Dual Fuel quotes more than Gas + Electricity separately

wytco0

I am just trying to get a better deal for my 88 year old MIL who was on EDF Energy Assist and who is being moved to the EDF standard tariff . EDF say they don't have energy assist any more so she seem to be faced with huge increase in her energy bills.

She is also 220 in Credit and lives in Hastings.

Annual usage is 11500Kwh for Gas and 1000Kwh for Electricity.

Looking at Uswitch the cheapest dual fuel deals seem to be more expensive than Gas + Electricity separately. On the Dual Fuel calculations Npower are well down the list but separately they are the cheapest for both and adding them together is less than their dual fuel quote.

Is this correct?

If it is correct will Npower just put MIL on their Dual Fuel tariff when they see the 2 applications?

Cardew

This has come up many times and generally, over a period of years the dual fuel tariffs have worked out to be cheapest - not always though.

Some of the cheapest internet tariffs will not allow you to have gas only - they insist on dual fuel.

Having a very low consumption like your MIL can prove to be the exception.

dogshome

Dual Fuel tariffs are something of a One-Size-Fits-All deal - One suppliers Gas prices may be lower than anothers, but that saving is eaten up by the Elec price, or the Service Charge and then the mix is further complicated by all sorts of discounts
For a family with average fuel use the Switch sites offer a good comparision service, but your MIL is way outside the "average" criteria

Her Gas falls into the lower average band, but her Elec at only 1000kwh a year is almost unbelieveable - Check this carefully by looking at every old bill she has
If it's kosher her best Elec bet is likely to be Ebico, but check directly with them by phone as their prices have recently gone up. or are due to go up

MillicentBystander

Check out the small print with npower because the figure you are seeing is subject to this T&C

Direct Debit discount of £52.50 per year for gas and £42 for electricity. Dual fuel discount of £10.50 per year. Total discount of £105 per year.

The savings quoted include any discounts associated with this tariff. To qualify, you must take your supply from npower and pay by the same payment method for a full 12 month period – this period does not have to be a Jan-Dec calendar year. The discounts will be paid to you annually and will be credited to your account at the end of each full year that you remain with npower.


There is a £60 cancellation fee for this tariff (£30 for electricity & £30 for gas) if customers switch away before the end date.

Which effectively means should your MIL switch away within 12 months you need to add £165 to the figure you are seeing on the switching site!

macman

As above, if her leccy consmption is only 1,000kWh pa (which I find hard to believe unless she lives in the dark in one room), then Ebico may be the best option

MillicentBystander

1000 kWh entirely believable if she lives alone, cooks with gas and doesn't possess many gadgets like plasma TV etc. And just saying 'Ebico' due to the low consumption is too simplistic - certainly in my area (Yorkshire) there are many cheaper suppliers at the consumption quoted in the OP. And, bizarrely, none of them are non-profit making organisations.

HappyMJ

1000kWh per year is 19.23kWh per week. That is my summer base load electricity consumption every week so if someone uses exactly what I use year round and has gas for cooking and heating then it is believable.

In my area if someone uses that much electricity and pays by direct debit then Npower with it's annual discount is cheaper than Ebico.

wytco0

MillicentBystander wrote: »

1000 kWh entirely believable if she lives alone, cooks with gas and doesn't possess many gadgets like plasma TV etc. And just saying 'Ebico' due to the low consumption is too simplistic - certainly in my area (Yorkshire) there are many cheaper suppliers at the consumption quoted in the OP. And, bizarrely, none of them are non-profit making organisations.

She is exactly this profile, lives alone, cooks with gas, has a small TV no gadgets and does not use her kettle much.

Bark01

wytco0 wrote: »

I am just trying to get a better deal for my 88 year old MIL who was on EDF Energy Assist and who is being moved to the EDF standard tariff . EDF say they don't have energy assist any more so she seem to be faced with huge increase in her energy bills.

Energy Assist has been replaced another tariff that in most cases is cheaper. However its restricted to customers that are on the DWP'S vulnerable list. I think as long as she receives the warm home discounts she should be eligible fro the new tariff.

How did she fins out she was being removed from Energy Assist? Was no other option given?

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE WARM HOMES DISCOUNT?

Eligibility for the Core Group is linked specifically to the type of benefits received. In winter 2012/13, you may qualify for this energy discount if on 21 July 2012 (the qualifying date) you are either:
aged under 80 and receiving only the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (no Savings Credit)
aged 80 or over and are receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, (even if you get Savings Credit as well)
And both of the following apply:
your electricity supplier is participating in the scheme
you or your partner is named on your electricity bill

wytco0

Bark01 wrote: »

Energy Assist has been replaced another tariff that in most cases is cheaper. However its restricted to customers that are on the DWP'S vulnerable list. I think as long as she receives the warm home discounts she should be eligible fro the new tariff.

How did she fins out she was being removed from Energy Assist? Was no other option given?

EDF told her and just said she was being moved onto the standard tariff.

Bark01 wrote: »

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE WARM HOMES DISCOUNT?

Eligibility for the Core Group is linked specifically to the type of benefits received. In winter 2012/13, you may qualify for this energy discount if on 21 July 2012 (the qualifying date) you are either:
aged under 80 and receiving only the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (no Savings Credit)
aged 80 or over and are receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, (even if you get Savings Credit as well)
And both of the following apply:
your electricity supplier is participating in the scheme
you or your partner is named on your electricity bill

She doesn't get the Guaranteed Credit element so looks as though she does not qualify.

Nada666

dogshome wrote: »

Her Gas falls into the lower average band, but her Elec at only 1000kwh a year is almost unbelieveable - Check this carefully by looking at every old bill she has

It's not even slightly unbelievable.

macman wrote: »

As above, if her leccy consmption is only 1,000kWh pa (which I find hard to believe unless she lives in the dark in one room), then Ebico may be the best option

And ditto to Macman