which electric tariff to use with solar panels

macman

keith_r59 wrote: »

I didn't expect not to, just stating how expensive it was when compared to the major suppliers.

Maybe that is why it has so few customers.

As I already pointed out, their New Energy rate is exactly the same price as the regional supplier's Standard rate.
http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/for-your-home/check-our-prices
So for the 80%-ish of the population still on Standard, they're no more expensive at all.
It's only the New Energy Plus tariff (100% green) that is more expensive.
Remember that MSE users are not typical of the general population!

thenudeone

keith_r59 wrote: »

I have just gone on to the Ecotricity site to compare energy prices and you certainly pay a premium for going green.

I am in the process of switching to loco2 (http://www.loco2energy.com/) whose 100% renewables Pocket+ tariff is about the same cost for me as Scottish Power's standard "dirty" tariff:)

keith_r59

macman wrote: »

As I already pointed out, their New Energy rate is exactly the same price as the regional supplier's Standard rate.
http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/for-your-home/check-our-prices
So for the 80%-ish of the population still on Standard, they're no more expensive at all.
It's only the New Energy Plus tariff (100% green) that is more expensive.
Remember that MSE users are not typical of the general population!

Out of interest, where do you get this 80%-ish of the population still on Standard figure and I thought MSE stood for 'Money Saving Expert'.

Paying the standard tariff doesn't save you money now does it?

macman

Perhaps someone else can come up with the source for this, but I recall reading that an estimated 80% of the households in the UK have not switched suppliers in the last 10 years. MSE users will be energy savvy: the bulk of the UK population are not.
So in answer to your question, millions of people are still on Standard.

zeupater

macman wrote: »

Perhaps someone else can come up with the source for this, but I recall reading that an estimated 80% of the households in the UK have not switched suppliers in the last 10 years. MSE users will be energy savvy: the bulk of the UK population are not.
So in answer to your question, millions of people are still on Standard.

Hi

You'll probably find that most people who would use a resource such as MSE and would be aware of energy switching and the benefits of lower tariffs would have the same type of mindset as ones who would be environmentally aware. This would lead me to the conclusion that most with solar pv would not be on a standard tariff. However, strangely enough, more expensive 'standard' tariffs are exactly what the installers use in order to calculate potential energy savings ... I wonder why that is :whistle::silenced:

HTH
Z

noncom_2

keith_r59 wrote: »

Who uses the standard tariff any more? Ecotricity is over a third more expensive than the tariff I am on so I think you would have to be seriously 'green' to want to use them.

All depends on your perspective.

Let's suppose you consume an "average" amount of electricity (3300 units) in a year.

In my area, Ecotricity's tariff would cost £520. You say you can find a tariff a third cheaper than that, so that would be £346, a saving of £174 per year, or a little less than £15 per month.

Having said that, Ecotricity claim to spend £430 of my £520 building new energy sources. nPower would spend £10.72 of your £346 doing the same.

OK, so in order to make this contribution to the country's future energy provision I need to find an extra £15 per month (actually less than this, because our household of 5 people uses less than average electricity).

So, instead of a £30 a month smartphone contract, I have an older phone and a £6 SIM only deal, instead of Sky or cable I have Freeview..... I could go on, but my point is not to sound self-righteous, there are plenty of things I spend selfishly which maybe I could do more good with.

Even if I thought of the extra £174 per year paid to Ecotricity as a "charitable donation" (which they would then manage to turn by magic into £430 spent on new investment) then it still seems like a good deal.

I don't regard myself as particularly Green, tbh. I should do more. But saving a relatively small amount of money by ignoring the pressing need for increasing the mix of clean energy in the UK grid seems like a false economy.

keith_r59

noncom wrote: »

All depends on your perspective.

Let's suppose you consume an "average" amount of electricity (3300 units) in a year.

In my area, Ecotricity's tariff would cost £520. You say you can find a tariff a third cheaper than that, so that would be £346, a saving of £174 per year, or a little less than £15 per month.

Having said that, Ecotricity claim to spend £430 of my £520 building new energy sources. nPower would spend £10.72 of your £346 doing the same.

OK, so in order to make this contribution to the country's future energy provision I need to find an extra £15 per month (actually less than this, because our household of 5 people uses less than average electricity).

So, instead of a £30 a month smartphone contract, I have an older phone and a £6 SIM only deal, instead of Sky or cable I have Freeview..... I could go on, but my point is not to sound self-righteous, there are plenty of things I spend selfishly which maybe I could do more good with.

Even if I thought of the extra £174 per year paid to Ecotricity as a "charitable donation" (which they would then manage to turn by magic into £430 spent on new investment) then it still seems like a good deal.

I don't regard myself as particularly Green, tbh. I should do more. But saving a relatively small amount of money by ignoring the pressing need for increasing the mix of clean energy in the UK grid seems like a false economy.

The best energy tariffs are dual fuel so you would also see a big increase in your gas prices if you switched electricity to Ecotricity.

Anyway, it's up to each individual to decide how they want to spend their money so there is no right or wrong, unless you look at it solely from a money saving angle that is.:)

macman

No necessarily correct-Ecotricity also offer a green gas tariff now.
And dual fuel is not always cheaper anyway.

keith_r59

macman wrote: »

No necessarily correct-Ecotricity also offer a green gas tariff now.
And dual fuel is not always cheaper anyway.

Ecotricty gas and electric combined are over a third more expensive than the current dual fuel tariff that I am on.

I'm afraid it doesn't matter which way you look at it you pay a hefty premium for using 'green' energy. As I said, it's not wrong but it definitely doesn't class you as a 'money saving expert'.

noncom_2

Agreed, you pay a premium for using a Genuine Green supplier, instead of a Greenwashed tariff from one of the big six, or simply going for the cheapest.

I disagree that my decision disqualifies me from being a Money Saving Expert, as your post implies. (Although I don't claim to be one, but I do use this site a lot to help save money where appropriate)

Surely "Expert" implies knowledge, not a particular course of action. I know enough about fuel tariffs to understand that Clean energy costs more, and that I could save maybe around £150 per year by adopting another deal. However, I am a human being with broader interests and concerns than simply saving money, and so decide in this instance not to do so.

How many of the "Money Saving Experts" here have an iPhone or a Galaxy S2 simply because they're fantastic? How many people have Sky or Cable? How many drive the most fuel efficient car, instead of the one they liked best?

For me, the Money Saving Expert website is about us all becoming more informed about choices we can make as consumers to avoid over-paying for things. Paying more from one supplier or manufacturer for a product which can be had cheaper elsewhere is what this site should help us to avoid. Paying more for something because I decide it is better or more desirable than something cheaper is entirely different.