British Gas & Capping Clarifications.

LadFromWales85

Still, may as well start the ball rolling moving to another provider, as it takes 8 weeks to switch anyway, and the fixed rates end at the end of october.

Seems like I've missed out on all the best fixed tariffs, with only e-on's remaining on the comparison sites. Are there others that are cheaper that can still be joined directly?

armybike

I'm currently on Click Energy 5 and have been since just after it became available.

I've just given BG a call to see how much more I'd be paying if I moved to Fixed Price 2011. I was told this could only be calculated if/when I switched, however the lady I spoke with did offer details of the prices differences between CE5 and FP11.



She said that at this stage it wasn't in my interest to switch, as CE5 was still their best rates. I did ask when the CE5 prices would increase and she stated that she wasn't sure, however did again say I should stick with the package I'm on.

I then asked if BG would introduce a Click Energy 6 in the next few week, to which she paused and said she didn't have that information available. I'm not sure she has been told there will be a CE6, however from her reaction, got the feeling she believed it might happen!

Hope this helps.


Army.

kjsmith7

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

Don't we (UK) also sell our gas stocks in the summer to Europe who have storage capacity that we don't. Then in winter when we need, we buy it back from them at winter prices? Shouldn't someone be building the storage we need?

I have heard this from some reliable source on TV, can't remember who, but it was either an energy person or a minister. So am sure it's reliable info, but cannot understand why we aren't rioting about this (or at least doing a petition!)

Jen
x

To be honest, I have no idea. I agree with you, in the sense it seems silly to buy it, sell it back for the cheaper price we bought it for and buy it again at stupidly increased rate. The companies have to buy it to ensure that there's no shortages, and to be able to guarantee prices, and then they have to sell it back as we can't store it. It's a big, nasty, vicious cycle.

I know that building storage facilities is very expensive, and in my opinion that's bad but maybe it'd work out cheaper to do that then keep buying and selling it? At the same time though, is there any point in building these expensive facilities if, in say 10, 20 years, whatever... there's no natural gas left in the UK and we have to resort to sustainable measures? Surely it is better to spend money developing those now as opposed to then hiking the prices up even MORE to develop them later and risking shortages?

logie28

Totality wrote: »

My worry is though that if I do that, I end up missing out once the Click 5 tariff changes. While its still summer, its not a huge deal to be on the 2011 tariff and pay a few pennies more. Its winter than concerns me more.

Still think I should change back?

I wouldn't,, I'm on energy 5.. BG have said they wont increase prices again this year.. i know I'm a fool to take their word ,, i just cant see them doing it though,,
i was going to cap,, looked at the prices , didnt bother,, click energy prices ain't gone up YET,, but i dont think they will go up as much as there "standard tariff" which they screw lazy people on, and people who aren t in the know,, usually the most vulnerable,, i.e elderly and poor..

sweat it out,, that's my advice,, maybe wrong..... life's a gamble...!!
i refuse to pay a premium,, to tie my self in... and even if my prices went up full whack with BG,,, i.e 35% id still be quids in with other price cap offers.
if they go up further............. a lot further,,,,, i loose,, but short term.. I'm winning,,

hope this helps..

kjsmith7

They've said they won't increase STANDARD prices again this year

logie28

kjsmith7 wrote: »

They've said they won't increase STANDARD prices again this year

this means the standard prices will not,,probably...

look above though at the price comparison to click energy 5 and fp2011.. in one instance 60% just for one utility!!! BG.. on past experience(I'm not loyal BTW , when the monopoly was first broke, i swapped like a kid with a hand full of swapsies) have generally let click energy... i.e online customers off a lot lighter,, may be they know we are more savvy and sign up to money saving expert tips!!!

Either way,, the boat as left,, i nearly swapped months a go.. i may be new on the forums,, but I've been lurking for years,, and listening with bated breath to Martin for time,,,I chose to buck the trend and not jump on the cap bandwagon because i was already following Martins advice,,, i.e CE5,, BG,, best deal out there on comparison,,

Like i say big gamble,,, i and others may loose,,, but i honestly cant see energy prices going up any further,, we have had stupid hits over the last few years , it needs to balance,, present oil prices are falling!!
click energy WILL go up,, no doubts,, but not near BG current standard or price fix2011 tariff,
I f you want to be guaranteed the price you pay,,, cap... if the gambles worth the risk,, stick

Totality

logie28 wrote: »

I wouldn't,, I'm on energy 5.. BG have said they wont increase prices again this year.. i know I'm a fool to take their word ,, i just cant see them doing it though,,
i was going to cap,, looked at the prices , didnt bother,, click energy prices ain't gone up YET,, but i dont think they will go up as much as there "standard tariff" which they screw lazy people on, and people who aren t in the know,, usually the most vulnerable,, i.e elderly and poor..

sweat it out,, that's my advice,, maybe wrong..... life's a gamble...!!
i refuse to pay a premium,, to tie my self in... and even if my prices went up full whack with BG,,, i.e 35% id still be quids in with other price cap offers.
if they go up further............. a lot further,,,,, i loose,, but short term.. I'm winning,,

hope this helps..

Cheers for that. I'm going to leave it as it is and hopefully you'll all go easy on me when BG announce no increases on Click 5.:p

kjsmith7

It's likely they will increase it in line with standard prices, so it'll still be cheaper than standard prices, but will be more in line with them. That said, if prices do indeed drop and rise again, or are not risen again, anyone on Click 5 is a winner (I was on Click 5, managed to get on the Price Protec 2009, so I only had to pay the old standard prices plus a 9.5% premium, which means instead of paying a 35% increase I now pay a 13% increase as I went from the Click 5 prices). If I didn't have the option for that, I probably would have taken the safe bet and gone for 2011 cap, but I do completely agree that it is a gamble and I think that as long as you've rationalised all the possibilities in your own mind then you've done all the justifying that you need to!

Zorro

Sorry to sound hopeless but with all the bad news around BG thought I should check out my options for the cheapest available. Slow I know! I have read through the thread but am more confused than ever. I am currently on Click Energy 3 paperless billing but haven't seen any mention of that here everyone seems to be on CE5? Any help would be appreciated, thanks

logie28

Zorro wrote: »

Sorry to sound hopeless but with all the bad news around BG thought I should check out my options for the cheapest available. Slow I know! I have read through the thread but am more confused than ever. I am currently on Click Energy 3 paperless billing but haven't seen any mention of that here everyone seems to be on CE5? Any help would be appreciated, thanks

Don't worry,, click energy started at 1,, and is now up to 5,, if you go on your online BG account,, all BG prices for there online tariffs are there,, i cant see the prices ,( I'm windows vista ,, it seems to have a problem with the latest adobe reader i need to view these prices).
If click energy5 is cheaper than 3, you may want to switch tariffs,
I went on topcashback.co.uk,, they have a cashback deal with BG,, dual fuel swap .. £40.00 ..
even if your already with BG they pay out,, got mine after 3 months,, switched from click 4,, to 5,, this way,,