Gas & Electricity plus Cashback/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

MiM

Hi, I'm trying to switch but Powergen only give me a single figure per month for gas and elec and can't give a breakdown.

Both switch sites I've tried need to have two figures. I've tried putting the total in one and £0 in the other but get vastly different results depending on which way round I do it.

Any thoughts?

mcdutch

help iam over 55 and have just recvd an offer from age concern sponsored by powergen to reduce my bills. presently iam with british gas for gas & electricity and want to switch. anybody else had something like this. any advice?

kit

Hiya

Can anyone tell me if there is a certain amount of time I have to spend with a supplier until I can move again?

Am really nervous about changing for the first time - what if I make a wrong move?!?! Could I move back??

Cheers!

Fastflys

No and Yes.


The switching process usually takes 4/6 weeks so you would be “Stuck” with your new supplier for that period of time.

mycar37

In trying to select the cheapest provider of gas I wonder if the same formula applies to all providers. Scottish Power uses this formula: Units used X 2.83 X 39.4 (Calorific Value) X 1.022640 (correction factor) divided by 3.6. Can anyone provide a more specific explanation of how the Kilowatt Hours used is calculated.
Thanks

Cardew

mycar37 wrote:

In trying to select the cheapest provider of gas I wonder if the same formula applies to all providers. Scottish Power uses this formula: Units used X 2.83 X 39.4 (Calorific Value) X 1.022640 (correction factor) divided by 3.6. Can anyone provide a more specific explanation of how the Kilowatt Hours used is calculated.
Thanks

That formula is for the older meters that use Imperial(cu ft) measurement of units. There can be slight variations in the calorific value. The simple measurement is to take the units and multiply by 31.5(for all suppliers) and your figure of kWh will be +/- 1%

With the metric meters(cu meters) you take the reading and measure by 11.2 to get kWh. (Same formula but without the '2.83')

Cardew

mcdutch wrote:

help iam over 55 and have just recvd an offer from age concern sponsored by powergen to reduce my bills. presently iam with british gas for gas & electricity and want to switch. anybody else had something like this. any advice?

It is an absolute disgrace that a respected charity like Age Concern should lend their name to such a scheme.

See

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=38800&page=1&pp=10

iantanner

Further to my point in #36 and #40 that one doesn't want to change to a supplier who is about to increase prices - The comparison sites say I should change (from Powergen Age Concern) to nPower Sign Online. But cautious me rings nPower (0800 316 2604) to be told that price increases (Of abt 14.5 and 12% she thought) are to be announced at 1530 today!! Increases will be effective January and, whilst changing is easy (I last did it 6 months ago) one doesn't want to be doing it every few months. Perhaps Martin could persuade a comparison site to highlite dates of change in the comparison???!

mechy

I have the same problem with my bill, ie half way back thru the year the bill changed from KWh to units. I asked a mate if there was a conversion figure. He told me that units were KWh. Like a dumb cluck, I believed him. So I will now try to apply your formula to my complicated bill for the last year. Do you think our energy companies do this on purpose to confuse the issue.

mycar37 wrote:

In trying to select the cheapest provider of gas I wonder if the same formula applies to all providers. Scottish Power uses this formula: Units used X 2.83 X 39.4 (Calorific Value) X 1.022640 (correction factor) divided by 3.6. Can anyone provide a more specific explanation of how the Kilowatt Hours used is calculated.
Thanks

mechy

The last couple of days I have been trying to work my bill comparisons out. I was wondering why on 2 seperate days the comparison figures came out differently. When I checked back thru your threads Ian, and so to the price update chart. that explains the descrepencies I have had. I have to agree completely with your misgivings on whether now is the right time to change!!

iantanner wrote:

Further to my point in #36 and #40 that one doesn't want to change to a supplier who is about to increase prices - The comparison sites say I should change (from Powergen Age Concern) to nPower Sign Online. But cautious me rings nPower (0800 316 2604) to be told that price increases (Of abt 14.5 and 12% she thought) are to be announced at 1530 today!! Increases will be effective January and, whilst changing is easy (I last did it 6 months ago) one doesn't want to be doing it every few months. Perhaps Martin could persuade a comparison site to highlite dates of change in the comparison???!