British Gas: Price Cap ending & urgently need help!

sasparillo

Hi,

I'm just coming to the end of the British Gas dual fuel 2012 Price Cap and have had correspondence from British Gas regarding future options. I’ve tried to phone up and get them to explain the options but all I get is “we’ll write to you” and time is now running out. In fact, what I get is a "er, um", a silence and then "we'll write to you". So I need help!

My gas is £104.11 in debit and my electricity is £93.34 in credit.

Tariffs web page
http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/gas-and-electricity/our-energy-tariffs.html

My meter readings for about a year are as follows:

Gas
20/09/2011 Meter Read 1915 Consumption (kWh) 3277.0
25/01/2012 Meter Read 2048 Consumption (kWh) 914.0 (Estimated)
21/03/2012 Meter Read 2208 Consumption (kWh) 5042.0
19/04/2012 Meter Read 2221 Consumption (kWh) 409.0 (Estimated)
21/06/2012 Meter Read 2269 Consumption (kWh) 1493.0
18/07/2012 Meter Read 2277 Consumption (kWh) 248.0 (Estimated)
21/09/2012 Meter Read 2280 Consumption (kWh) 95.0

Electricity
10/10/2011 Meter Read 23797 Consumption (kWh) 139.0
11/10/2011 Meter Read 23804 Consumption (kWh) 7.0 (Meter Reader)
21/12/2011 Meter Read 24311 Consumption (kWh) 507.0
21/01/2012 Meter Read 24971 Consumption (kWh) 660.0 (Estimated)
21/03/2012 Meter Read 25399 Consumption (kWh) 17.0
20/04/2012 Meter Read 25399 Consumption (kWh) 411.0 (Estimated)
21/06/2012 Meter Read 25547 Consumption (kWh) 148.0
19/07/2012 Meter Read 25399 Consumption (kWh) 233.0 (Estimated)
21/09/2012 Meter Read 26053 Consumption (kWh) 273.0

As far as I can work out the options are as follows. Which do people think best for me?

Protect prices until May 2014
Fix prices from 1st October 2012 until 31st May 2014 for an average 8.9% premium on top of our current Standard bill for a typical customer consuming 3300kWh electricity and 16500kWh gas until 31st May 2014. Premium for different consumption levels, regions and payment methods vary. The equivalent premium above our new 22nd June 2012 standard standing charge tarriff (Clear & Simple) rates is fixed at 8.8%.

The tarriffs are as follows:

Clear & Simple (Variable) Simplified structure with discounts for Direct Debit and Dual Fuel customers.
What's included: £15 annual Dual Fuel discount. 6% discounted for Direct Debit customers.
Payment method: Direct Debit, Cash/Cheque, Pay As You Go
Cancellation fee: None
Average monthly cost: Gas & Electricity £99 Gas only £63 Electricity £38
Gas Direct Debit cost per unit:
Standing charge 31.096
Unit Rate 3.927.
Electricity Direct Debit cost per unit:
Standing charge 17.575
Unit Rate 11.744
Economy 7 Direct Debit cost per unit
Standing charge 17.575
Unit Rate 15.416
Night Rate 6.050

Online Variable November 2013 (Variable) 6% discount against our Clear & Simple tariff rates and online account account management mandatory.
What's included: Energy Smart included free. Free electricity monitor. £15 annual Dual Fuel discount. 6% discounted rates for Direct Debit customers.
Payment method: Direct Debit
Cancellation fee: £30 per fuel
Average Monthly Cost: Gas & electricity £93. Gas only £59 and electricity only £36.
Gas Direct Debit cost per unit:
Standing charge 29.230
Unit Rate 3.690
Electricity Direct Debit cost per unit:
Standing charge 16.520
Unit Rate 11.038
Economy 7 Direct Debit cost per unit
Standing charge 16.520
Unit Rate 14.491
Night Rate 5.686

Discount Variable November 2013(Variable) 4% discount against our Clear & Simple tariff rates.
What's included: £15 annual Dual Fuel discount. 6% discounted rates for Direct Debit customers.
Payment method: Direct Debit, Cash/Cheque
Cancellation fee: £30 per fuel
Average Monthly Cost: Gas & Electricity £95. Gas only £60. Electricity only £36.
Single rate tariff customers: Tier 1 rates apply to the first 720 kWh per year, pro rated across your billing period. All subsequent consumption is charged at Tier 2.
Gas
Tier 1 Direct Debit : 8.443
Tier 2 Direct Debit: 3.913
Electricity
Tier 1 Direct Debit : 23.700
Tier 2 Direct Debit: 11.291
Economy 7
Tier 1 Direct Debit: 27.681
Tier 2 Direct Debit: 15.272
Night Rate Direct Debit: 5.807
Electricity
Tier 1 Direct Debit: 23.700
Tier 2 Direct Debit: 11.291
Economy 7
Tier 1 Direct Debit: 27.651
Tier 2 Direct Debit: 14.272
Night Rate: 5.807

Fixed Price May 2014 (Fixed) Fix your prices until 31st May 2014 for peace of mind.
What's included: £15 annual Dual Fuel discount. 6% discounted rates for Direct Debit customers.
Payment method: Direct Debit, Cash/Cheque
Cancellation fee: £50 per fuel
Average Monthly Cost: Gas & electricity £108. Gas only £68 and electricity only £41.
Gas
Standing Charge: 33.833
Unit Rate: 4.272
Electricity
Standing Charge: 19.122
Unit Rate: 12.777
Economy 7
Standing Charge: 19.122
Unit Rate: 16.772

YoYoY

Why not consult a comparison site and check the best deal for you from the whole market, rather than just some tariffs from 1 supplier?

sasparillo

Hi Yoyo,

Thanks for your answer.

I would like to know which would be the best tariff for me with British Gas. If it's obligatory to justify myself when posting , I do get nectar points through it. I've tried contacting British Gas through their website form but get a message that its systems are down.

I pay £36 a month for electricity and £43 for gas. I'm about £10 or so in debit.

It would be great if you or someone else could help me out with the BG tariffs.