Scottish Tariffs Online help

vallumlj

Just switched to Scottish power online to try and save more money. I want to bill my account every month to know what i am spending.

I just don't know what tariff to go for. I am thinking that i don't want a fixed tariff because hopefully prices will be going down. So that leaves

Online Energy - Standard
Online Energy - Standard (No Standing Charge)

What one would you advise us to go for. What are the differences ?

Thanks

Luke

AlexS82

One has a standing charge and one rate for each unit, one has two rates tier 1 and tier two.

If you use a substantial amount of fuel which will allow you to move onto tier two and benefit from it vastly then Online Energy - Standard (No Standing Charge) is the one for you.

If you are a low user and wont meet the criteria to get onto the lower rate (tier 2) then Online Energy - Standard is the one.

Queue the arguments.

vallumlj

I am still a bit stuck this is our first home so haven't done this sort of stuff before.

We have a 4 bedroom semi detached town house. So do you think we would use another to get onto tier 2.

thanks

vallumlj

Sorry there is only 2 of us in the home and we work most days. I think the standard might be best for us.

KimYeovil

I see AlexS*@ is maintaining their usual standard of advice.

The advice is incorrect - with Scottish Power there is no reason not to choose the no standing charge tariffs. Their Tier 2 two tier unit price is the same as their one tier unit price. So if you are a low user, contrary to Alex' advice, you pay more with the standing charge tariff and if you are a high user you do not benefit from the no standing charge tariff.

The last time I checked there was tuppence difference over a 91 day quarter.

AlexS82

KimYeovil wrote: »

I see AlexS*@ is maintaining their usual standard of advice.

The advice is incorrect - with Scottish Power there is no reason not to choose the no standing charge tariffs. Their Tier 2 two tier unit price is the same as their one tier unit price. So if you are a low user, contrary to Alex' advice, you pay more with the standing charge tariff and if you are a high user you do not benefit from the no standing charge tariff.

The last time I checked there was tuppence difference over a 91 day quarter.

Right then smart !!!!, what is the point in a standing charge?

So how come if theres no difference then the advice you're offering, when did I say he would pay less with or without a standing charge? You best go and do some research before you come on slating my posts noobster.

KimYeovil

Smart Alex wrote "If you are a low user and wont meet the criteria to get onto the lower rate (tier 2) then Online Energy - Standard is the one." That is not correct. For low users that is more expensive.

NSC
Gas 4.746p then 3.772p -- 0.974p difference or £3.71 per 381 tier 1 units month
Elec 16.179p then 11.598p -- 4.581p difference or £3.436 per 75 tier 1 units month

SC
Gas 3.772p plus 12.21p per day or £3.71 per 30.4 day month
Elec 11.598p plus 11.3p per day or £3.435 per 30.4 day month

So using more than the Tier 1 allowance costs the same. If you use less, say you use 200 kWh gas one month in summer, you pay the full £3.71 standing charge but would only pay £1.95 on the NSC two tier tariff (plus, of course, 200 x 3.772p.)

So for Scottish Power, for the regions I've looked at, you do not lose if you choose the no standing charge option. If you have a low consumption, you may pay more if you choose the standing charge option.

Vestra

Might be wrong here but as far as I saw SC v NSC is that a 91 day bill will be the same as long as all the primary units have been used.

In all the cases I have seen the unit rate for a standing charge account is say 10ppu, then on a NSC account that would be the tier 2 price, and the tier 1 price would be high enough to recover the standing charge.

If that makes any sense?

KimYeovil

Yes, but when all primary units are not used (most often with gas over summer) then a daily standing charge is more expensive.

There is no disadvantage, high consumption or low consumption, with a no standing charge tariff. A standing charge tariff is more expensive for those with a very low consumption but is the same for those with normal or high usage.

So if you are feeling lazy default to the no standing charge option. But if not, double-check for your own region, meter type and payment method.

Fire_Fox

I did the sums for when I was a very low user at 7.5kwh per day and again now there's two of us using 11.5kwh per day: virtually break even both times. Interestingly Scottish Power's standing charge has not increased whereas their leccy has.

I'd be inclined to go for the standing charge as you have no idea whether you will be a low user or a higher user. People tend not to be that careful until they get the shock of the first bill. Just make sure you read your meter regularly so there are no nasty surprises.

KimYeovil

Sorry, I'm confused, Fire Fox. Can you identify a Scottish Power tariff where a standing charge would be cheaper? (There may well be some prepayment or Eco 7 one but most standard or online ones don't seem to be so.) If you've no idea what you will be why take the chance of paying more?