MSE's Cheap Energy site - edit info re annual spend

issidan

I have a comparison quote from MSE's cheap energy site which is based on my actual annual use in kWh. It tells me how much I currently spend per annum. The amount is wrong and I cannot see how to change it.
It is showing too much and the recommendation is to stick with existing provider. I am taking my info from actual bills from Npower who say I spend £87 per month on gas and electricity whereas the MSE site says I spend more .

Confused.

System

Hi - welcome to the forum. MSE CEC relies on the end user updating Current Tariff Details. Open your MSE account and you will Current Tariff Details just below your address. Click on Edit Details and change your annual usage figure under the sub-heading Your Usage. To get accurate results, you must use kWhs/year. DO NOT believe what any supplier is telling you. Work out your annual usage using actual (not estimated) meter readings from two statements a year apart.

MSE CEC, or for than matter any other PCW, does not get usage information from your supplier. This might well change when we all have smart meters.

footyguy

issidan wrote: »

I have a comparison quote from MSE's cheap energy site which is based on my actual annual use in kWh. It tells me how much I currently spend per annum. The amount is wrong and I cannot see how to change it.
It is showing too much and the recommendation is to stick with existing provider. I am taking my info from actual bills from Npower who say I spend £87 per month on gas and electricity whereas the MSE site says I spend more .

Confused.

The CEC provides you the cost per annum of the tariff you are on, based on the annual consumption figures you provide.
If that value is wrong, then either you have chosen the incorrect tariff, or you have input the incorrect annual cionsumption figures.
(or the slight possibility that the tariff details are incorrect, in which case you will have to contact the CEC and let them know)

What you pay nPower per month is irrelevant.
It's what it costs that is important.

Credits - Debits = Balance


Edit: if you want to change your consumption figures in the CEC, you do this either by editing the current tariff details when you log in, or if you are already logged in and past this page, then you will see your current tariff(s) at the top of the page, with 'Edit details' under each.

Remembere, you always get the most accurate results if you can enter your consumption in kWh, but if you do not know these, then you can enter the amount you spend per month as an indication - and that should then coincide with what you may be striving to achieve.

Smodlet

There is one possibility I can think of: If you are on a fixed tariff with less than a year to go, the CEC calculates your spend on a pro-rata basis, comparing your fixed tariff costs up to the end date, then the standard variable tariff rates for the remainder of the year. If, like me, you have no intention of ever being on anyone's standard tariff, it can be a little misleading but, if you compare only unit rates and standing charges, you will not go far wrong. HTH.

footyguy

Smodlet wrote: »

There is one possibility I can think of: If you are on a fixed tariff with less than a year to go, the CEC calculates your spend on a pro-rata basis, comparing your fixed tariff costs up to the end date, then the standard variable tariff rates for the remainder of the year. If, like me, you have no intention of ever being on anyone's standard tariff, it can be a little misleading but, if you compare only unit rates and standing charges, you will not go far wrong. HTH.

To clarify, the CEC does offer this calculation method as as alternative.
(It's the one Ofgem say to use)
But it is not the default calculation method that the CEC initially shows you.

Just comparing unit rates and standing charges, and not the entire tariff, can be misleading.
Some suppliers, for example, offer some very generous dual fuel discounts on their tariffs.