dual-fuel, or separate gas and elec to same supplier

ericpode

I've just done a comparision on energyhelpline, and the saving for switching to British Gas Click Energy 5 (quarterly billing) dual fuel is given as a 306 pounds.

The separate tabs for gas only and elec only to the SAME British Gas Click Energy 5 quarterly billing tariff give savings of 137 and 221 pounds respectively, totalling 358 pounds.

So the separate transfer of gas and elec gives 58 pounds more saving than transferring "dual fuel", even though the transfer is to the SAME Bristish Gas tariff.

This seems a bit odd. Is it possible to arrange the transfer separately of gas and elec to the same tariff and get the greater savings?

AndysDad

I think the figures are only approximate,but are you sure your figures are correct as that seems alot of saving to make.

SwanJon

Sounds more like a glitch with the switching site to me.
The only difference between single and dual fuel with British gas (assuming same tarfii etc) is that you get an extra £15 discount on your electricity - there is no different price per kWh involved for either fuel.

BexTech

Does seem strange that two single accounts would be lower than a dual both with same supplier.

It's often that it's cheaper to have single accounts with different suppliers than dual fuel with one.

ericpode

Yes it's definately what the site is telling me.

Also, there's a slight complication in that we are on British Gas' standard tariff for gas (we've never switched before). So I guess the gas "transfer" is probably not treated as a transfer because it's just a switch of tariff with the same supplier.

Am I right in thinking that I'd only get a single-switch payment (for the electricity from Eon to British Gas) from one of the comparison sites in this case?

Also, I'm tempted to stick with the more expensive quarterly (although paperless) billing, as I'm a bit suspicious about them overcharging on direct debits and then having a problem getting the overpayment back - is this sometimes a problem or can overpayments usually be received without a hitch these days?

BexTech

You could work out how much you spend in a year then divide it by 12 and add a little on to make your 12 monthly payments and set the DDs at that. Granted in the warmer months you'll be in credit, but then it makes up for it in the winter months, as long as you get your figures right, it makes budgeting a lot easier and you won't find come the colder months you'll have more money to find to pay the bills.

ericpode

Thanks, but I though the amount of the DD was decided by the utility company, not by the customer.

Also, aren't DDs variable, so you can't actually set an amount for them as you can with standing orders. So the utilty company could take any amount they liked - although it should be the amount they tell you they are going to take.

BexTech

ericpode wrote: »

Thanks, but I though the amount of the DD was decided by the utility company, not by the customer.

Also, aren't DDs variable, so you can't actually set an amount for them as you can with standing orders. So the utility company could take any amount they liked - although it should be the amount they tell you they are going to take.

If you opt for the monthly payment by DD, then the DD amount is the same each month, though once a year they may review the payments. They have to write to you to let you know any change and you can always call them if you don't agree with the new payments, depends if the payments you do make are covering your usage.

All the providers we've been with have asked how much we'd like our monthly payments to be set at. We set these based on the monthly average for a years usage.