switching energy supplier
Discussion
Moved into my house just over a month ago. BG have sent us a bill with an estimate way over our actual usage. This isn't an issue as we can just give them accurate figures.
We are on their standard tariff but want to look to move supplier. Thing is, we only have 1 months usage, and this is unlikely to be indicative of our annual usage. As a result any figures that I may put into a switching site may be under / maybe over what we use, and the risk there is that should we choose a new supplier, that they will end up costing more than another one based on a longer term sample of usage.
How have others gotten around this issue? Do you over estimate your usage? To give an example, we have used 9 units of gas (we haven't used the CH much, but we do have a gas hob and oven, which we use maybe 4 days a week on average up to now) and have used 180 units of electricity. This is from May 19th or June 22nd.
Thanks.
We are on their standard tariff but want to look to move supplier. Thing is, we only have 1 months usage, and this is unlikely to be indicative of our annual usage. As a result any figures that I may put into a switching site may be under / maybe over what we use, and the risk there is that should we choose a new supplier, that they will end up costing more than another one based on a longer term sample of usage.
How have others gotten around this issue? Do you over estimate your usage? To give an example, we have used 9 units of gas (we haven't used the CH much, but we do have a gas hob and oven, which we use maybe 4 days a week on average up to now) and have used 180 units of electricity. This is from May 19th or June 22nd.
Thanks.
As you probably know, when you choose a deal there is always a tradeoff between the unit rate and the standing charge (the amount you pay for access to the network). That's why comparison sites ask for usage estimates. If you make a mistake with your usage estimate, the deal you end up on may not be the optimal one.
But all that is just a detail. By far the most important thing in terms of saving money is to avoid being on a standard variable tariff - especially if you are with a big 6 supplier like BG.
But all that is just a detail. By far the most important thing in terms of saving money is to avoid being on a standard variable tariff - especially if you are with a big 6 supplier like BG.
For a few years I've always used the same figures for comparison purposes so I can see how much the cost is changing based on the previous year.
I can't say I've thought about too deeply, but do wonder about the balance between standing charge and unit cost. I've instinctively tried to avoid high standing charges but for a large user that may not be smart. As suggested in the above post though, it's probably neither here nor there.
Is this your first house? You can probably get usage estimates in various places or post some details here and see what people suggest.
I can't say I've thought about too deeply, but do wonder about the balance between standing charge and unit cost. I've instinctively tried to avoid high standing charges but for a large user that may not be smart. As suggested in the above post though, it's probably neither here nor there.
Is this your first house? You can probably get usage estimates in various places or post some details here and see what people suggest.
TheAngryDog said:
Thanks.
It is the first house I have had of this size with a gas oven. Our last house was much smaller and had an electric oven.
In normal use, the annual gas consumption of an oven is neither here nor there.It is the first house I have had of this size with a gas oven. Our last house was much smaller and had an electric oven.
ETA: Quick Google suggests something like a tenner a year, vs £40 for an electric oven. Figures a few years out of date, but gives you the scale - it's insignificant compared to a gas boiler.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Friday 23 June 17:44
As a previous poster mentioned, the main thing is just to get off the standard tariff.
Most people seem to think changing supplier ties you in to a contract for 12 months or more but it doesn't.
A lot of the better tariffs are fixed for 12 months or have exit fees around £30 or so but you can still get tariffs that are fairly cheap without a fix or an exit fee.
If you're unsure what you'll use and do want to wait a bit, I'd suggest searching for a cheap tariff with no exit fees now to get off the standard tariff and then after a few months of getting to know your new consumption levels you can hop on a longer term fix deal if you fancy it.
It's also worth considering that it can be cheaper to get your gas and elec from different suppliers, don't just jump on the dual fuel deals.
Most people seem to think changing supplier ties you in to a contract for 12 months or more but it doesn't.
A lot of the better tariffs are fixed for 12 months or have exit fees around £30 or so but you can still get tariffs that are fairly cheap without a fix or an exit fee.
If you're unsure what you'll use and do want to wait a bit, I'd suggest searching for a cheap tariff with no exit fees now to get off the standard tariff and then after a few months of getting to know your new consumption levels you can hop on a longer term fix deal if you fancy it.
It's also worth considering that it can be cheaper to get your gas and elec from different suppliers, don't just jump on the dual fuel deals.
Download an app called VOLTZ. It's a good comparison app.
Also look at energy supplier OVO ENERGY. I've been with them for 3 years now. Their pricing may not be the absolute cheapest but their customer service via the phone and email is excellent in terms of being timely, accurate and friendly.
Hope this helps.
Also look at energy supplier OVO ENERGY. I've been with them for 3 years now. Their pricing may not be the absolute cheapest but their customer service via the phone and email is excellent in terms of being timely, accurate and friendly.
Hope this helps.
harveys said:
Download an app called VOLTZ. It's a good comparison app.
Also look at energy supplier OVO ENERGY. I've been with them for 3 years now. Their pricing may not be the absolute cheapest but their customer service via the phone and email is excellent in terms of being timely, accurate and friendly.
Hope this helps.
OVO was very good for many years - but they cranked their prices up this year and it was cheaper for me to go back to scottish power.Also look at energy supplier OVO ENERGY. I've been with them for 3 years now. Their pricing may not be the absolute cheapest but their customer service via the phone and email is excellent in terms of being timely, accurate and friendly.
Hope this helps.
I use quite a lot of electricity (£100 to £150 + gas a month ) so I personally focus on the cheapest unit price.
PositronicRay said:
Selling my house @ the moment speaking to the buyer
I'm with scottish power so I showed her the tariff for her to get an idea. She said her bills would be higher, she worked for British Gas so would switch to them "out of loyalty"
Go figure.
Not everybody picks on price. Loyalty/quality of service is also a factor for some and the above isn't much different to someone saying "I know the Fiesta ST is better but my dad always had Vauxhalls so I just bought a Corsa".I'm with scottish power so I showed her the tariff for her to get an idea. She said her bills would be higher, she worked for British Gas so would switch to them "out of loyalty"
Go figure.
Not saying BG are the best for customer service (they're not) but unlike my current supplier green energy they have a mobile app that works well and with the odd supplier going bust once in a while, some people will pay a premium for what they know.
If you applied the same price first above all logic to cars, we'd all be driving a Dacia Sandero
Green Energy are a bit weak on service but I'm putting up with it for their TIDE tariff as it's probably saving me a few bob. Plus, I work in the industry so I like to move often to see the full spectrum of incompetence as it keeps me in a job coming up with ways to fix things...
stewjohnst said:
PositronicRay said:
Selling my house @ the moment speaking to the buyer
I'm with scottish power so I showed her the tariff for her to get an idea. She said her bills would be higher, she worked for British Gas so would switch to them "out of loyalty"
Go figure.
Not everybody picks on price. Loyalty/quality of service is also a factor for some and the above isn't much different to someone saying "I know the Fiesta ST is better but my dad always had Vauxhalls so I just bought a Corsa".I'm with scottish power so I showed her the tariff for her to get an idea. She said her bills would be higher, she worked for British Gas so would switch to them "out of loyalty"
Go figure.
Not saying BG are the best for customer service (they're not) but unlike my current supplier green energy they have a mobile app that works well and with the odd supplier going bust once in a while, some people will pay a premium for what they know.
If you applied the same price first above all logic to cars, we'd all be driving a Dacia Sandero
Green Energy are a bit weak on service but I'm putting up with it for their TIDE tariff as it's probably saving me a few bob. Plus, I work in the industry so I like to move often to see the full spectrum of incompetence as it keeps me in a job coming up with ways to fix things...
PositronicRay said:
I hear what you're saying but the car analogy isn't great, gas is just gas, it's the same stuff.
A fair cop. A car is in theory about A to B (for more non ph'ers) in that sense, the analogy kind of holds.
The stuff coming through the pipes is energy is identical although energy retail isn't just about the gas, that's the easy bit.
It's about the accuracy of billing, the ease of submitting a read and it being used to bill you, whether you can use a web chat to get something fixed quickly or fart about on hold for 25 minutes on the phone if/when the bills are cocked up, etc.
A better analogy might be comparing two petrol stations selling identical 99 RON, one you pull up and the car is topped up by an attendant who then scrapes the flies from your widescreen and checks your tyre pressures...
...the other station sells the same stuff for cheaper but for that price you are forced to hand pump it out of the ground while being observed at close quarters by a sweaty oik in Rab C. Nesbitt vest, perched atop a worn out office chair (with one of the wheels inexplicably missing) as he puffs on a lit roll up as you hurriedly pump hoping today isn't the day you go up in smoke.
Most of the time, going cheaper is fine until something goes wrong.
That said, I concur that the reason given by the woman in your post is a little odd.
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