Looking to switch soon

Mr_Soft

I'm looking to switch soon. My usage is low, 5913 kWh for gas and 2452 kWh for electricity over the past year. The comparison sites are showing first:utility as the cheapest, but I don't know anything about them or know anyone who uses them. This is also a variable rate, whereas all the next five are fixed rate before reverting to variable again.

What are the opinions of the board whether I should go for fixed or variable? Is the price of gas and electric likely to drop over the next year or so?

victor2

I've always favoured fixed rates so that I know what I'll be paying for the duration of the contract. The recent increases/decreases were in round numbers a 15% increase followed by a much publicised 5% decrease, so I'm still ahead, having fixed last year before the increases. But anyone who fixed just after the increases might not be so happy.
There's no indication of a price change in the short term, so it won't hurt to go on a variable contract (with no cancellation penalty) and look at fixing later in the year.

macman

Lot of negatives about FU on here, just do a forum search. Which rated them the worst of the independents for CS.
No one has a clue what will happen to prices. If we did, we'd all jump the same way.
A fix is not intended to be the cheapest-you are buying insurance, so you pay a premium.

Mr_Soft

After FU (£596) I have various fixed price option deals between £607 and £620 (edf, nPower, Sainsburys and SP) before the next cheapest variable which is UW Low at £632. They also get bad press on here. What to do?