Bargain co's not listed on MSE but found on Uswitch

[Deleted User]

@mbmonty

Solarplicity does show on both uswitch and MSE Cheap Energy Club. (at least for me in my region and fuel usage values)

On uswitch, you must click in the left hand column under the heading "Your Plans" the button marked

Include plans that require switching directly through the supplier

to see the full results.

On MSE Cheap Energy Club, you must click in the left hand column under "Tariff Type" , the button for

All Tariffs

mbmonty

I DID select All Tariffs and no longer shows on Uswitch, it must be the area, I wonder if it is to cut back on enquiries because their customer service team cannot cope.

MSE has never shown it to me but Uswitch did, I still have the screenshots for both.

singhini

mbmonty wrote: »

I am paying around £582 but I think your figures are adrift, based on your quote

"3,750 kwh and 1,400 kwh would cost me £1,045 and £173"

1045/3750= 0.279
173/1,400 = 0.124

At first I thought you meant 0.0279p & 0.124p but they would below the lowest, VAT has to be added too.

I can't get this site to display this properly or to display an image but this is structure of my comparison

postimg.org/image/613zjired

thanks - yes I made a massive mistake on my spreadsheet (I put in 3,750 UNITS). when I think I should be putting in something like 335 UNITS (335 x 1.02264 x 39.4 / 3.6 = 3,750 KWH)


Well spotted by everyone


Gosh, you really are a low energy user (I think I'm more like 12,000 kwh gas and 3,000 kwh electricity).

mbmonty

I was using kWh as shown in my annual statement, are any suppliers still using that calorific value nonsense on bills?

I was not always a low energy user, I got it this low by tracking what was using and what I could do about it, but also being mindful.

First thing was to turn off programming of central heating so it does not come on every day at set times, instead I put it on manually for an hour or two, but only when necessary. In the evening I would rather put on a warm jumper or use a blanket than heat the place when it is tolerable. 16 degrees C is usually the level when I will turn it on at 21 degrees for an hour or two.

I do have a combi boiler, set on eco mode, so no tank of water to heat every day. I have also adjusted the water temp quite low but hot enough to do decent washing up, but heating temp set high so it heats home quickly when turned on.

I feel sorry for people in homes with bad boiler or storage heaters or lack of tariff. Still you can reduce temp of these, the trick is to do a bit at a time so you get used to it. My ex used to set temp to 30C, rather than get into confrontation I just got them to agree to put bill in their name and agree a budget (they kept surplus cash). When I lived in a place with storage heaters and a tank of water, I calculated the annual cost of heating that water and decided that as I used an electric shower it made more sense to just heat water in kettle for washing up. Now my combi boiler effectively does the same thing.

I got a £6 energy meter off ebay, put items or groups of items on a 4 way block and measured usage, then got rid of things.

Computer gadgets tend to add up, so I streamlined those and only turn on what I have when it is actually needed. For example I used to have ISP router, my own router with better wifi, plus a faster switch, now I just have one. Got rid of overclocked superfast quad core PC and replaced with low power quad core that does the job. These things all add up

I got better performing fridge, I then put it on that ebay meter and measured the settings to get the optimum fridge and freezer temperature vs cost to run, you can pick up a fridge thermometer for £2 or less. Interesting to note that Fridge uses more power when heating is on.

One thing I noticed was that lowest cost annual fridge freezers cost a fortune, I ended up getting an expendive brand low energy one (£26 a year) at John Lewis when it was reduced to £299.

I cook with Gas which is far cheaper and a joy to use compared with electric. £600 Cooker was used but like new on eBay and cost me £63

What I always resent is paying a standing charge, this has increased over the years to a jaw dropping £100 per fuel per year (just so they can force you into direct debit).

I do not like fake promotions or punishment tariffs, I will not pay by direct debit, it is a scam because they increase the amount to improve their cash flow, heard on BBC Radio that energy companies have billions of client money, one customer featured has £3k in credit but not made clear on bill. They have to return this is requested so of course they hide it, this was due to change. They are quick enough to hike up direct debits on forecast but do not reduce it to zero when they have £3k in credit!

Paying £200 standing charge for using nothing goes against my principles, so it was going to be Solarplicity or Ebico I guess. Hopefully the Government will wise up and scrap this con, is a bit like a restaurant charging you for using their till, it is a cost of doing business. I would not mind but years ago when I had a faulty timer that caused over charge to me of over £1800 over a couple of years, it was a battle to get it credited that took over a year and still ended in going to ombudsman.

With estimates at £25 a month I may allow myself to put heating on a bit more often, but it will have to be in a consistent way, probably by using 17 degrees as my turn on heating level. However, first I will want to see first quarter bill to make sure costs are what they project or at least what I calculate.

Solarplicity forecast is slightly flawed but my own calculation is good enough, they promise to always be lower than top six and lack of standing charge give me the £200 saving with no obligation for direct debit, I will pay quarterly.