What sort of tariff would be best if I only wanted gas in the winter?

amazingAkita

Hey, first time posting so excuse any awkward turns of phrase.

Backstory: I'll be moving into a flat with some friends of mine, and while most expenses are taken care of in the rent (maybe not the cheapest, but it is easier and less worrisome for us) we do have to pay for gas separately. Apparently, we will only need it over the winter period (electric cookers, etc) which I have some doubts about at the moment as I can't quite remember how everything is set up.

My question is this: what sort of tariff should we go on? Pay as we use? Monthly direct debit? Prepaid card? What are the advantages/disadvantages of all of these? And any recommendations for providers would be great!

Thanks in advance!

HappyMJ

amazingAkita wrote: »

Hey, first time posting so excuse any awkward turns of phrase.

Backstory: I'll be moving into a flat with some friends of mine, and while most expenses are taken care of in the rent (maybe not the cheapest, but it is easier and less worrisome for us) we do have to pay for gas separately. Apparently, we will only need it over the winter period (electric cookers, etc) which I have some doubts about at the moment as I can't quite remember how everything is set up.

My question is this: what sort of tariff should we go on? Pay as we use? Monthly direct debit? Prepaid card? What are the advantages/disadvantages of all of these? And any recommendations for providers would be great!

Thanks in advance!

What about hot water? Isn't that heated by gas?

You could switch to Ebico with no standing charges but a high per unit rate at the end of winter and switch back to a supplier charging a standing charge at the beginning of winter. Is it worth it though?

macman

Electric cooker only in use in the winter? So you are going to eat salad all the rest of the year?
The bulk of your gas usage will be on heating and hot water, if that is how the property is equipped-not on cooking. So I don't think you've though this through.
If it is set up as above, then up to 80%t of your total energy bill will be on gas used in the winter quarter. Trying to save on standing charges will be a false economy-just get the cheapest gas only tariff.

Nada666

"with friends" i.e., several independent living spaces, means that Ebico is out - unless you bother to switch after and before winter. The 'savings' from no standing charge will be dwarfed by the four or five rooms being heated.

Just use a normal direct debit cheap fix as suggested above.