Unit electricty and gas prices

JasX

victor2 wrote: »

In addition to the almost endless variety of pricing and discount structures applied to different areas of the country, is the calorific value of gas,

shouldn't come into it if you've already converted from metered units to Kwh based on historic useage..... will have already been accounted for.

macman

I reckon the OP should finish their database around next Easter, which is probably when the next round of price changes will be announced...:D

KimYeovil

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

I have been looking on each supplier's website, but didn't find what I was looking for (unit costs like I get in my statements) hence I thought I'd ask a sane question on a reputable website.

You are correct that, rather tiresomely, most suppliers hide them. But they are there.

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

You never know, there may be a single site that lists this.

Yes. They are called comparison sites. For example, uswitch or energyhelpline or switchwithwhich etcetera

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

What was and still does worry me is that I'm asked to put in proxies into these comparison sites, not my actual usage that I read on the meter.

I have no idea what this means. In what way do comparison sites not allow you to enter your useage?

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

Hence I was hoping for a grown up discussion about alternatives -- but he invective's fine; what do I care?

You're welcome.

t0rt0ise

Maybe the OP likes the mental exercise. Best place to find the unit prices is on the comparison sites. Trouble is you then feel daft for not actually reading the result they give you.

Money_Saving_Dude

You bet I do. I used the comparison sites to switch last month -- a 'please don't leave' letter arrived from npower just this morning.

The intention of my original question was to determine whether someone had looked at collating the raw prices. I don't trust anything unless I know how it works. And I have meter readings going back years, so I want a methodology that lets me work with this data to let me independently calculate the best deal, then I can be sure I'm getting the cheapest energy.

I went with npower (from a previous comparison switch) just to find my bills had gone up. Before all this privatisation nonsense it was dead easy, but now it is so (deliberately?) complicated, all I want to do is take back control. And being able to scrape the data off websites is just part of that.

After all, why should I trust a comparison website? If there is something in it for someone it's likely not best for me.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I was trying to help you at half five this morning, see post 8, and as said you will just have to trawl.

Though when you have collated all the data, I'm sure others will appreciate all your hard work.

victor2

When my tariffs have been ending, I've found the best way to look at the options is to get the recommended ones from the comparison sites and apply the published rates to my most recent bills. That is relatively easy to do in a spreadsheet, you just have to consider standing charges (if any), primary and secondary rates (if there are two), the switchover point between them, discounts, any caps on discounts (which some do have) and finally VAT (which it is hard to avoid ).
Don't forget to compare the recommended ones against your current providers new rates as well so it's as close as you can be to comparing apples with apples.

t0rt0ise

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

The intention of my original question was to determine whether someone had looked at collating the raw prices. I don't trust anything unless I know how it works. And I have meter readings going back years, so I want a methodology that lets me work with this data to let me independently calculate the best deal, then I can be sure I'm getting the cheapest energy.

And as several of us have tried to say, the unit prices are listed on the comparison site so you don't have to trawl the web for them. You don't have to believe what the comparison site tells you about your own usage but the unit prices will be accurate and available there for you to do your own calculations.

Premier_2

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

I ask because I want the *raw* data to allow me to decide which is the lowest value. ...

Why try to reinvent the wheel?
The comparison sites already do this for you.

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

...
So back to my original question -- where do I get this raw data?

If you want to double check the comparison site (and you don't want to do that by using another comparison site that coincidentally gives the same result), the comparison site usually provides the raw data that the quote is based on.

Or you could contact the supplier or perhaps look at their website to confirm the details