Just moved in. Gas&Elec compare, can I "switch" to old supplier?

Dynamic

Hi all, I'm a long time lurker on a few of the forums, but just registered.

I've bought the leasehold on my first flat in East Sussex recently which has been vacant for about a year - was a buy-to-let repossession and has DO NOT USE stickers on all the appliances, the consumer unit and water outlets. The flat has, I think, a B energy-efficiency rating in the report in the HIP, a gas combi boiler for hot water & central heating, gas hob and electric oven.

From the mountain of mail on the mat, it's clear that the previous supplier (at least for electricity) was npower, though I've no idea which tariff.

I've run an estimate of my gas & elec usage through energyhelpline.com comparison site (having simply put Utilita/gas and EDF/elec standard tariffs as my existing - I had to put something and didn't want anything likely to already be the cheapest, and EDF is locally incumbent).

The cheapest non-capped dual-fuel package is ScottishPower's Online tariff with quarterly Direct Debit estimated to £318 per year, which has EXCLUSIVE £50 CASHBACK (£25/fuel)! I'd guess this means my first year would be £268 after cashback (possibly another £15 off if you switch) , but future years would be £318 estimated (assuming current rates and that I don't switch).

For cheapest gas only, ScottishPower Online with quarterly DD is estimated £176 per year (still says "EXCLUSIVE £50 CASHBACK (£25/fuel)!", so I assume I pay £151 effectively in first year)

For cheapest electric only, the cheapest was npower Go Fix 2 (fixed til 31/07/2011) with monthly DD estimated at £96 per year (no cashback, not such good customer service rating). Second cheapest is still npower with Sign On-Line 18 estimated £127 per year. Third is ScottishPower Online Energy Reward for £129 (fixed to 31/07/2011) with monthly DD, presumably with £25 cashback.

To summarise:

Dual-fuel ScottishPower Online Quart DD
= £318 - £50 ScPwr cashback - £15 ComparisonSite Cashback (or -£30 if they pay per fuel)
= £253 in first year (or £238?), £318 ongoing on this year's basis.

Gas only Scottish Power Online Quart DD
+ Elec only npower Go Fix 2 Monthly DD
= £176/yr + £96/yr - £25 ScPwr cashback - £15 ComparisonSite Cashback (or -£30 if they pay per fuel)
= £272 - £25 - £15 (or -£30?)
= £232 in first year (or £217?), £272 ongoing on this year's basis.

Gas only Scottish Power Online Quart DD
+ Elec only Scottish Power Online Energy Reward Monthly DD
= £176/yr + £129/yr - £50 for both ScPwr cashbacks - £15 CompSite Cashback (or -£30?)
= £305 - £50 - £15 (or -£30?)
= £240 in first year (or £225?), £305 ongoing on this year's basis.

Presumably I could switch after the fix ends if I go for either of the Elec Only options I've looked at rather than suffer the standard prices too long.

A few questions:
1. Are these likely to be valid prices and cashback incentives as I'm starting from a no-existing-supplier basis? Am I likely to be rejected if I am forced to enter "wrong" existing supplier info?
2. If npower supplied electricity to the previous occupier, is it still possible for me to "switch" to npower? If they do a search for existing supplier and it comes up npower, will that prevent me from obtaining those tariffs despite having no connection to the previous flat owner?
3. Is it possible to use two different kind of tariffs, both from Scottish Power if that were best for me (e.g. if I'm willing to pay more for their customer service) or would I be forced to take the more expensive dual-fuel option without an electricity fixed price option?
4. I guess I could look at switching first gas, then electricity to try to get £15 from the comparison site each time (relatively minor tweak) or I could compare using the dual-fuel cashback sites (Moneysupermarket/SimplySwitch which offer £30 cash, or £35 vouchers)
5. It's possible that various suppliers have Exclusive cashback deals with different comparison sites so it might be worth checking more.
6. Could it be better for me to take-up a no tie-in tariff with any-old supplier for a month or two then make a genuine switch from one supplier to another?

Thanks,

Dynamic.

property.advert

You need to compare like with like. I use Excel. I can then run hypothesis based upon this usage or that usage and see how all the providers change their prices dependent upon how I use fuel.

You also need to look at tie ins and penalties for leaving. Also, some comparisons are unfair and wrong. Atlantic for instance already includes the 13th month free but then shows it as a future discount, making you think it is not included and should be taken off.

Changing supplier is not a 24 hour job, it can take weeks and months.For now, phone the current supplier, tell them your readings and go on their DD tariff. Explain that you have just moved in and you cannot sign up for anything long term. However, my DD is around 40% less than the headline flexible rate so even a £10 charge to switch is nothing if you compare it to the savings.

If you can use Excel, plot your usage. I keep the mother of all spreadsheets but as a quarterly idea, my electric only flat used the following electricity. As you have gas it will be completely different but the percentages may help you.

Season Day Night

Spring 8.56 15.44
Summer 7.26 12.55
Autumn 8.35 16.25
Winter 9.07 29.54

keith1950

Hi, as property.advert says, you first need to register with the suppliers used by by the previous tenant on their standard tariff and give them the meter readings from when you took possession of the house. You are then in a position to start switching, however ,if you want to go for cashbacks etc you will not be able to stay with the existing suppliers.

Dynamic

Thanks, both of you. That's sound advice and a certain route ahead of what I must do before I can shop around, and of course I must avoid a lock-in initially.

Thanks also for the illustrative season-by-season percentage breakdown, property.advert. I'm an Excel veteran (and Openoffice.org Calc recently), so I'll probably do something like that myself, although my electricity meter is a single-rate type, day & night. I noticed npower had a split rate where the first X units at certain times of year are charged at one rate, and any excess at a lower rate (with more of the primary rate usage applied to the winter months for gas, but 2 kWh per day evenly through the year for electricity).

Best regards,

Dynamic