Please help with Scottish Power tariffs, confused!

aligerdie

Hi all,

I've spent the last hour working out the costs of our gas & electric with Scottish Powers different tariffs.

I've used last years figures of 9697 kWh of gas & 6314kWh of electric.

After all this, the Discounted Energy tariff has come out significantly cheaper than the other tariffs (by nearly £200!), although the fixed saver is close.

My question is, what are the benefits to going on a standing charge tariff as oppose to non standing charge? Is it better to fix at the mo? And is there any catch with the discounted tariff?

We're a family of 6, I'm home all day & the washer is on alot! I know our readings are high, I am trying to address this with the family & they're getting better slowly! Gas can't be reduced too much in the winter as DD2 has cerebral palsy & needs warmth. I have also cut down water heater usage alot.

Sorry for what seem like simple questions, my head is spinning with figures & my husband has left it to me again!

Any advice would be welcome

ETA: We're currently on the monthly cash payment plan, as of tomorrow, when our prepayment meters are taken out.

irnbru_2

aligerdie wrote: »

After all this, the Discounted Energy tariff has come out significantly cheaper than the other tariffs (by nearly £200!), although the fixed saver is close.

My question is, what are the benefits to going on a standing charge tariff as oppose to non standing charge? Is it better to fix at the mo?

Low usage shouldn't have standing charge.

On my usage it was about £5 of a difference across the year.

How close is the fixed? And to when?

aligerdie wrote: »

And is there any catch with the discounted tariff?

Obviously the price can change but you get 30 (?) days notice to allow you to switch.

aligerdie wrote: »

We're a family of 6, I'm home all day & the washer is on alot! I know our readings are high, I am trying to address this with the family & they're getting better slowly!

Your Gas is way below average and electricity double it. A family of 6 is hardly average though.

For the record I'm in mid-switch to OES15 with SP.

irnbru_2

In my region it's about £1200 for OES16 with NSC for your usage.

victor2

With a standing charge you pay a fixed amount per day regardless of your usage plus a set amount for each kWh of gas or electricity you use.
If there's no standing charge, you pay a higher rate for the first specified number of kWh you use then a lower rate for anything after that. Unless you have long periods of very low usage, you can equate the two-tier rate to a standing charge and everything at the secondary rate. So, let a comparison site give you the cost for the different tariffs as it doesn't look like you have a time when your gas usage is zero for example.
As for fixed rates, you usually pay more at first, but if variable rates have increased by the end of the contracted period, you can be ahead of the game. It's a bit of a gamble, but another benefit is that you know how much you'll be paying per kWh for the duration. You could lose out if prices fall, but I haven't seen that yet!

irnbru_2

aligerdie wrote: »

I have also cut down water heater usage alot.

Is your hot water heated via electric?

aligerdie

Thank you all for your replies, I'll try & answer your questions now - not sure how to multi quote so bear with me!

Irnbru - Our water heated by the boiler- I've cut it down to 10 minutes in the morning & not noticed the difference. It goes on for 10minutes before the kids bath too, a few nights aweek.
The fixed saver is £14pa more expensive for electric & £7 per year for gas, so not a huge difference. Its fixed until 31 march 2013.
I'm surprised our gas is below average! It's on constant during the winter, with the thermostat at 16C.

Thank you Victor2, your post makes alot more sense than the scottish power website! Looks like fixed may be the way to go...

aligerdie

irnbru wrote: »

In my region it's about £1200 for OES16 with NSC for your usage.

On the discounted energy tariff it works out at £1220 for both. We're
in area 14.

I've just realised I've missed the online saver 16, looking at the tariff prices briefly it's going to be even cheaper than the discounted tariff.

Can't believe I've missed that! If you hadn''t mentioned it I wouldn't have checked, thank you!!