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Energy comparison site figures - I'm confused

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I am trying to find the best Gas and Electricity tariffs for my mother, using various comparison sites.

The estimated annual costs based on actual usage figures for last 12 months vary from site to site.

I set up a spreadsheet to calculate annual cost of standing charge plus annual cost of fuel minus any discount for each company and in every case my calculation is higher than the figure on the comparison site.

Surely this should be an easy calculation? I'm not sure where I am going wrong.

Comments

  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Without seeing your spreadsheet it's not easy to say.

    Some suggestions :

    1) VAT
    2) Are you using kwh in every case, not number of rooms or how much is your existing DD
    3) Some sites are more inclusive than others
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • Thanks for your reply.

    The comparison site figures I have used include VAT and I have entered annual kwh figure based on usage over the past 12 months.

    My spreadsheet calculates
    a) standing charge for 365 days and
    b) kwh x unit price
    then adds both figures together to give annual cost and takes off any discounts (smart meter, DD etc.,)

    Not sure what you mean by "Some sites are more inclusive than others"
  • I've found that comparison site tariffs differ from the tariffs offered directly by the energy supplier. How much is the difference? The easiest mistake to make is to swap so you're entering electricity unit prices for gas ones or vice-versa.



    My spreadsheet figures come out the same as what I get direct from the energy supplier tariffs.
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 34,487 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    MSE, for instance, shows after cash back annual cost.
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Moonstone - as a test of your spreadsheet put in the readings and rates as shown on your last bill.
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
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