Gas + Electric

[GeoffF100]

I was with Ebico. I was transferred to British gas by default. That deal is coming to an end. Ebico seems to be no more. They seemed to have reasonable prices, and I could tell myself that I was helping someone less well off, rather than just being lazy. It looks as though I am going to have to switch every year. What is the drill? Are some switching sites better than others?

[staffordian]

Martin Lewis's Money Saving energy website is worth a look.

If you register you can receive emails when a better deal comes along, or you can use it to see what deal is best when yours expires, or you can give them authority to move you automatically onto the best deal whenever yours expires.

And unlike some others, if they receive a backhander from the energy company you move to, they share it with you.

https://clubs.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub

[Watis]

I'm looking to switch and have signed up to the MSE's Cheap Energy Club.

I fed in my details and got a series of quotes. For one of the suppliers I'm considering, the quote was better than the quote I got directly from that supplier's website.

For completeness, I got another quote through Quidco's own comparison service, which quoted the same as the quote from MSE for this supplier - but with £40 cashback.

I'll be switching next week, when my current fixed price scheme runs out.

If anyone wants a Quidco referral link to earn £5, please pm me.

Watis

[GeoffF100]

Thank you very much for that. It looks as though MSE is the one to pursue.

I have just been looking at the BG tariffs that I am on. They have just written to me about the gas tariff which ends on 31st March. The electricity tariff is shown as ending on 31st July, but with no exit fee. I expect that means that I can leave straight away.

[GeoffF100]

I have had a look at MSE. It turns out that I already had an account with them. They have got my BG tariffs too.

Top of the bill is Scottish Power, but it is a variable tariff. I could be going through all the hassle of switching again in a couple of weeks. Worse, it has £25 cash back. I have to put up with that when I switch my broadband with MSE every year. It is a pain in the bum.

SSE is marginally more expensive, but is fixed for a year. £25 cashback again though.

Utilita is a little more expensive still, but there is no cashback.

SSE may be the lesser of the evils.

All three are smart meter tariffs. Does that mean that I need to have a smart meter? I have not got one. does that matter? Are they still a lot of trouble?

[GeoffF100]

The tariffs all save Warm home discount, but I am not remotely eligible for that.

[GeoffF100]

MSE is not on the list of Ofgem accredited price comparison websites:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/hous ... ison-sites

Does that matter?

[Mike4]

<rant>

I so long for the days when I got my leccy from the Electricity Board and my gas from the Gas Board, they told me in advance what the price was and everybody paid the same.

None of this stupidity where if we whine about the cost of fuel we are told by politicians we need to look for a cheaper tariff.

</rant>

[Stompa]

MSE is not on the list of Ofgem accredited price comparison websites:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/hous ... ison-sites

Does that matter?

I believe MSE are wholly owned by moneysupermarket who are on the list. I don't know if that counts!

[GeoffF100]

Uswitch is on the list and looks significantly cheaper than MSE, without the hated cashback. They have loads of suppliers within a few pounds of each other. Top buys are Ovo, E-on and Shell. Ovo and E-on insist on installing a smart meter. Shell does not, but costs a few quid more. Uswitch looks clearer than MSE.

[UncleEbenezer]

I just used uswitch to DMOR and changed. Had been with EON this past year, but got p***ed off when they moved me to top rate and put up my payment by more than 50%, all without advance notice and no information I could look up about my tariff.

If EON had instead moved me to their current best tariff (whatever that is) and been transparent about details (standing and usage charges), I'd probably have stuck with them. As it is I've got another fix.

[GeoffF100]

I found this on smart meters:

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-m ... 2nQ4f3LKV8

It looks as though matters have improved. It would appear that I have a good chance of the installation going smoothly, and I should get second generation meters. Even if I got a first generation meter, the problems with that should be fixed by the time my one year tariff ends.

I have a problem getting my meters read manually. My meters are on the side of the house a few feet from the front. They are very easily accessible, but are not immediately visible from a vehicle in the road. Whenever, I change supplier, the meter reader always reports "could not find the meter" rather than getting out of their vehicle and having a look. I have then got the hassle of giving the supplier explicit instructions. Robin Hood was the exception. They got me to read the meter.

[GeoffF100]

Ovo just scrapes the top third for customer satisfaction:

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/energy- ... qM43e6ycY8

It is the cheapest offer and clams to be green. I have gone with them via Uswitch. The only fly in the ointment so far is that it is monthly direct debit, rather than quarterly, so I expect that I will get lots of baffling bills.

[taken2often]

Last October I did away with Gas and have gone all electric. Tried My existing company SSE, but they could not come near the best rates. It takes 3 weeks to change over. These are the Rules. I used Uswitch and found EON. Best Rates at that moment in time. I also found the only way to judge the difference was to find the KWR for Gas and Electricity then the Standing Charge. Not always easy to find.

There is no doubt that I will have to change Provider each year

Bob

[Mike4]

I found this on smart meters:

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-m ... 2nQ4f3LKV8

It looks as though matters have improved. It would appear that I have a good chance of the installation going smoothly, and I should get second generation meters. Even if I got a first generation meter, the problems with that should be fixed by the time my one year tariff ends.

I have a problem getting my meters read manually. My meters are on the side of the house a few feet from the front. They are very easily accessible, but are not immediately visible from a vehicle in the road. Whenever, I change supplier, the meter reader always reports "could not find the meter" rather than getting out of their vehicle and having a look. I have then got the hassle of giving the supplier explicit instructions. Robin Hood was the exception. They got me to read the meter.

I have a suspicion the BIG reason they want us all to get smart meters is so they can vary the price minute-by-minute charged to smart meter users according to demand at the time and as it varies. This will allow demand-smoothing as electric cars and heat pumps get loaded onto the grid (as gas users get progressively demonised), so the whole grid can be upgraded to a lower peak capacity than would otherwise be necessary.

I gather that over in USA where they have been having the big freeze coupled with power supply failures, the problem has been compounded by demand-pricing, and those who still have a supply are being charged insanely high prices for what little energy they are drawing from the grid, in order to suppress demand.

[GrahamPlatt]

<rant>

I so long for the days when I got my leccy from the Electricity Board and my gas from the Gas Board, they told me in advance what the price was and everybody paid the same.

None of this stupidity where if we whine about the cost of fuel we are told by politicians we need to look for a cheaper tariff.

</rant>

My socialist principles showing through, but I wholeheartedly agree here. If the guys that work there are paying the same, it’s in their interests the price is right. Whereas with this never-ending compare/switch system, we’re so consumed with the minutiae we’ll never find time to plot the revolution!

[dspp]

I found this on smart meters:

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-m ... 2nQ4f3LKV8

It looks as though matters have improved. It would appear that I have a good chance of the installation going smoothly, and I should get second generation meters. Even if I got a first generation meter, the problems with that should be fixed by the time my one year tariff ends.

I have a problem getting my meters read manually. My meters are on the side of the house a few feet from the front. They are very easily accessible, but are not immediately visible from a vehicle in the road. Whenever, I change supplier, the meter reader always reports "could not find the meter" rather than getting out of their vehicle and having a look. I have then got the hassle of giving the supplier explicit instructions. Robin Hood was the exception. They got me to read the meter.

I have a suspicion the BIG reason they want us all to get smart meters is so they can vary the price minute-by-minute charged to smart meter users according to demand at the time and as it varies. This will allow demand-smoothing as electric cars and heat pumps get loaded onto the grid (as gas users get progressively demonised), so the whole grid can be upgraded to a lower peak capacity than would otherwise be necessary.

I gather that over in USA where they have been having the big freeze coupled with power supply failures, the problem has been compounded by demand-pricing, and those who still have a supply are being charged insanely high prices for what little energy they are drawing from the grid, in order to suppress demand.

Precisely Mike. That is why I personally am still holding out against a SMETS meter, and I a a net (electric) exporter !!. When they are prepared to properly pay me the minute x minute export price, then I will accept the meter that enables them to charge me for the minute x minute import price. For some reason they don't want to do that ......

regards, dspp

[DrFfybes]

Precisely Mike. That is why I personally am still holding out against a SMETS meter, and I a a net (electric) exporter !!. When they are prepared to properly pay me the minute x minute export price, then I will accept the meter that enables them to charge me for the minute x minute import price. For some reason they don't want to do that ......

regards, dspp

Might be a better move than you think.

I just tried to switch to OVO's "Better Smart" tarrif. After some faffing it turns out it is only available to people without a Smart meter who commit to getting one fitted within 3 months.
Elec 15.404p per kWh
Gas 2.730p per kWh

Their cheapest Smart meter tarrif is over 10% more expensive

Paul