EDF Energy Contract Review

Bramlea

My current Dual Fuel tariff with EDF is “Blue+Fixed Price June 2018” which by definition is about to expire.
Checking new available tariffs from EDF I found “Blue+Price Protection Jun19” which quotes an annual saving of £44.24
Not very much less but I then looked at the details and the two tariffs are compared side by side.
This is when I really looked at the details. The personal projection shows that indeed the difference between my current tariff and the proposed new tariff (£1415.62-£1371.38) does make £42.42.
A bit further down the comparison the details of the tariff for each fuel appear In both cases the yearly personal projection is laid out and the differences between each respectively add up to the magic £42.42.
The daily standing charges for each are detailed and are the same for my current tariff and for the new tariff for both fuels…so far so good!
Now to the Unit Rate! This is shown as more expensive in both cases, electricity being nearly 21% higher and gas by nearly 48% higher.
I ask myself how I can save money moving from my original tariff to the new tariff. I couldn’t so I had an online chat with EDF who explained that the saving by moving to the new tariff was based on what I would be paying if I was on the Standard Tariff.
It hardly makes for a comparison and I told them that, at best it was very misleading.
I appreciate that energy prices have increased significantly, but it would be more realistic if EDF were to present the facts fairly.
I would be very interested to hear any comment on the forum or from the MSE Team might have on this issue but guess that I am not the only person who has tried to make this comparison and contacted you.
Meanwhile, please find below the relevant information from the EDF page, where there is no mention of the “Standard Tariff”!

Tariff Details
Blue+Fixed Price June 2018
Blue+Price Protection Jun19
Fixed until
30 June 2018
30 June 2019
Payment Type
Budget Direct Debit (Monthly)
Budget Direct Debit (Monthly)
Yearly Personal Projection
£1,415.62
£1,371.38

ELECTRICITY
Yearly Personal Projection
£857.31
£834.10
Daily Standing Charge
18.90p per day
18.90p per day
Unit Rate
13.34p per kWh
16.13p per kWh
Exit Fees
No exit fees
Exit Fees

GAS
Yearly Personal Projection
£558.61
£537.28
Daily Standing Charge
26.25p per day
26.25p per day
Unit Rate
2.477p per kWh
3.659p per kWh
Exit Fees
No exit fees
Exit Fees

BEWARE of taking information on the EDF website at face value!
I think it may be time to switch!

Robisere

Why not look at changing your tariff to mine: Online Saver April 19.


It is paperless, obviously fixed to April 19, I take my own readings, save and print my statements and send them bi-monthly. Currently I am paying £74 per month for Dual Fuel and am well in credit. I have been with EDF over 6 years now, impressed with the Chatline and customer service and am always looking for another tariff with them.

Bramlea

Thank you Robisere. I am still looking but thanks for your suggestion.

System

The cost methodology that suppliers are required to use is mandated by Ofgem. Ofgem uses a rolling 12 months cost projection. As no one knows what consumers will do at the end of a fixed tariff term, then the !!!8216;do nothing!!!8217; default position is the only given. Given that 70% of consumers are still on SVTs, the methodology suits the Government!!!8217;s purpose - and the savings are accurate. For the other 30% who have switched, there is an argument that they should be savvy enough to work out when a saving isn!!!8217;t a saving. Personally, I use the MSE CEC simple annual cost on present tariff compared to annual cost on these tariffs. The savings (if there are any) are accurate.

molerat

I was on that, just moved away, and their cheapest "£70 saving" tariff for gas only was actually an increase of £150. They did well last year with the market beating renewal only tariff but failed miserably this year, I am now paying £30 more than last year on a 2 year no exit fee fix with Zog (but the boat has already sailed on that one). By staying with them you are overpaying ! They obviously don't want customer loyalty.

Robisere

molerat wrote: »

I was on that, just moved away, and their cheapest "£70 saving" tariff for gas only was actually an increase of £150. They did well last year with the market beating renewal only tariff but failed miserably this year, I am now paying £30 more than last year on a 2 year no exit fee fix with Zog (but the boat has already sailed on that one). By staying with them you are overpaying ! They obviously don't want customer loyalty.

Then how to explain the way EDF fought Northern Energy to get me compensation for a 3 month delay in changing my electric meter from 3-phase to single-phase after conversion from Economy 7 and NSHeating, and keeping my payments artificially high? How to explain the way they gave me more compensation from EDF itself?


How to explain the way I always seem to find a good alternative tariff, with the help of their excellent website and chatline? I know I am not overpaying, because I work to examine every tariff and then relax for another 12 months. 6+ years I have been with EDF, always good service.