Cheapest gas and electricity??

mikeyboy18

Hi there,

I'm an npower customer and was signed up for their 'Price Fix 2013' offer where I paid a set amount each month for my gas and electricity, it seemed a good deal but it expired yesterday.

I have been looking at other fixed-term tariffs but was advised that this would not be the best option for me because my gas and electricity consumption is so low (I live myself in a small flat) and they involve standing charges.

I'm wondering what to search for among the different energy companies to get the cheapest gas and electricity without committing to a fixed-term deal. Is it obvious from price comparison sites which supplier provides the cheapest gas and electricity per unit?

Thanks.

KTF

Everyones 'cheapest' is different. Phone up npower and get last years usage in Kw then enter that into the comparison sites to find the best deal based on your consumption.

macman

Yes, that's the the whole purpose of a comp site. There is no universal 'cheapest', it depends on your region and kWh consumption.
BTW, it's not a fixed price deal, it's a fixed rate deal. You still pay more if you use more units, though the unit price is fixed for the term.
Looking at comparative unit prices tells you nothing, as there are so may other variables. Use a comp site with your annual kWh figures.

mikeyboy18

Thanks for the information.

It appears from price comparison websites that I may in fact be cheaper using separate companies to pay for my gas and electric.

Is this a common way to pay for energy??

Thanks.

KTF

mikeyboy18 wrote: »

Is this a common way to pay for energy??

Yes. Having both services from one provider is not necessarily the cheapest option.

dogshome

As already posted, there are no 'Best Deals' that suit everybody and it is not unusual for a consumer, (particularly Low Users), to find that getting Gas from one supplier and the Elec from another gives them the lowest annual cost.

Cost is one factor, the quality of service is another - All suppliers cause customers problems, but some are much worse than others so when you think you have found the 'right price' Gas & Elec suppliers, do a search on each one to see what their customers comments are

Wywth

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

NXV839

A fixed term deal is just how long you will be tied into the contract and they are normally pretty good. Generally, if you commit for a two year period you will get a better price because they can count on your business, compared to a rolling 30 day contract which charges more. Check if there are cancellation fees first though.

Every company has a standing charge – but some companies incorporate the standing charge into the unit rates rather than having it as a separate cost. It makes it easier to market by hiding it! So I wouldn’t worry too much about that. You should avoid a two-tiered pricing system though (which gives you a cheaper unit rate after you use X amount of gas/electric). The system is unfair to low users as you rarely use enough energy to get the cheaper rate, so it’s best to stick to one unit rate price.

Having a different supplier for each utility is very common – it just depends on your area. You do get a duel fuel discount with a lot of companies though and certain cash back perks if you have both gas/electric with one company, so weigh up whether it would be better in the long run to have separate companies or go duel fuel.

Unless you have had major problems in the past, I wouldn’t worry too much about customer service. Most companies are pretty similar in that area anyway.

Hope this helps.

victor2

NXV839 wrote: »

Unless you have had major problems in the past, I wouldn’t worry too much about customer service. Most companies are pretty similar in that area anyway.

I would, as it can become very important if you have a problem. Use a comparison site as already suggested to get an idea of the most suitable supplier for your annual kWh usage. Then search this forum for threads about that supplier, and look generally for threads about the big six suppliers.
Granted, people rarely post on here to praise their supplier, but you'll get an idea.
One of my elderly relatives switched from one of the big six to another because he was fed up with his supplier. At about the same time I switched the other way for a better deal and confident I could deal with his old supplier. He is very happy, knows he pays a bit more, but lives a hassle free life as far as his utilities are concerned, especially now his new supplier has installed smart meters for him. I am happy that I am getting a good rate and now know how to deal with my supplier, which I have to do regularly.

pickoftheday

I don't think you can foresee what kind of customer service you will receive after you sign up to a new supplier.

All companies are perfectly capable of providing excellent as well as absolutely terrible customer service and the very small percentage of customers that bother to share their experiences on MSE is no real indication.

macman

No, but the consumer surveys done by organisations such as Which? invariably show the Big 6 to be bottom of the list, along with First Utility. The other smaller providers rate much more highly.