Switching headache - help please

SallyMC

Oh help! Got the email today from Southern Electric re price rises in August so started going through Martin's advice (again!) But when I go to the energy price comparison sites they don't come up with my current 'plans' so I don't know if they're comparing like for like. Does anyone know why this is and what I can do about it?

Looking through other posts I see that some of you helpful people out there have your own comparison spreadsheets - could you have a look for me.........

My postcode is BH23

Currently I am on:

Gas - Equigas General 3.820 per kWh
Past 12 month consumption 10975.20 kWh
No standing charge
Pay fixed monthly DD
Currently get paper bills but am happy to change

Electricity - General Domestic (was on equipower so will be looking into why/when that changed) 11.52p per unit
Past 12 months consumption 1311 kWh
Standing charge 13.720p per day
Pay fixed monthly DD
Currently get paper bills but again am happy to change

I am not on a fixed price plan.

We are pretty low users - does anyone know of any other competitive suppliers who 'reward' low users with a single rate rather than 2 tier?

Would really appreciate any help as I find the whole switching thing a minefield!

mrputney08

Hi, I am also a low user currently with Southern Elec and my price fix comes to and end at the end of the month. Gas use = 10785 kwh, Elec = 1112 kwh, similar to yours. Pay DD, no standing charge.

Use the links on this website to go to energyhelpline.com, have your kwh useage to hand and type in the boxes what you would be SWITCHING TO AFTER your fixed rate ends. I have found this is more realistic than typing in the plan you are currently on. Also you get cashback for switching with comparison sites on here.

Don't always go with the most savings at the outset, eg. One plan may save you £60 but this is only fixed for a year, whereas another plan might only save you £55 but this is fixed until 2014, so I'm glad I went with this one. There is currently one with Scottish Energy that doesn't save me anything BUT is fixed until 2015, with money back (for today) some people go for this, but as I'm a small user I have gone for Fixed with EDF until 2014.

For a comprehensive review of your energy it is best to go to a comparison site.

SallyMC

Thanks for your advice Mr Putney but I don't have a fixed rate plan. I have been through energyhelpline & a couple of others but as they don't allow me match/identify my current unit charge, I can't tell whether the results are correct. Hence my post.
You say you've gone with fixed with EDF - do they have a 2 tier charge as I think I would loose out.

mrputney08

SallyMC to clarify a few points:
You're with Southern Electric right?
On a plan called called equi..right?
I understand this may not appear in the drop down menu when you go to compare tariffs?
If this is what you are ending soon I don't see why you would be wanting to try and match this with a CURRENT price.
You will be needing to ring up Southern Electric and ask what the name is of the plan you'll be automatically transferred to next month with them. This will be what you should find in the drop down menu as the plan you want to compare other providers plans with to get the best deal.

Regarding rewards/incentives I don't know of any company that rewards you for low useage on their tier system, at least not that I have heard of. I considered a tariff without a standing charge although this didn't work out any cheaper for me.

mrputney08

Ahh, sorry, Equigas! I've not heard of them until today!
If they don't appear in the drop down menu then I don't know what to suggest how you would compare...Have you tried other comparison sites perhaps, or you may have to forgo these sites and do your own sums based on what other suppliers are charging per kwh and what you will be charged after weighing it all up, a bit more hassle, but..this may be the only way to do things if Equigas do not come up on the comparison list. Have you tried the Ebico comparison site.

cally6008

Ebico before
EquiGas = 4.011p per kWh
EquiPower (Electric) = 12.747p per kWh

Ebico after price increase on 14th September 2011
EquiGas = 4.788p per kWh
EquiPower (Electric) = 14.784p per kWh(north west area)
(prices capped until at least march 2012)

SallyMC

Thanks all - getting nearer to my questions.
I have, as suggested, started working out the comparisons manually from the comparison sites - laborious but the only way to strip the prices down I suspect.
I'm not sure where the 4.11 hkw comes from - even with VAT inc I pay 3.99 for gas - this is the problem. It's not the detail (0.12p pkw difference as per above) it's the principle that unless the comparison sites are comparing like with like - they can't be relied upon and tedious checking must take place......... which I would have to do anyway if I wasn't using a comparison site! Ugh, I guess that's why so many of us stay put and pay whatever for our utilities.

SallyMC

I'm not ending - it's an everyday price not a lock-in.