![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/scene-relating-crisis-domestic-energy-851269051.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWINTER is here and the squeeze on energy bills is about to get very real in the new year when Ofgem's new price cap comes into force.<\/p>\n
But what happens if the amount you're being charged is unfairly high? We reveal how you can\u00a0challenge your bill.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Suppliers are allowed to increase customers' direct debits, but any rise should be in line with a household's usage.<\/p>\n
You should get 10 days' notice before your monthly direct debit goes up, too.<\/p>\n
But some households may still fall through the gap and see their bills forecast rise astronomically without explanation.<\/p>\n
It comes as EDF Energy customers, including Jon Sopel and Grayson Perry, claim they are facing substantial increases to their monthly bills, some surging by over 12,000%.<\/p>\n
Mr Sopel expressed his concerns on social media about the spike in his monthly standing order from \u00a3152 to \u00a319,274.<\/p>\n Jon Sopel wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Dear EDF Energy just had a notification that our monthly standing order is going up from \u00a3152 a month to \u00a319,274.<\/p>\n "Seems a bit steep. Is there a human rather than a bot we can talk to? Many thanks and merry Christmas. Jon".<\/p>\n Artist Grayson Perry wrote on X: "Hi EDF Energy, I've been trying to speak to someone to explain how my electricity bill went from \u00a3300 a month to \u00a339,000.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n "Your call centre has been no help but you tried to direct debit this amount today from my account."<\/p>\n The Sun has contacted EDF Energy for comment.<\/p>\n If you think your bill is inaccurate the first thing you'll need to do before challenging it is work out how much you should expect to pay across the year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n To calculate how much you should be roughly paying, you will need to find out both your unit rate for\u00a0gas\u00a0and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.<\/p>\n The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p\/kWh.<\/p>\n The standing charge is a daily fee that is paid 365 days of the year – irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.<\/p>\n You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.<\/p>\n Once you have these details you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.<\/p>\n Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p\/kWh for the corresponding fuel type – this will give you your usage costs.<\/p>\n You'll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage – this will then give you your annual costs.<\/p>\n Divide this figure by 12 and you'll be able to work out how much you should expect to pay each month.<\/p>\n If you pay your energy bill by direct debit, then it is assumed that this monthly amount should be "fair and reasonable".<\/p>\n If you don't think it is, you should complain directly to your supplier in the first instance.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/3fb6cbd8-0c0a-4c3e-957b-29cfed457d1e.jpg\")
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How do I calculate my bill?<\/h2>\n
How do I challenge my energy bill?<\/h2>\n