MSE News: Energy firms must offer (not give) cheapest deals, says Ofgem

wantanswers

penrhyn wrote: »

You won't pay £200 less for your bill by switching, you'll probably pay the same as before, you wont be paying an additional £200.

It made sense before I wrote it down O well??

But martin apparently says i'll save £200 if i switch....oh well he must be God so better switch;)

penrhyn

I think his current advise is to fix.

Consumerist

wantanswers wrote: »

But martin apparently says i'll save £200 if i switch....oh well he must be God so better switch;)

What Martin means is that you could pay around £200 pa less if you switch compared with what you would pay if you stayed (on a standard variable tariff). If you are not on a standard variable tariff then the savings are likely to be far less.

e.g. current standard tariff increases by £80 pa but by switching you pay £120 pa less on a new tariff so saving £200 on what you would have paid if you had stayed.

undaunted

It's all likely to be smoke & mirrors though, nobody has said it must be tailored to the customer. Eg if they offer a dual fuel, direct debit payment it may well be their cheapeast tarrif & meet the requirement to make that offer. That doesn't however make it of any benefit to the pensioner who wants to pay cash & doesn't have a gas supply!

Just another of Daves off the cuff, ill thought out announcements, you can see them back pedaling already!

wantanswers

Consumerist wrote: »

What Martin means is that you could pay around £200 pa less if you switch compared with what you would pay if you stayed (on a standard variable tariff). If you are not on a standard variable tariff then the savings are likely to be far less.

e.g. current standard tariff increases by £80 pa but by switching you pay £120 pa less on a new tariff so saving £200 on what you would have paid if you had stayed.

Bit complicated for me i'm afraid....:)

Undaunted.......Thumbs up!

grahamc2003

Well, it's good to see that some people seem to think everyone in the UK can figure out the cheapest tariff for them from the 2000ish on offer. Not sure how I'd go about doing it if I didn't have a PC and broadband - could someone explain how?

Those who can have a bash at getting the best deal, plus a cashback, plus the werewithall to correct the errors in the switching process which often happen probably are the ones least needing a cheap tariff. The reality is that those of us on the best tariffs are subsidised by those unable to chase the rates, rather than those who can't be bothered. Sure, tariffs will tend towards the mean, with frequent swtichers losing a little, and the vulnerable gaining a little. Quite right imv.

Anyhow, must dash to explain to my 92 yo mother about what a pc is, what the internet is, a bit about how to use Opera, what quidco is, the variable energy density of gas conversion factor, multiplication etc. Might throw in a bit of Navier-stokes fluid dynamics while I'm at it.

Cardew

grahamc2003 wrote: »

the variable energy density of gas conversion factor, multiplication etc. Might throw in a bit of Navier-stokes fluid dynamics while I'm at it.

Surely everyone but everyone - including your mother - is fully aware Navier-Stokes equations are not applicable to the compressible gas delivered to domestic properties.

I suspect she told you that when you were a lad.

wantanswers

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Anyhow, must dash to explain to my 92 yo mother about what a pc is, what the internet is, a bit about how to use Opera, what quidco is, the variable energy density of gas conversion factor, multiplication etc. Might throw in a bit of Navier-stokes fluid dynamics while I'm at it.

Whilst you are explaining to your mother about PC's you might like to buy for her the following:

Conserving Energy:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/conserving-energy-the-first-law-of-thermodynamics.html

I'm sure she will appreciate it;)

Eco_Miser

Obviously Ofgem and the politicians have forgotten that two-tier tariffs with no standing charge were introduced following consumer campaigns against low consumers paying more in standing charges than in unit charges.

"Currently, some charge more for the first set of units which means low users pay disproportionately more." Not when a standing charge would otherwise apply.
Currently my summer gas usage is zero, and my summer gas bill is also zero. That is not more than any tariff with a standing charge.

victor2

victor2 wrote: »

Someone who understands that gas and electricity usage is measured in kWh, even if it's billed in £ may completely grasp what you are saying, and recognise that annual usage is much more realistic than just looking at a bill over the summer.
Just look how often on here, people say "I'm using £xx of gas and electricity a month, is it too much?"
Start talking kWh to your average pensioner, and you'll soon lose them. Given that a lot of educated young adults have no idea about mental arithmetic, you'll probably lose them too!

From another thread:

its ok saying how many units you use but what is your monthly bill for
elctricity is ££££ wise im trying to find out if mine are normal all this kws
is doing my swede in

I rest my case.