Both Gas & Electricty from British Gas, do I need helping ?

Legacy_user

Currently both Gas & Electricity are from British Gas.

The Electricity is on what they call a Clear & Simple Tariff. This tariff was introduced when the Price Promise tariff ended in March 2013


The Gas is on what they call a Clear & Simple Tariff. This tariff was also introduced when the Price Promise tariff ended in March 2013

Mindful of publicity saying "switch now", I called British Gas to ask if I was committed in any way to this new "Clear & Simple Tariff", but unfortunately the call was taken from South Africa and what with accent and voice delay, it was a failed information call.

I wondered if anyone might be prepared to throw an old couple a lifeline of information regarding our options?. Would you think we are tied to this new tariff ?.

Our circumstances are that we have a gas central heating, gas cooker and a gas fire in the lounge although this weekend we will be making a decision to have this replaced and are unsure whether to remain with gas, or have an electric fire.

DragonQ

If you sign up to the Cheap Energy Club and enter your information correctly (especially the annual kWh usage and current tariff name), it should tell you what exit fees apply to your current tariffs (if at all).

[Deleted User]

Clear and simple tariff is a daily standing charge.Maybe you were on the baffling two tier tariff where the standing charge was paid as you used a certain amount of kwhrs every quarter , then it dropped to a lower price per kwhr for the remaining billing quarter
Two tier billing certainly bamboozled a lot of people, including the winner of Mastermind who did a little piece about confusing energy bills on BBC Watchdog..From what I see and hear on my rounds the majority of people dont understand energy bills and tariffs at all

letthemeatcake

I 'm on the same tarrif.It will be transferred over to the STANDARD BG tarriff on 23rd November unless you choose to fix/move elsewhere.

Perelandra

There are no tie-ins to the Clear and Simple tariff, and you are free to switch without penalty cancellation fees (to both other BG tariffs or to other suppliers).

Your options are therefore-
Stay with BG, and do nothing. You will roll on to the new Standard tariff.

Stay with BG, and switch to another tariff.

Leave BG, and join another supplier.


NB: I work for British Gas, but post here in a private capacity. Any opinion is my own, and does not necessarily reflect that of my employer.

System

Thanks for your replies thus far. All very informative. Can I thank the last poster in particular, posting on this subject must be to a degree difficult but you do well with your disclaimer. I shall continue to read then decide.

Nada666

islandman wrote: »

Our circumstances are that we have a gas central heating, gas cooker and a gas fire in the lounge although this weekend we will be making a decision to have this replaced and are unsure whether to remain with gas, or have an electric fire.

You have a separate gas fire in the lounge - this can be used without the central heating being on - you need to replace this but considering an electric fire. What would be the point of that? 4.5p for a kWh of gas, 13p for a kWh of electricity. Gas is not that inefficient.

Perelandra

islandman wrote: »

Thanks for your replies thus far. All very informative. Can I thank the last poster in particular, posting on this subject must be to a degree difficult but you do well with your disclaimer. I shall continue to read then decide.

No problem; I'm here to help when I can. The difficult threads are the discussion ones, rather than just the fact seeking ones, and I stay out of those as my bias would shine through!



NB: I work for British Gas, but post here in a private capacity. Any opinion is my own, and does not necessarily reflect that of my employer.

System

Nada666 wrote: »

You have a separate gas fire in the lounge - this can be used without the central heating being on - you need to replace this but considering an electric fire. What would be the point of that? 4.5p for a kWh of gas, 13p for a kWh of electricity. Gas is not that inefficient.

Yes, it must seem crazy. We are considering our options. Via B&Q today, our minds became even more confused. Spent much time since returning talking about a particular e fire, but when I tell my wife it glows yellowish, she will go off it. Ah well, there's always tomorrow.

apesxx

we are in the same boat. We have been with BG since moving in 7 years ago and never changed our tariff. we are on the standard tariff. think we must be on the 2 tier one as we get charged so much and then it drops to a lower price.

U switch seems to think we would be able to save about £170 by switching to Scottish power and fixing in, or about £155 by switching to EDF. there were a few other companies that were cheaper but ive never heard of them, I think one was spark or something.

System

There must be thousands of people/us who know we should be doing something about it, but lack that little something that says "go do it" simply because "they all sound and promise the same".


PS, I've just found "The Energy Club" an MSE feature, and joined by entering all the information they ask (and none required leaving the computer to check on invoices). The result was they found 13 companies that would be cheaper. The biggest saving would be £162 per year.

Unsure now how to progress, but will update when I have taken a few more steps.

Having read a bit more,. let me show you this. I'm happy to move to it, but am put off by the manage on line bit. Should anything happen to me, my wife does not use computer. I much prefer the snail mail approach/phone calls.



If I wanted to proceed without commiting myself on-line, how would I do it?