Cheap Energy Club

bri160356

Until recently Energy Comparison sites had to offer customers the option to display tariffs from the ‘whole of market’ and not just the comparison sites’ own preferred energy supplier tariffs.

A recent rule change now means that Energy Comparison sites are no longer compelled to display the ‘whole of market’.

However, if a comparison site chooses not to display the ‘whole of market’ they must provide a direct link to the ‘Citizens Advice’ comparison site which will always display the ‘whole of market’.

I reckon it’s an increasingly difficult task for comparison sites to give us accurate comparison across the ‘whole of market’ because some Energy suppliers have unconventional pricing structures and it’s difficult to place them into the league table, so to speak.

If I plug my own usage figures into ‘CEC’ and ’Citizens Advice’ the top 15 results are markedly different.

A couple of questions for anyone remotely interested::)

Has anyone visited an Energy comparison site that now has a direct link to ‘Citizens Advice’?,....I haven’t seen one.

Has MSE made any sort of commitment that they will always display the ‘whole of market’?... or are we likely to see a link to ‘Citizens Advice’ in the near future?

aris

I didn't even know there was a citizens advice comparison. I gave it a go, and it pretty much showed the same list of providers as the cheap energy club. As it is now, the best I can do is save a fiver a year via economy 7 energy - on a variable rate. No thanks. I'm quite happy that I got in to this Green Butterfly deal when I did.

Skools_Out

aris wrote: »

I didn't even know there was a citizens advice comparison. I gave it a go, and it pretty much showed the same list of providers as the cheap energy club. As it is now, the best I can do is save a fiver a year via economy 7 energy - on a variable rate. No thanks. I'm quite happy that I got in to this Green Butterfly deal when I did.

You can find the full list of Ofgem accredited energy comparison sites in this thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5826915/price-comparison-sites

Note that the citizens advice comparison site is not listed there, as it is simply a disabled version of the Energylinx site.
Disabled mainly by not being able to switch to any supplier via them, and hence not getting any possible cashback.

Use this link for possible cashback via energylinx
https://www.energylinx.co.uk/energy/cashback/

bri160356

Skools_Out wrote: »

You can find the full list of Ofgem accredited energy comparison sites in this thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5826915/price-comparison-sites

Note that the citizens advice comparison site is not listed there, as it is simply a disabled version of the Energylinx site.
Disabled mainly by not being able to switch to any supplier via them, and hence not getting any possible cashback.

Use this link for possible cashback via energylinx
https://www.energylinx.co.uk/energy/cashback/

Ofgem’s website says this “Citizens Advice also offers a free, impartial online energy comparison service.”,...rather confusingly it’s a footnote at the very bottom of their list of accredited comparison sites.

I don’t know why Ofgem chose ‘Citizens Advice’ as the go-to site if you want the ‘whole of market’ but there you have it. Probably because it’s not a commercial enterprise as such,...something like that anyway. I neither know, nor care tbh.

The new 'whole of market' ruling is detailed here; ...all 30 pages of it. It’s absolutely riveting stuff,...I couldn’t tear myself away.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2018/07/decision_letter_-_confidence_code_wom_-_16_july.pdf

If I enter my usage details and criteria (monthly D/D, sites without cashback, all tariffs et al) into the CEC website it gives me these top-10 tariff suppliers in order:

Eversmart, PurePlanet, Bulb, Outfox, Igloo, EDF, Oneselect, Avro , Breeze and PeoplesEnergy.

Same usage details/criteria etc entered into Citizens Advice and it lists these suppliers in order:

Eversmart (2 tariffs: one fixed, one variable, but same price), PurePlanet, Usio, Enstroga, Powershop, Bulb, Eversmart again, Outfox, Igloo and Oneselect.

I reckon we need a brand new comparison site that just compares Energy comparison sites. :doh:

bri160356

aris wrote: »

I didn't even know there was a citizens advice comparison. I gave it a go, and it pretty much showed the same list of providers as the cheap energy club. As it is now, the best I can do is save a fiver a year via economy 7 energy - on a variable rate. No thanks. I'm quite happy that I got in to this Green Butterfly deal when I did.

I just missed out on that tariff;...had to accept the pricier ‘Green Seahorse’.

P.S. gloating is not a pleasant trait by the way.

Skools_Out

bri160356 wrote: »

...

I don’t know why Ofgem chose ‘Citizens Advice’ as the go-to site if you want the ‘whole of market’ but there you have it. Probably because it’s not a commercial enterprise as such,...something like that anyway. I neither know, nor care tbh...

I know you say you don't carre, but as you posed the question, here is the answer for those that may be interested

Some time ago, Ofgem changed the rules for energy comparison sites.
Before that change, Ebico had convinced Ofgem that all accedited energy comparison sites had to include the whole of market.
Ebico did this as they do not pay any comparison site commission, but wanted consumers to know they existed.

But then, as I said, Ofgem in their infinite wisdom changed the rules and said comparison sites no longer had to show the whole of market. They could restrict output to only those suppliers and tariffs that paid the comparison site for a successful switch.

But to ensure that consumers could compare the whole of market, Citizens Advice agreed with Ofgem that they would offer a comparison service that did show the whole of market, but that service would not allow any consumers to switch via them. So who paid commission and who didn't was never going to be an issue.

But running a comparison site, keeping details of all suppliers and tariffs up do date (particularly when some suppliers may not be prepared to give those details to comparison sites voluntarily) is a very time consuming, labour intensive, and yes expensive operation.

So all Citizens Advice did was piggy back off an established and reliable existing service, Energylinx, who presumably agreed to continue to collating and update all the suppliers & tariffs.

Note that Energylinx is a commercial organisation who earns its money from those that switch via its site. (I've no idea of what commercial agreement exists between Citizens Advice and Energyinx)
So Energylinx, by default, only shows tariffs they they can switch you to.
But you can easily change this on the Energylinx comparison site to include those that requitre you to switch direct.

Then you have a simple choice.
You will see the whole of market (just as you can if tou go via the Citizens Advice link). You will probably elect to take the cheapest option(s), and if Energylinx can switch you , you could will also earn cashback if you take that route.
If Energylinx can't switch you, or you elect to switch direct with the supplier, you will not get any cashback.

The thread I linked to earlier also discusses how easier it is to see the tariff details (standing charge, price per kWh, etc) via the Energylinx site compared to using the diasbled version of that site Citizens Advice offer.

Martin_C_3

Hi,
I'm new to the forum set up and the Cheap Energy Club so I apologise in advance if I'm asking a question in the wrong place.
Having been with NPower for several years my fixed tariff has ended leading to a massive price hike. I see there are big savings to be had with the Cheap Energy Club, but primarily with suppliers I've never even heard of. I've always been with one of the main suppliers for dual fuel, but it looks like they're vastly overcharging. If I were to switch to one of the small companies are there any pitfalls I should be aware of?

Thanks

Skools_Out

Martin_C wrote: »

Hi,
I'm new to the forum ...

Hi Martin C.

I'm not sure how long an MSE membner reamins new for around here, but I see you first registered almost 9 years ago, and that is well over twice as long as I've been around these parts :cool:

So I'm not sure I can offer you any advice; perhaps one of the oldies may be able to assist you ...

But thanks for returning to MSE. Your posts are really valued here, and I trust now you have recommenced your posting after an alomost 9 year hiatus, you will now continue to make further posts.

This forum really needs posters like yourself to post regularly to keep this forum alive.

Sorry to see you had to leave us so soon after your post i.e. immediately.
Perhaps next time you could spare us all a few of your valuable minutes?

JJ_Egan

Unknown suppliers best is to search the Energy forum for feedback on the ones you choose .

macman

There are no pitfalls: CS is usually better outside of the Big 6. If the supplier fails (many of us on here were until very recently Iresa customers), then your credit balance, if any, is protected, and your supplies will not be cut off.