Low income / Social Tariffs

djpleasure

Hi MSE's

I was on the British Gas Social Tariff as house-bound disabled and on low income.

I am aware they now done away with the Social Tariff, from what I can make out, there is no discount available on gas any more.

I live in a one bedroom flat on my own, This months bill is £88.42 they transferred me to the Standard with Energy Smart Tariff. I cannot afford to go on like this, only just over £11 of that bill is gas, with winter coming gas usage will obviously rise, I am in fuel poverty.

I looked at switching, but I do not see any Social or similar tariffs, The comparison sites point towards EON, but I have heard that may not be a good idea to switch to them.

Other than purchasing extra layers of clothes, can anyone advise what to do please

HappyMJ

You need to compare and switch. You will need your annual consumption figures in kWh for both your electricity and gas then go to a comparison website and enter those figures and a tariff will be recommended. Post the tariff back on here and you will (should) get some opinons on whether it is worth it or not.....oh and cut down further on usage. If £11 of your bill is gas then £77 of your bill is electricity and that is quite high. Do you have appliances that use a lot of electric such as dryers, heaters, etc...

victor2

As HappyMJ says, your electricity seems to be the biggest cost and quite high. If you explain what gas and electric appliances you have, people can probably suggest ways to reduce cost without too much inconvenience. For example, do you use some sort of electric heating?
As you are in all day, what do you have running? With the weather turning colder, what insulation does the property have?

Ken68

Hi DJ... you should have been advised of the Warm Home Discount. It replaces Social tariffs, but if not an automatic transfer you may have to apply.

Ken68

https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/overview

djpleasure

Problem is, comparison sites do not show any social or hidden tariffs, that's what I am wondering, is there any of these tariffs still?

Here are compare quotes:

First:Utility iSave V12: Saving £239.13
Prices guaranteed for a minimum of 3 months. Cancellation fee of £30 per fuel if contract terminated during the 3 month initial fixed price period.
Online or paper billing available once transfer of energy supply is complete (paper billing option charged at £1 per month).
Provide monthly meter readings and pay for exactly what you use each month

NPower: Energy Online January 2014 Save £213.37

At least 3% lower than our standard variable charges for the average dual fuel direct debit customer
Cancellation fee for gas of £30.00 before 31 January 2014
After 31st January 2014 customers are transferred to npower's Standard Variable tariff
Online account management necessary
Unaffected by npower's latest price rise
Cancellation fee for electricity of £30.00 before 31 January 2014

rest of quotes i have put in a pdf file HERE

djpleasure

Ken68 wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/overview

yeah I see that recently, thought it was quite ironic, "Warm Home Discount" Many heat their homes using Gas, yet this discount only covers Electricity

TIMMY85

djpleasure wrote: »

yeah I see that recently, thought it was quite ironic, "Warm Home Discount" Many heat their homes using Gas, yet this discount only covers Electricity

It is money towards energy bills and as not all houses have a gas supply it was decided to be applied against an electricity account to make admin easier and that all eligible get it. It is essentialy a means tested benefit so it can only be received once and must be applied against 1 fuel to prevent people having different suppliers for each fuel and getting it twice.

HappyMJ

djpleasure wrote: »

Problem is, comparison sites do not show any social or hidden tariffs, that's what I am wondering, is there any of these tariffs still?

Here are compare quotes:


NPower: Energy Online January 2014 Save £213.37



rest of quotes i have put in a pdf file HERE

Social tariffs are rarely much cheaper than the best monthly direct debit tariff. Personally I'd avoid first:utility due to the complex discounts and Npower also has an annual discount to be wary of. However, if you know that you will be in this property until Jan 2014 and can always pay monthly by direct debit without fail then either option is worth considering to save over £200 per year.