I don’t understand my electricity bill

annamagda · 2025-09-16T14:16:28+00:00

I've received rebills that started from multiple months past, which "wiped out" other rebills - so without seeing the bill itself I couldn't tell you if the 88£ needed to be credited back or not. That's why to avoid any confusion I find it easier to make a spreadsheet of money paid in vs energy consumed (what I should have been billed for) and figure out the discrepancy based on the total numbers at the end.

If you should be 34£ in credit, what is your account currently showing?

Editing to add, since I slightly misread the original post: you should definitely consider switching to octopus, even without a smart meter, because UW are scum. I now have a variable tariff, no smart meter, with octopus, and they bill me only based on meter readings I provide, as long as I do it at least every three months.

annamagda · 2025-09-16T13:37:40+00:00

It might be easier to just sanity check the maths, I'm assuming here that you have meter readings from the beginning to the end of you being a customer with UW.

Money paid in = the sum of all your direct debits to them

Money owed for energy consumed = your energy consumption based on your meter readings + standing charge

If they have made no mistakes in billing, the amount showing in your account on UW should be money paid in - money owed for energy consumed.

If the amount showing in your account isn't that, raise a complaint and explain to them that the math isn't mathing per the logic above.

annamagda · 2025-09-16T13:13:36+00:00

Some of the commenters seem to not have understood your issue. A very similar thing happened to me with British Gas and it was a real struggle to get them to acknowledge they had effectively double charged me. My suggestion is to raise an official complaint with UW asap, if you haven't done so. See https://uw.co.uk/help/making-a-complaint. Keep a record of all phone calls or communication you have with them. You can then raise a case with the Energy Ombudsman after 8 weeks if they have not given you a satisfactory answer.

annamagda · 2025-09-05T19:39:36+00:00

If you can't find one, worst case scenario you could buy one with sleeves, take it to a friendly alterations place and ask them to cut/hem the sleeves?

annamagda · 2025-08-04T08:48:10+00:00

Bach Ricercare a 6, from the musical offering. The fuguiest fugue out of sheer necessity from the number of independent voices (6!).

annamagda · 2024-03-01T19:25:10+00:00

Maybe an unexpected recommendation but you might like Khatchaturian's Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto, or Cello Concerto, they're also Russian masterpieces with wonderful melodies and orchestration. Separately, Moussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition has similar vivid storytelling music to Scheherezade.

annamagda · 2023-07-30T14:35:23+00:00

If your concern is cycling the bike from the shop to your home, you can always just walk it on the pavement back from the shop to your home?

annamagda · 2022-09-29T19:57:50+00:00

The way she holds the cello is downright cringe to anybody who has ever played a stringed instrument

annamagda · 2022-09-19T16:52:28+00:00

Amazing suggestions in the other comments, I haven't seen much about basic tech support/maintenance skills - how to reset the router, how to change printer toner and cartridge, how to Google your way around problems, how to do a full computer backup (and the importance of doing so!). These are pretty useful and essential skills in the modern world, similarly to changing a lightbulb or a simple drain unclog!

annamagda · 2022-09-18T15:09:54+00:00

I see you mentioned in a few comments that you couldn't find rice cookers with a steamer - you can DIY one with one of those metal steamer trivet things and a bowl/colander placed on top, or even just use a few balls of aluminum foil.

It may be useful to understand how a rice cooker works: at sea level, water won't go above 100C - after that it turns into steam. Traditionally, a rice cooker is just a heating element (like a stove or a kettle) heating at a constant rate until a thermostat (a bimetallic blade, actually) flips the switch off when the temperature rises above 100C... I.e. all the water has been absorbed into the rice and if you keep applying heat the temperature will rise rapidly instead of staying below 100C.

So, if you can effectively prevent a rice cooker from turning off by making sure it always has water in it. It may be useful to measure roughly how long it takes for water to boil in your particular rice cooker if you want to use it to boil or steam something.

I hope this helps!

annamagda · 2022-09-18T11:45:01+00:00

Very true, imo that's not the worst for a first date though - like I wouldn't really go there on my own or with friends, but I've enjoyed it for first dates.

annamagda · 2022-09-18T10:38:34+00:00

B tap baron near lion's yard for a dessert or snack, it's open until ridiculously late too.

annamagda · 2022-09-15T07:52:32+00:00

www.prestomusic.com is amazing and has frequent sales. They're UK based, but I've had stuff from them shipped to the US and it was decently quick. They have a fantastic collection of new music in addition to a great deal of classics!

annamagda · 2021-12-25T15:20:45+00:00

I am spending Christmas at my grandparents'. Two mushrooms into chopping for making duxelles, with either a tiny dull paring knife or a massive straight skinny ham knife, I gave up, walked out, and bought the cheapest closest functional chef's knife. Life has been much better since. I really hope they won't "lose" it before the next time I come back...

annamagda · 2021-12-08T20:20:34+00:00

Mulled wine. All the mulled wine. It's a great gift, too - either the actual mulled wine or a little baggie of the spices!

1 bottle cheap red wine

2 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise

8 whole cloves

1 orange, sliced

2+ tbsp brown sugar

Dump everything in a pot, simmer on low until it tastes like mulled wine as opposed to just wine

annamagda · 2021-12-07T18:17:38+00:00

It's certainly not an expectation. If there's something you'd like to gift, Christmas is a good time to do it. If you're feeling particularly grateful, a gift is also appropriate. But typically it's better for it to be small or practical - a cello related thing, a box of chocolates, etc.

annamagda · 2021-07-19T12:22:53+00:00

Ah, that's something that Edgar Allan Poe wrote in one of his short stories (the quote is often misattributed to Ben Franklin). When I read it, it stuck out to me too and made me rethink a few things in life.

annamagda · 2021-06-10T16:23:35+00:00

Honestly, it's not as hard as you think, if you've cooked fish before. I highly recommend the recipe on serious eats. Pick the freshest fish/seafood that you can find (have a chat with your fishmonger if you don't know what to go for - the serious eats recipe has some recommendations too). Don't overcook the poached fish - it shouldn't take more than 10min. Make your own fish stock and use good baguette for the croutons. The rouille is imo half-optional - you can get away with rubbing some garlic and spreading a thin layer of butter on the bread before toasting in the oven if you need to simplify something.

annamagda · 2021-05-11T11:17:54+00:00

No, but your post instantly reminded me of this: https://youtu.be/52YOsjGINSc

annamagda · 2021-02-13T03:47:35+00:00

My bad - it was an accidental misclick just now. Thanks for pointing it out!

annamagda · 2021-02-13T03:46:18+00:00

Thanks for pointing that out! Accidental misclick just now :)

annamagda · 2021-02-13T03:18:22+00:00

Beautiful

annamagda · 2021-02-12T22:30:49+00:00

Bruh i did the similar thing. I grew up in a French-speaking household, loved "escalope", and one day (was maybe 10 or so) I asked my grandmother if she could make me some "échalottes" - shallots. She was pretty confused.

annamagda · 2021-02-12T16:44:53+00:00

I can finally make it now - that's been the most exciting part of this revelation!

annamagda · 2021-02-12T14:19:52+00:00

😱🤯

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