on 5 facts about meter readings and why they’re important
We’ll need to have billed you to accurate meter readings (rather than estimates) within the last 14 days.
2) Is your current Direct Debit going to cover your upcoming usage?
Any credit from summer months can be used as a buffer for additional usage in winter, meaning you don’t have to increase your Direct Debit.
We offer two different types of Direct Debit: Fixed and Variable. What’s the difference?
With a Fixed Direct Debit, you pay a set amount each month – this is based on your Estimated Annual Cost (EAC) divided by 12. This means your payments are calculated equally throughout the year to help you budget, but this means they don’t take into account changes in seasons and usage.
Important: We’ll review your monthly payments every six months to make sure you’re paying the right amount for your energy usage. If you want to change your payments at any point, you’ll soon be able to do this on your online account – in the meantime, just give our team a call on 0345 555 7100 or email home@ecotricity.co.uk.
With a Variable Direct Debit, you pay your bill in full each month – payment is taken from your bank account 14 days after your bill is produced.
Why is my Direct Debit different to my bill amount?
When you pay by Fixed Direct Debit, your monthly payment is calculated by taking your Estimated Annual Cost (EAC) and splitting it over 12 months. This doesn’t mean we think you’re going to use the exact same amount each month – it’s just the average.
When will my Direct Debit be taken?
Fixed Direct Debit: it’ll be taken on an agreed date per month.
Variable Direct Debit: 10 working days after your bill is produced.
My Direct Debit was too low and now I owe money – what can I do?
Don’t worry, we won’t ask you to make a lump sum payment to bring your account back to £0. You can do this, but we appreciate it might not always be feasible.
Just give our team a call on 0345 555 7100 and we can discuss your payment plan options. We’ll need to amend your monthly Direct Debit to cover your new estimated ongoing usage at the same time as repaying your balance in an affordable way. This amount will be calculated based on your new estimated annual consumption, so it’s important to keep an eye on your bills to make sure you’re not under-paying.
A smart meter can help you track and manage your energy usage – plus, it sends your meter readings directly to your supplier, so you don’t need to worry about remembering. If you haven’t got yours yet, get in touch with our team on 0345 555 7100 or email home@ecotricity.co.uk and we’ll get your meter exchange booked in.
We also have some free extra support available if you need further help
Priority Services – this is available for customers with specific requirements such as a health concern, a disability, or children under the age of 5 at your property. We can offer priority support in an emergency, advance notice of planned power cuts (where possible) and a regular meter reading service. You can register on our website here or give our team a call on 0345 555 7100.
Warm Home Discount Scheme – if you’re eligible, you’ll receive £150 credit onto your energy account, PAYG smart meter or prepayment top up card by the end of March 2025. For more information, please visit www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme or call their helpline on 0800 030 9322.
Citizens Advice and Advice Direct Scotland – these are the official sources of free and independent energy advice, and they can refer you directly to the Extra Help Unit if you need additional support. If you live in England or Wales, go to citizensadvice.org.uk/energy or contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133. If you live in Scotland, go to energyadvice.scot or contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 196 8660. Calls are free.
Relay UK – this is a service to help people with speech or hearing impairment communicate over the phone. For more information, go to https://www.relayuk.bt.com/.
For British Sign Language enquiries, go to contactscotland-bsl.org.
Household Support Fund – you can get help from your local council with essential living costs, such as food, energy and water bills. Find out more here https://www.gov.uk/cost-living-help-local-council
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