St Gilles
Yesterday's weather: Sunny-ish, cool wind.
The moment we had been dreading arrived yesterday. No, it wasn't the end of BB8, although I admit I am relieved it is over and don't really think I need to go for rehab after all. Well done Brian. And well done me because I accurately predicted the exact order of the last 6 contestants (sad, sad, sad).
It was the envelope handed to me by Mr Postie yesterday lunchtime. I saw the dreaded letters on the top: E D F.
Pause for dramatic music chords ... da, da, daaaaaaaaaa. Cue screaming and pulling out hair by the roots. Cue pouring a whiskey and... no, really it was far to early in the day for alcohol even at this moment in time.
Trembling fingers lifted the corner of the seal.
OK, so I will tell you why we were dreading the electricity bill. It's because we have electric heating in the house. The heaters must have been installed circa 1962, well maybe a bit later because they all work and are pretty efficient. But we moved in on 1st February, there was snow on the ground and we were freezing for weeks in this house with three feet thick walls where the lower floor nestles into bedrock. It was a real struggle to heat the house through even with the help of a portable gas fire. We only get the meter read every six months so at least we were going to get a very accurate idea of just how much it would cost us to keep the place warm all year. The previous reading had been on 29 January, so when it was read last week we reckoned it would be an indication of half a winter.
Back to the plot. I opened the envelope and pulled out the bill from inside. I was trying to hide it from Jon so that I could break the bad news to him gently. The mid-term bill had been just 55 Euros so that had to be added on to this whopper of a bill.
It was for 260 Euros. Jon wondered why I suddenly burst into a hysterical laugh, then he joined in. We had been expecting something around 700 to 800 Euros as people had been telling us just how expensive electricity is here. Less than half price - bargain electricity!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Bargain electricity? How on Earth does that work? We pay almost 70€ per month for a 55 square meter apartment, and we only turn the heat and lights on when we absolutely have to because it costs so much!!
No idea, Samantha. It's a four fairly large roomed house (no idea of square footage). We are billed for heures pleines and heures creuses. Try to keep the heating to a minimum but refuse to freeze. Can't understand it ourselves.
Our electricity bills have been astronomical since we moved to France, despite very frugal usage. My advice is to rip out the radiators and invest in several jars of goose fat,liberty bodices, pure wool vests and long johns; Eskimo boots, Peruvian woolly hats, and a variety of gloves/mittens.
We installed underfloor heating in just two rooms - the bill was €800 for two months. Haven't turned it on since. :-(
Don't be fooled by that bill, the EDF are just trying to lull you into a false sense of security. Wait until the next one comes. ;-)
Post a Comment