A simple question regarding switching

DrewKipper

I am with one of the ‘big six’ companies for gas and electric and would like to change. The two figures I need to help make my decision are the standing charge and unit price for each company and yet trying to find this information is almost impossible. Why is this? I get that the price can vary depending on region but it seems to me that the whole industry seems geared to making customers go through tedious comparison sites where you have to detail usage etc. Why? All I want is a table detailing the unit price and standing charges of each company and perhaps an indication of how these have varied over the years. I think if this was available to everyone, ie transparent, then people could make informed decisions without having to wade through lots of stupid tariffs which in my mind seem designed to obscure and confuse what should be a straight forward process. Am I missing something?

wavelets

DrewKipper wrote: »

I am with one of the ‘big six’ companies for gas and electric and would like to change. The two figures I need to help make my decision are the standing charge and unit price for each company and yet trying to find this information is almost impossible. Why is this? I get that the price can vary depending on region but it seems to me that the whole industry seems geared to making customers go through tedious comparison sites where you have to detail usage etc. Why? All I want is a table detailing the unit price and standing charges of each company and perhaps an indication of how these have varied over the years. I think if this was available to everyone, ie transparent, then people could make informed decisions without having to wade through lots of stupid tariffs which in my mind seem designed to obscure and confuse what should be a straight forward process. Am I missing something?

You are missing the fact that energy tariffs are often more complex than just a unit charge and a daily standing charge.

Comparison sites list the details you want to see... and the details you seem to have forgotten all about.

Why keep a dog and bark yourself?
Please follow the MSE advice on how to find yoursef the best deal.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity/

AndyPK

well if you use a comparison site, it will give you some cheap ones to look at. This site has its own comparison tool.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub

YOu can then click on "Feedback & info"
and it will give you the 2 prices you require.
In this case I think they include the 5% VAT

DrewKipper

Thanks for the reply. I guess what I’m saying is that the two figures I’m really interested in seem very hard to compare and I find this frustrating. Why can’t the companies put their unit price and standing charges up front?

I think that the energy industry seems to make matters more complex than they need to be to make it harder to make an informed decision. If I wanted a loan I can quickly either see the various rates offered by an individual lender or compare rates and work out when the deals end etc. and when I need to switch again without having to go through multiple hoops. It’s a lot easier. Why can’t this be the same for the energy industry?

DrewKipper

Thanks AndyPK, I looked at that tool but again would find it a lot easier if there was a tool that compared the basic standing charge and rate. To me that seems to be the most important information I need and I don’t understand why accessing this information is so hard.

DrewKipper

AndyPK I missed the last bit of your message. Will give it a go.

wavelets

DrewKipper wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I guess what I’m saying is that the two figures I’m really interested in seem very hard to compare and I find this frustrating. Why can’t the companies put their unit price and standing charges up front?

I think that the energy industry seems to make matters more complex than they need to be to make it harder to make an informed decision. If I wanted a loan I can quickly either see the various rates offered by an individual lender or compare rates and work out when the deals end etc. and when I need to switch again without having to go through multiple hoops. It’s a lot easier. Why can’t this be the same for the energy industry?

You still appear to be missing the fact that the two numbers you seek are not all the deatils you need to make an informed decision.

But if they are the only 2 you do want to know about, you can either go to a comparison site that collates and displays them all for all the suppliers and all the tariffs on one site.

OR

You can go to the 70+ suppliers different websites out there and find the details there; the supplier will only list their own details.

The choice is yours. No one is hiding anything.

If you want a loan, I suggest a comparison site such as moneyfacts.
But unlike energy comparison sites, they don't list all the offers out there.
Or are you going to all the various lenders yourself to check the costs???

DrewKipper

Wavelets I think you’re missing my point. What I’m saying is that the unit price and standing charges are not that easy to find and I think that those two key figures should be. I don’t necessarily want to have to give my email etc just to get a comparison.

Also, I’m just filling in a comparison site and my current company has over 70 different tariffs. That is ridiculous.

[Deleted User]

UKpower/Uswitch is clearer, easier to use than most comp sites. Have to make sure that you tick the box which says "show all suppliers I can switch to " Only the post code is obligatory , no need to supply email.
Everything is there to see clearly including all tariffs and standing charges. Very easy to use and to play about with editing various settings such as separate gas and electric or variable /fixed tariff and kwh usage for the year or month. The yearly kwh is needed before you try a comp site
Once you have seen what is on offer then you can try the cashback companies Topcashback/Quidco.
MSE comp site pays some cashback too and this is preferred to make the final switch if Quidco/Topcashback does nt yield a decent cashback on your preferred new supplier.

AndyPK

I think suppliers are only permitted to have 4 current tarrifs available forsale at one time.

But they change them at least once a month if not more. Hence the long list!

Be very careful with the name, e.g online, saver, blue. Very easy to select the wrong one!

P.S I agree its ridiculous you need to type is so much info to "get a quote"
But just have your 2 kwh numbers handy

badmemory

What you actually want is for energy suppliers to be honest/upfront/charge what they seem to be saying they will/not charge more for existing customers - good luck with that. It just isn't going to happen & their so called watchdog (ofgem the energy industry's lapdog) isn't even going to try to make it happen either.