Why the Fix ?

Gerrard_8_lfc

Many people on here are jumping about like headless chickens trying to pick which fix they should go for. SSE have announced no further rises until at least Aug next year and with energy suppliers being like sheep they will no doubt all be the same.

maybe you should think about taking advantage of a cheaper variable tariff rather than an expensive fixed price deal. I did

I opted for SP Direct 2012 which I am happy with now seeing whats gone on.

brewerdave

...BUT after all of them have whacked 15-18% on their variable tariffs then fixes like EDF 2014 will only be a smidgeon above best variable (for me anyway!) ..and a guarantee til next August isn't worth much when it won't cover the following two Winters which the EDF tariff does.

keith1950

Hi Gerrard , I take your point and agree that some people are just 'jumping like headless chickens ' however with carefull research and the correct timing a cap or fix can sometimes be of value.

Two months ago I spent time researching an eventually swiched to Npower Go Fix5 for electricity and EON Age uk price protection April 2013 for gas.

These tariffs have now been replaced for new customers by higher priced tariffs, however when using the comparison sites, on my consumption figures, they are now showing as the cheapest tariffs even though 3 of the big 6 suppliers have yet to increase prices.

It's all about the premium you pay for fixing weighed against the expected rise in prices. I appear to have timed it right, some will be jumping like 'headless chickens' and actually end up paying lots more.

You would seem to have properly researched and picked a good tariff and will only find out if it was the right decision or not when SP next alter their prices either up or down.

On 'my consumption figures' my tariffs show as only £25/year cheaper than yours but one is fixed and one is capped so could, ' theoretically' go down.

I also got £25 +£20 cashback , so at present I am happy, but only time will tell if I got it right.

StevieJ

And Liverpool are going to win the league this year

fonejacker77

so sse have announced they may have a 3rd rise within 18 months (dec 2010, sept 2011 and aug 2012) and you think its wise to wait to fix or not fix at all?????

Newcroft

Yes, the term, 'headless chickens' is indeed appropriate. That's what the big six bank on. They decide - and the brainless wonders follow. We are as predictable as day and night.

Just as politicians and a certain newspaper (NoTW) have been found out, measures will eventually expose the utility providers for what they really are. Until that day arrives, I am not going to be intimidated every so often. They can shove their hundreds (or is it thousands) of confusing tariffs, which, let's be honest, are deliberately intended to confuse the punters. Otherwise, we would be able to see which company was the cheapest (and they don't want us to see that; do they?).

Shifting sands! Playing us like idiots.

I will stick with my present provider and, as always, carefully watch my consumption of gas and electricity - and keep the necessary records. That way, I won't be conned - and know to the penny what I should be paying.

Pincher

Didn't we already have some price rises this year?

I don't think there is any fundamental shortage of oil and gas in the world, in the short term any way. The Qatari maintenance work is over, so gas supply is resuming through tankers.

We do have speculators pushing the prices up. So obviously we should round up Goldman Sachs executives and force them to disclose their futures contract positions.

We then throw them into an arena, where angry low income people can chop them up for fire wood, after freezing pensioners gave them a piece of their mind. The talk will be so mind numbingly tedious, I'm sure the lynching will be quite a relief for them.

So I'm on a variable rate, E.On SaveOnline 8. As soon as we lynched the executeives, the prices will come down.

cifpower

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

Many people on here are jumping about like headless chickens trying to pick which fix they should go for. SSE have announced no further rises until at least Aug next year and with energy suppliers being like sheep they will no doubt all be the same.

maybe you should think about taking advantage of a cheaper variable tariff rather than an expensive fixed price deal. I did

I opted for SP Direct 2012 which I am happy with now seeing whats gone on.

I was on Online Saver 11 with Scottish Power but switched to the Capped June 2013 tariff which has now been removed. The Direct 2012 tariff works out at £53pa more expensive. I wanted the peace of mind that my cost will be basically fixed for two winters.

Gerrard_8_lfc

cifpower wrote: »

I was on Online Saver 11 with Scottish Power but switched to the Capped June 2013 tariff which has now been removed. The Direct 2012 tariff works out at £53pa more expensive. I wanted the peace of mind that my cost will be basically fixed for two winters.

I see your thinking however the cheapest fix for me was EDF v2 and that was an extra £80 on top of EDF's increase to OS7 and £180 more for the 2014 version and they were the cheapest.

SP Direct saved me £80 compared to what I would have been paying EDF after the increase in my tariff.

As for all other fixes they were even more expensive than EDF's.

Gerrard_8_lfc

keith1950 wrote: »

Hi Gerrard , I take your point and agree that some people are just 'jumping like headless chickens ' however with carefull research and the correct timing a cap or fix can sometimes be of value.

Two months ago I spent time researching an eventually swiched to Npower Go Fix5 for electricity and EON Age uk price protection April 2013 for gas.

These tariffs have now been replaced for new customers by higher priced tariffs, however when using the comparison sites, on my consumption figures, they are now showing as the cheapest tariffs even though 3 of the big 6 suppliers have yet to increase prices.

It's all about the premium you pay for fixing weighed against the expected rise in prices. I appear to have timed it right, some will be jumping like 'headless chickens' and actually end up paying lots more.

You would seem to have properly researched and picked a good tariff and will only find out if it was the right decision or not when SP next alter their prices either up or down.

On 'my consumption figures' my tariffs show as only £25/year cheaper than yours but one is fixed and one is capped so could, ' theoretically' go down.

I also got £25 +£20 cashback , so at present I am happy, but only time will tell if I got it right.

Hi Keith your choices seem to be a good choice. you have the benefit of having a slight cheaper tariff than myself on both fuels with the knowledge of know your prices wont rise.

My dilemma was that OS7 was an almost unbeatable tariiff it came with £180 Free the the second cheapest rates on the market at the time, People on the tariff did not get passed the earlier 7% increase that EDF announce earlier in the year. So unlike yourself I was not looking at tariffs like yours because all tariff were "more expensive".

StevieJ

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

I see your thinking however the cheapest fix for me was EDF v2 and that was an extra £80 on top of EDF's increase to OS7 and £180 more for the 2014 version and they were the cheapest.

SP Direct saved me £80 compared to what I would have been paying EDF after the increase in my tariff.

As for all other fixes they were even more expensive than EDF's.

I assume SP direct is Scottish Power and OS7 is EDF. I am currently with SP and EDF 2014 is cheaper for me than any of the Scottish Power tariffs, so how does SP save you £80?