Tariff comparison

twohats

I find it very difficult to work out if I would really be saving by changing from my current supplier to another supplier, when I am only offered a "generalised" saving figure on comparison websites.

Surely, it would be better to display the kWh prices. I know this can still be confusing when they offer standing charges or Rate A and Rate B costs. But at least you can compare the cost per kWh with your existing supplier's kWh rates which should be on your latest bills.

The lower the kWh and standing charge, the lower the bills will be for the same amount of energy.

Plushchris

All of the comparison sites list the prices per kWh.

But if you compare just those unit rates and go for the cheapest its highly unlikely you will be going onto the cheapest tariff available to you as you need to work out the discounts too.
The comparison sites work it all out for if you enter your anual usage in kWh including all the discounts etc. there is hardly any point in comparing unit rates alone.

Cardew

twohats wrote: »

I find it very difficult to work out if I would really be saving by changing from my current supplier to another supplier, when I am only offered a "generalised" saving figure on comparison websites.

Surely, it would be better to display the kWh prices. I know this can still be confusing when they offer standing charges or Rate A and Rate B costs. But at least you can compare the cost per kWh with your existing supplier's kWh rates which should be on your latest bills.

The lower the kWh and standing charge, the lower the bills will be for the same amount of energy.

'Confusion Marketing' is the name of the game.

As indicated in the post above, it is not just the cost per kWh and standing charge that determines the size of the bill. The discounts offered can make a big difference. For instance on EON Fix on-line8 there was a 6% discount for payment by DD, 2% for dual fuel, and 18.6% to July 2011 for on-line billing - a total of 26.6% in discounts.

twohats

twohats wrote: »

I find it very difficult to work out if I would really be saving by changing from my current supplier to another supplier, when I am only offered a "generalised" saving figure on comparison websites.

Surely, it would be better to display the kWh prices. I know this can still be confusing when they offer standing charges or Rate A and Rate B costs. But at least you can compare the cost per kWh with your existing supplier's kWh rates which should be on your latest bills.

The lower the kWh and standing charge, the lower the bills will be for the same amount of energy.

Many thanks for replying. But CARDEW put it so well "Confusion Marketing is the name of the game", which is my point. I am also not convinced that the price comparison sites offer kWh prices very readily?

However, surely it still doesn't detract from my original observation that if the costs were in kWh, it would be far easier to compare with your existing supplier. Additional discounts (i.e. DD discount, dual fuel etc|) are a BONUS and may attract people because of the added value one company would give over another.

It would be interesting to know how many people, after being told that they would SAVE say £100 per year by switching, actually saved £100?

They may save more (or not save at all), therefore my observation stands, it is a "generalisation" and not a fact. At least kWh rates are what you actually pay, companies can then offer a discount for DD, Dual fuel etc. You may already pay by DD and have a Dual Fuel rate with you existing supplier.

Has anyone found that they did or did not SAVE when switching?

Swipe

When I switch to BG websaver 5 from npower standard tariff I definitely saved over £100 and that's with low consumption.

Plushchris

twohats wrote: »

I am also not convinced that the price comparison sites offer kWh prices very readily?

Not sure what comparison sites you are using then, the main one I use offers it in two places on the results page so its not like they are hidden...

dogshome

Hi twohats - Visit the 'switchwithwhich' website and enter your use in Kwh over a year on the drop-down menu's

The site will come up with prices from all the suppliers, and when you click the 'Tariff ' icon on each one, it will come up with all the fine details, displayed alongside the details of your present suppliers tariff