Sorry for this but another Switching Energy Supplier question!

frothy-coffee_2

Hi,
I'm confused....

I'm currently on EDF's dual fuel standard variable tariff (no contract). I want to switch and vistited a price comparison site, here are my results.

http://www.energyhelpline.com/cashbackmse/fri/Domesticenergy/Domestic/Results?Id=b27367d7-7faf-4478-b182-a0e300ff1385&PostCode=GU15%204DZ&RegionCode=11&CurrentGasTariffId=529137&CurrentElectricityTariffId=490846&CompareGas=True&CompareElec=True&GasUsageUnknown=False&ElecUsageUnknown=False&GasProfileOrigin=UserInputKWh&ElecProfileOrigin=UserInputKWh&CurElecSpendPeriod=PerYear&CurElecUse=1650.00000000&CurElecUsePeriod=PerYear&CurElecEconomy7=False&CurElecEconomy7Usage=0.55&CurGasSup=83&CurGasSupTariff=261&CurGasPayMthd=1&CurGasSpendPeriod=PerYear&CurGasUse=1650.00000000&CurGasUsePeriod=PerYear&ComparisonType=GasAndElectricity&PrefRadioSelector=None&AllTariffs=AllTariffs&SortByPrice=ExpectedSaving&SecSortByPrice=ExpectedSaving&FuturePayMthd=1&ClientHasJavaScript=False&CurElecSup=83&CurElecSupTariff=261&CurElecPayMthd=1&SupplyType=DualGasAndElectricity&SimpleGasUsageLevel=Medium&SimpleElecUsageLevel=Medium&ShowAll=False&Skip=0&Page=0&SecShowAll=False&SecSkip=0&FutureGasTariffId=528100&FutureElectricityTariffId=483182&IsCustomerInputComplete=False&ProRataPreference=True&AgentId=107&FRIPrivacyPreference_ReceiveMarketing=False&CalcCurGasUsage=1650.00000000&CalcCurElecUsage=1650.00000000&SavingsThreshold=0&CurrentTotalSpendPerAnum=383.08121250&CurrentGasSpendPerAnum=134.74245750&CurrentElectricitySpendPerAnum=248.33875500&ExpectedSavings=95.24082750&EstimatedSavingsPercentage=0.24861785&SwitchId=0&CharityUrlIdentity=fri&AutomaticResultsEmailRequested=False

According to the results it doesn't look like I'd benefit from fixing?

Would you fix, or wait until the price hikes come in and then opt for the cheapest variable rate?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

penrhyn

Your consumption figures seem very low, are you only paying £30 a month for both fuels? I don't believe you use the same amount of gas as electricity.
You should enter the actual annual usage figures in Kwh.

Bark01

You could fix on EDF blue for £2 more than you are currently paying and then if something cheaper comes out EDF will tell you and also allow to switch for free.

victor2

You'll probably not benefit from fixing in the short term, but with the unit price fixed until the end of the tariff, you'll almost certainly be paying less than on a variable tariff by then.
Fixing is a personal choice really. You take a small gamble that you'll be financialy ahead in the long run, but also have the comfort of knowing what price per unit you'll be paying over at least one winter, when usage is typically significantly higher than in the summer.
As the price hikes come in, the rates for the fixed tariffs will doubtless increase too. If prices fall (you never know....), you could lose out on a fixed tariff, which is when you might want to consider the exit cost on a particular tariff.

frothy-coffee_2

penrhyn wrote: »

Your consumption figures seem very low, are you only paying £30 a month for both fuels? I don't believe you use the same amount of gas as electricity.
You should enter the actual annual usage figures in Kwh.

They are genuine consumption figures, I photograph the meter readings around the start of every October. I just rounded the numbers up/down for convenience because I don't always take the photo on exactly the same day each year.

Wywth

1650Kwh p.a of gas? My pilot light probably consumes that alone.
(I know not everyone has a pilot light, but I'm just saying)

If 1650 is the difference in gas meter readings taken a year apart, remember you have to convert that into kWh

Wywth

If your gas usage is correct, then you may want to fix your electric only and sign up to Ebico for some cheap gas

victor2

Wywth wrote: »

1650Kwh p.a of gas? My pilot light probably consumes that alone.
(I know not everyone has a pilot light, but I'm just saying)

If 1650 is the difference in gas meter readings taken a year apart, remember you have to convert that into kWh

That is indeed very close to what my aged boiler's pilot light uses in a year!
If your meter is metric that that comes out to something around 18,000 kWh in a year - a much more believable figure, assuming you have gas heating.

macman

It's not fixing that's important, it's what rate you fix at. Not all fixes are equal.
As above, it appears that you are treating gas meter units as kWh units-they must be converted.

Wywth

I do hope the OP is correct in that they do only consume 1650kWh p.a. gas because I guess they are happily paying £30 a month presently for their gas & electricity.

If my hopes are dashed, and the OP switches supplier, they could find themselves faced with a whopping £600 bill to pay immediately :eek:

Even if they don't switch, I fear their current monthly DD payment will soon raise from the current £30 p.m. to a whopping £100+ p.m. :eek: (at least for the next year whilst the shortfall is recovered)

I don't think either will be easy for the OP to handle based on their previous posts.

However, I do think this should be sorted out sooner rather than later. Hopefully the OP is checking the situation presently ... and will return shortly to update us all

penrhyn

frothy-coffee wrote: »

They are genuine consumption figures, I photograph the meter readings around the start of every October. I just rounded the numbers up/down for convenience because I don't always take the photo on exactly the same day each year.

Did you convert the gas readings to KWh?