Cost of energy

David_Aston

As our Flo energy deal runs out, and we consider what to do next, I just wonder if any posters would care to comment on my outlay, compared to theirs?
Small, three bed detached.
Two people.
Gas Central heating.
Electric and Gas cooking.
Economy 7.
We have been paying "Flo" £60 a month. We will owe them perhaps a hundred pounds by the end of the deal next month, so should maybe have been paying them £70 ish.
Anybody willing to post their spend, please?

CashStrapped

You have to get out of the habit of trying to compare using your direct debit amount. It is meaningless except as a very rough indicator as to your estimated annual cost.

You can only accurately compare using annual KWH figures for gas an electric. You should calculate this using two confirmed readings taken roughly a year apart.

This will give you an idea as to where you lie in terms of average use.

For the UK as a whole average use is currently about 12,500kwh for gas and 3500kwh for electric.

Trying to compare directly with other forum posters is often not helpful as there are often a lot of variables to take into account.

Once you have used your annual figures in kwh in a comparison site, this will give you a rough indication on your annual bill and what you should expect a direct debit to be set at.

A direct debit is just a way to spread the cost. It should over pay in summer when your actual bills are low. A credit should build up. This should not be touched. When winter arrives the direct debit will not cover your actual bills, but the credit you built up in summer should absorb this.

People get into trouble when they request the credit be paid back before winter has arrived. When the winter bills eventually come in, the customer gets into debt as there is no overpaid summer credit left.

So a direct debit must be carefully managed. Regular (monthly meter readings) and ensuring a credit is building up ready for winter.

David_Aston

Thanks for your comprehensive reply Cash.
Also, forgive me, for the help you offer to other posters, who may be too hassled with their problems to thank you themselves.
Our usage seems a bit lower than the National average for both products. Possibly the benefit of Haus Passiv triple glazing in the last year. And new radiators.
As we are with Flow, I will certainly peruse any new offer with a beady eye. I did field a call from "Joash" from Flow,on Friday night. I couldn't tell you exactly he was angling for. Possibly for me to promise lifelong fealty to Flow over the phone! Hmm, I don't think so. A year ago SSE wanted to increase our DD from £67 to £75. Flow at the £60 seemed low, but doable as long as we monitored usage and put aside extra dosh.
Thanks again for your comments.

Nick_C

I like to overpay my DD, as I get 1% back from Santander, plus 3% "interest" from Ovo.

Some people will be getting 2% cashback from NatWest.

matelodave

As Cash says, you use most of your energy (60%or more) heating the house between November and March but as your direct debit averages it out over 12 months most people will have a debit after winter or a surplus at the end of September although a lot depends on when you start a contract but at some point it should balance out if you mange your direct debits properly.

You need to concentrate on your consumption in kwh to be able to compare costs as you consumption will be different to others even if you live in identical houses and think you've got a similar lifestyle - just 1 degree difference in your heating temperature could translate into a 10% difference in consumption.

If you keep your own record, ideally on a monthly basis you'll see the pattern of your consumptio which will help your estimate and budgets, although the weather has a big effect on how much energy you use for heating

David_Aston

Thanks for your comment "mate". I do understand about the seasonal variations in usage. I believe the readings I am reporting to Flow are reasonable, and may indeed require a further hundred or so extra payment on top of the thirty quid I paid extra this month. I am just waiting for them to say how they wish to alter the contract, and payments in the next few weeks.

terrierlady

why dont providers list the price per Kw when doing comparisons,the main cost on our bill is electric at 13.21p and gas 2.898p.plus standing charge for meter 21p each .
what are others paying this is EDF.

System

terrierlady wrote: »

why dont providers list the price per Kw when doing comparisons,the main cost on our bill is electric at 13.21p and gas 2.898p.plus standing charge for meter 21p each .
what are others paying this is EDF.

All suppliers do give tariff details as do all PCWs. What you appear to asking for is what was known as the Tariff Comparison Rate (TCR) which Ofgem has just dropped as a requirement.

FWIW, you and I could be on the SAME EDF tariff and I could have a lower price per kWh than you do. It varies with postcode. As a basic principle, high standing charges/low kWh price suit high energy users, whereas low standing charges/high kWh prices suit low energy users.

macman

terrierlady wrote: »

why dont providers list the price per Kw when doing comparisons,the main cost on our bill is electric at 13.21p and gas 2.898p.plus standing charge for meter 21p each .
what are others paying this is EDF.

Because it's meaningless, since prices vary regionally, plus other variable factors. The only figure that matters is your annual spend, which is calculated instantly on any comp site from your postcode and annual kWh usage.

David_Aston

Simply to answer your question terrierlady.
My electric standing charge is 22.0p
Day rate 13.392p
Night rate 6.812p
That is a Feb 2018 Statement.

You haven't asked about gas.

As of today, Flow have emailed that the new agreement from March will be, a fraction under 70 quid a month, this is both gas and electric. The direct debit I have been paying is 60 pounds, although, as I have previously stated, I have been using more units, mainly of gas than this amount pays for.

David_Aston

So sorry, you have asked about gas!
So, 14.03p Standing charge
2.638p per unit