Energy: compare or invest?

tgon

I think it’s incredibly difficult to determine cheapest energy prices faced with the complexities of new/changing/defunct deals, now with added tie-ins and endless caveats. The comparison sites seem only able to work with static data but the complexity of the energy market on “ordinary” consumers might be better served by sensible advise (what ever that is). Perhaps these comparrison sites have had their day...

Do independent advisors exist? Ones that use their knowledge and analysis of the consumer energy market to recommend the most reliable service and most economical products to purchase energy with greater certainty and reduced risk or is the noise and clutter of today's energy market-stalls hiding them away?

dogshome

Hi tgon - Hmmm. What you appear to be looking for is the Utility equavilent of a Financial Advisor.

As far as I am aware these don't exist in the Domestic market, which is probably just as well as like the Financial variety, they need paying either by a Fee or Commision and history is littered with FA's who have given less than best advise - All those poor souls who ended up with money in Equitable Life, did so because they took the advice of a professional.

The name of the game is to do the homework and take charge of your own destiny

penrhyn

How much would you be prepared to pay your independent utility advisor for their advise, £50 /hour, £400/hour?

tgon

I guess I did have the equivalent IFA type in mind. Commission or fee I dont know. My main point was that a with so many products on the market its really hard to pick the right one for me as comparison sites are only good on the day you use them. Its getting like the mobile phone market where looking for a product and tariff is so complicated (but at least has a "trendy" hook to exploit).

I guess I'm looking to balance expert opinion alongside comparative data - I just cant find expert opinion anywhere.

Pincher

You mean the ones that ring up and say:

"Good evening, I'm an independent energy adviser.
We are not affiliated to any energy company, so I can recommend any deal that is best for you, and pays the highest kickback to me, oops, Freudian slip."

dogshome

Hi tgon - There very few certainties in life, but the one sure bet is that Utility bills will be going uP

I personally deal with this by taking the consumption on each Qtly bill, and adding it to that on the previous 3
By then adjusting this total to 365 days by adding or subtracting the daily consumption on the last bill, I can hit the Switch sites every three months with my true annual consumption.

Overall it's a pain in the butt, but 'Trust' is now just a word in the dictionary and I reckon that the falling attendances at Football matches is all down to the fans staying at home to check thier Utility Bills