Best supplier for low usage customer

dogshome

With Annual Elec of 1,900 Kwh & Gas of 11,000, Dual Fuel tariffs are a questionable proposition for you.

It is worthwhile entering each individual fuel into the Switchsites to get a price for each one - I suspect that Ebico will win hands down for the ELEC, whilst the GAS would be up for grabs from any supplier.
Before leaping into bed with FU, it would be as well to read the customer blogs on this supplier

pixiechick_2

macman wrote: »

Use a comp site-much easier.

Duh!

I've used every comparison site going (like I did when I switched last time and like I do every year for car and house insurance!)

I just find all the different tariffs etc very confusing - and this is from a highly educated person.

Thanks dogshome- looking at individual suppliers for gas and electric was the next job on my to-do list.

I'd never heard of Ebico until I looked on these this board yesterday. Are they a good supplier?

I'd never heard of 1st Utility either until I did the comparison's but something just didn't seem right to me. I have a feeling that they've set the prices low for the first 3 months just to be first on the list when doing comparisons and when the first 3 months are up, the prices will probably rise dramatically.

macman

pixiechick wrote: »

Duh!

I've used every comparison site going (like I did when I switched last time and like I do every year for car and house insurance!)

I just find all the different tariffs etc very confusing - and this is from a highly educated person.

Thanks dogshome- looking at individual suppliers for gas and electric was the next job on my to-do list.

I'd never heard of Ebico until I looked on these this board yesterday. Are they a good supplier?

I'd never heard of 1st Utility either until I did the comparison's but something just didn't seem right to me. I have a feeling that they've set the prices low for the first 3 months just to be first on the list when doing comparisons and when the first 3 months are up, the prices will probably rise dramatically.

Where are you getting this info from? FU have only 2 online tariffs. One is a fix until 3/13, the other is a variable tariff-no mention of a 3 month initial fix that I can see.

jalexa

pixiechick wrote: »

:(Duh!:(

I've used every comparison site going ...

I just find all the different tariffs etc very confusing...

Still can't see the problem. All Consumer Focus accredited comparison websites give consistent results in accordance with the tariff small-print. You are one of a minority posters who know their actual consumption and can therefore do an accurate comparison.

You are right to be wary of tariffs at the top of the comparison table by virtue of one or more "gotchas" such as "deferred discount":eek:.

Consider transferring at maturity to Scottish Power Online Fixed Price Energy July 2013 Dual Fuel. That would save you approximately 8% on your current costs fixed over the next winter. And no deferred discount:).

HappyMJ

pixiechick wrote: »

Duh!

I've used every comparison site going (like I did when I switched last time and like I do every year for car and house insurance!)

I just find all the different tariffs etc very confusing - and this is from a highly educated person.

Thanks dogshome- looking at individual suppliers for gas and electric was the next job on my to-do list.

I'd never heard of Ebico until I looked on these this board yesterday. Are they a good supplier?

I'd never heard of 1st Utility either until I did the comparison's but something just didn't seem right to me. I have a feeling that they've set the prices low for the first 3 months just to be first on the list when doing comparisons and when the first 3 months are up, the prices will probably rise dramatically.

first:utility charge a higher rate throughout the 12 months and then give you some money back...It's a deferred discount. It's also one of the highest discounts but you must keep to the T's and C's to get it and you can only leave first:utility once you have got it otherwise you will lose it. If they raise the rates you can leave but you won't get your discount so you could potentially be trapped into paying higher than market rates for the remainder of the 12 months.

Ebico is fine but you really must be a very low user. I don't think that your usage levels are low enough. When I do a comparison using your figures they rank quite poorly.

You also must be careful with Npower (it appears second in my list) as it also has a deferred discount but not as much as first:utility.

pixiechick_2

macman wrote: »

Where are you getting this info from? FU have only 2 online tariffs. One is a fix until 3/13, the other is a variable tariff-no mention of a 3 month initial fix that I can see.

On confused.com:

Supplier first:utility
Tariff name iSave V10 Dual Fuel
Tariff type Internet
Details
Smart meter not required
No cancellation fees
The prices advertised will be held for a minimum of 3 months from sign up
No minimum contract period
Monthly Direct Debit customers only
Choose to manage your account online or add paper bills for £1 per month
13% dual fuel discount (capped at £80 inc VAT for electricity, £100 inc VAT for gas) applied in your 11th month after consecutive direct debit payments and a minimum £600 spend
You must pass First Utility's credit vetting procedure before you go on supply

macman

Thanks, yes you are correct, though it's buried in their T&C's. They can't 'automatically' put your prices up after 3 months though, because people are reaching that cut-off point on every day of the year. They are simply offering a variable tariff with a cap for the first 3 months.

jalexa

pixiechick wrote: »

On confused.com:

That's a "deferred discount":eek: tariff. Beware "deferred discount" tariffs if you do not undertstand the circumstances you could forfeit the discount. Typically tariffs from First Utility and NPower feature "deferred discount":eek:.

HappyMJ

pixiechick wrote: »

13% dual fuel discount (capped at £80 inc VAT for electricity, £100 inc VAT for gas) applied in your 11th month after consecutive direct debit payments and a minimum £600 spend

As a low user you should be aiming to spend less than £600 a year. If you spend £599 you will not get any discount at all. Depending on the timing of the bills you are taking quite a big risk as it could come in at under £600 this year then next year be a bit more than £600. Also, if the consecutive direct debit payments are not made you also lose the discount.

LittleMissAspie

I find Scottish Power, Ovo and Ebico to be the cheapest (£500 a year user). But Ebico don't do any fixed periods. Ovo fix their price for a year and have standing charges. Scottish Power, well I spent ages looking through all their tariff PDFs and working out the cheapest one. I just switched to the May 2013 no standing charge fix. It was the same price as Ovo but I was already with Scottish Power anyway.