Converting dual rate electricity to single rate ?

capirex065

Hello, this may have been covered before? But, how to you compare prices for an electricity bill which uses a dual rate meter (this includes Economy 7 night rate as well) to move onto a single rate meter.

Do i add the night rate units onto the first kw/h units and compare to the new first rate units, or do i add the night units onto the second kw/h rate units and compare to the new first rate.... or none of the above?

many thanks.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I would add day and night units together, try to get annual consumption if possible, then calculate for new tariff, primary/secondary units.

macman

Use any comp site, once with the E7 split and then again with the total on a single rate tariff.

capirex065

Thanks for advice.... the problem with comparison sites is you can't see the detail of actual numbers (unit prices etc) and you have to 'trust' their computer model to come up with a saving figure...

Doing my sums now based on an annual consumption with 19% E7 usage it would appear that still using E7 works out cheaper...!

macman

capirex065 wrote: »

Thanks for advice.... the problem with comparison sites is you can't see the detail of actual numbers (unit prices etc) and you have to 'trust' their computer model to come up with a saving figure...

Doing my sums now based on an annual consumption with 19% E7 usage it would appear that still using E7 works out cheaper...!

Yes you can, just click on the tariff and it will give you all the unit rate details. You cannot compare on unit rates alone as it excludes all the other variables, such as standing charges, DD discounts, loyalty bonuses, different 1st and 2nd tier levels etc...
If you feed the comp sites proper data (annual kWh usage, not DD amounts) then they will give accurate results.

capirex065

..Ok i see now that there is all the tariff info.. Would you suggest basing figures on historical bill info for the last year or, go on projected figures (Kw/h) given by current supplier to enter into the comparison sites?

Many thanks.

macman

Well, obviously better to base it on actual past usage, unless there is a reason for you to think that your usage will change much.
Your annual statement should show both.
Always use kWh and not monthly DD amounts.

Wywth

capirex065 wrote: »

..Ok i see now that there is all the tariff info.. Would you suggest basing figures on historical bill info for the last year or, go on projected figures (Kw/h) given by current supplier to enter into the comparison sites?

Many thanks.

Is there any significant difference?

If so, only can can know if there is any reason your usage for the past 12 months will vary much in the forthcoming 12 months.

capirex065

The projected figures are 1000kw/h per year more for electricity and the gas is projected at being 6000kw/h per year more. This is not clear why? My current supplier bases all future quotes on these figures and not historical ones.

Because of the pain of quarterly billing instead of monthly, its hard to get an exact 12 month set of figures. (my latest quarterly bill isn't produced yet) so i took figures from 17/2/11 to 3/1/12. Also nothing shows what percentage economy 7 usage you have had on your bill, so again you have to do a guesstimate set of sums to come up with it... and despite everyone i have spoke to at energy companies who claim that if you aren't using at least 50% E7 its not worth it, all the deals i have inputed into these comparison sites suggest that with less than 20% E7 usage i am still better off keeping it.

The whole process would be made easier if you had monthly bills and figures to work with, like everything else..

Any way thanks for advice. It looks like staying with Scottish Power on their fixed rate april 2014 deal, is the best deal, and will wait and see what energy prices do in the next 18 months or so!

macman

That period can be pro-rat'a'd to 365 days, it's near enough for comp site purposes, though you might weight it a bit more, as the missing 6 weeks is a period of peak gas consumption.
For the E7 percentage, simply total the units from each bill on each E7 rate and convert to a percentage. 20% is a typical breakpoint, but it depends on tariff and region, so 20% can be perfectly feasible.
Why not switch to monthly DD billing then? The cheapest tariffs usually require this.

capirex065

Thanks macman, yes i do monthly DD, but you still only get a quarterly bill (even online) it just means i have to do more maths!