I want clean tariff comparisons - not blended

locky123

Seems things have changed and now comparisons factor in the rates after a fixed tariff has ended during a 12 month projection.

Personally prefer comparing my current tariff with the proposed one, ignoring the any rate change after fixed period.

I regularly change suppliers, so these new comparisons are not usefull, as they over inflate savings.

I'll stick with my own simple energy cost calculations.

Was this change instigated by the energy companies or ofgem?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

locky123 wrote: »

Seems things have changed and now comparisons factor in the rates after a fixed tariff has ended during a 12 month projection.

Personally prefer comparing my current tariff with the proposed one, ignoring the any rate change after fixed period.

I regularly change suppliers, so these new comparisons are not usefull, as they over inflate savings.

I'll stick with my own simple energy cost calculations.

Was this change instigated by the energy companies or ofgem?

I would guess it was instigated by those that have the most to gain - the switching sites.

You seem fairly switched on about the whole thing, so why are you even looking at the "savings"? The only thing that matters is the final cost.

locky123

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

I would guess it was instigated by those that have the most to gain - the switching sites.

You seem fairly switched on about the whole thing, so why are you even looking at the "savings"? The only thing that matters is the final cost.

I think it maybe ofgem, as several sites I recently visited used the same blended forecast.

Call it cost avoidance.

System

This is actually one of OFGEM's dafter innovations. The argument being that when your fixed tariff ends, you will switched to the supplier's standard variable tariff if you do nothing. B of A is right: this has to be a pen and paper exercise if you want to work out an accurate annual saving.

MigsyBigsy

Hengus wrote: »

This is actually one of OFGEM's dafter innovations. The argument being that when your fixed tariff ends, you will switched to the supplier's standard variable tariff if you do nothing. B of A is right: this has to be a pen and paper exercise if you want to work out an accurate annual saving.

how? Just adding the amount charged throughout the year?

System

I jot down my current tariff in terms of Stg charge, price per kWh and projected consumption, less discounts and plus VAT. I then jot down 2 tariffs (from a comparison site) that I might be considering. The 'savings' are just a snapshot. I like to check the price for gas in particular as this is my biggest variable. You can find for example 2 tariffs that come in at roughly £900 but the cost price per unit could vary by 10 to 15%. I would favour the lower gas price if the totals were broadly the same.

AndyPK

Uses this one and adjust the settings

http://www.energyhelpline.com/

canterswest

AndyPK wrote: »

Uses this one and adjust the settings

http://www.energyhelpline.com/

The fact that energyhelpline has the option to display results without distortion proves it cannot be Ofgem requiring sites signed up to its Confidence Code to display results in this way. The effect is it inflates real savings in favour of comparison websites.

Comparison websites pay Ofgem to run the code, as I understand. Ofgem works for them in this respect. Comparison sites tell Ofgem what they will display after lots of A/B testing to find the most profitable displays for comparison sites. If Ofgem says no the sites can say they will not pay for the code. We are in a new era in which consumers are up against very powerful intermediaries that have more information than ever before which they incrementally use to become richer and richer. The consumer has no way of answering back because of the information gap. Technology led intermediaries are the new dangerous force driving inequality, creating bad products for the long term, and they employ very few people. Mark Carney gets it.


Any claims by comparison sites that they have to display distorted results is obviously untrue because Energyhelpline displays them with a well advertised button to see then with or without weighting and is a member of the Confidence Code.


(Note - locky 123 found it difficult to find weighted and standard results and others might also. energyhelpline will know exactly how many customers click on weighted/standard results and whether it is easy to find. It can decide if very few are finding the option to keep it as it is, or if many are clicking through and this is impacting sales to reduce advertising this option. As I said, technology based intermediaries have too much information to be good for consumers and sustainable products in the long term)

locky123

canterswest wrote: »

. Energyhelpline displays them with a well advertised button.

I took me quite some time to find it!

On reslts page have to click on the link...Find out more

We've noticed you're on a capped tariff that's due to expire in the next 12 months.
We've taken account of this on your result table.
Find out more, as well as how cancellation fees might apply, by clicking here.

footyguy

canterswest wrote: »

The fact that energyhelpline has the option to display results without distortion proves it cannot be Ofgem requiring sites signed up to its Confidence Code to display results in this way. ...

2+2=5 ???

It is, as others say, an Ofgem requirement.

However, Ofgem do not restrict comparison sites from offering other options too

e.g. 'only show tariffs/suppliers that the switching site can switch today'
(Ofgem requires all comparison sites to list all suppliers & tariffs)

canterswest

footyguy wrote: »

2+2=5 ???

It is, as others say, an Ofgem requirement.

There's no such thing concerning the 'Confidence Code' because comparison websites pay for it, it says what they want it to.