Best way to handle electricity in new place

jemmalucy

So we've just moved into a new home and whilst me and my partner have both lived in various places, we've both been in circumstances that meant we haven't had to sort bills ourselves (shared housing, student accommodation, housing supplied through work etc), so we're a bit clueless with the new bills we're managing.

Electricity is currently with e-on and we just got our first bill today. It was £23.16 for the two weeks we've lived here. So that suggests £46ish per month from now on. This seems quite high given that we're only in a pretty small one bed flat and pretty much everything here is run by the gas (we've not had anything from gas supplier yet so dreading what that will be )

E-on have offered us to switch to direct debit for £45.34 per month. This price is protected for 12 months but there is a £30 exit fee.

Alternatively I've had a look at the comparison sights and companies like igloo and bulb have estimated £39 per month with no exit fee but this rate type is listed as variable.

The cheapest comparison I can find that is fixed for 12 months like the e-on offer is with toto energy at a cost of £41 per month and a similar £30 exit fee.

I'm not sure what is best to do. Do we stick with e-on as we are currently or change to their fixed 12 months deal which suggests a saving (albeit a fairly small one) or do I change to totoenergy and get an every so slightly better deal than that? Is it worth the hassle? On the other hand, should I change to igloo or bulb which would work out a fairly good saving over the year (around £190), even though they are variable tariffs?

OR should I wait another full month and see what our usage is for a full month? Obviously this month we were moving in and given that we didn't have internet for the first week and a half I imagine we're actually using more than that now that we do have the internet and TV here so should I quickly change to a fixed tariff?

I'm so confused! :rotfl:

Any advice would be welcomed!

Robin9

Please remember that the DD is not cast in stone - what you pay depends on what you use.

Have a look at your first bill - 1) is the opening read what you gave Eon - 2) is the latest read an ACTUAL (A) or ESTIMATED (E) or (C).

What you must do is read your meter regularly - at least once an month -give it to your supplier and keep your own record. You are reading your meters aren't you.

If it does prove to be £40 or £50 you are doing quite well. Energy isn't cheap and you have been sheltered over the years.

D_M_E

Was the first bill estimated - a guess from Eon - or actual - based on actual readings which you supplied?

You will be on Eon's standard expensive tarriff so you need to decide pretty quick whether you want to stay with them or go somewhere else.

You should base your payments on actual usage, not what you pay per month, so make an estimate of what you expect to use over 12 months and use that on a comparison site or phone Eon and tell them and ask what they can do for you.

For example try 2000KwH for electric and 15000KwH for gas as estimates - over 12 months may be about right and if you use less will give you a buffer for winter which is about finished now.

jemmalucy

D_M_E wrote: »

Was the first bill estimated - a guess from Eon - or actual - based on actual readings which you supplied?

You will be on Eon's standard expensive tarriff so you need to decide pretty quick whether you want to stay with them or go somewhere else.

You should base your payments on actual usage, not what you pay per month, so make an estimate of what you expect to use over 12 months and use that on a comparison site or phone Eon and tell them and ask what they can do for you.

For example try 2000KwH for electric and 15000KwH for gas as estimates - over 12 months may be about right and if you use less will give you a buffer for winter which is about finished now.

It was based on meter readings we supplied.

When looking at the tariff page it says that it estimates we use 2694kWh per year and that's what their offer is based on. That's a number it won't let me edit.

At the moment the tariff we're on is just paying what we used so it was £22.06 for the two weeks we have been here (plus VAT). It's broken down as £18.64 for usage charges and £3.42 standing charges. The usage is down as 115kWh for the two week period.

jemmalucy

Robin9 wrote: »

Please remember that the DD is not cast in stone - what you pay depends on what you use.

Have a look at your first bill - 1) is the opening read what you gave Eon - 2) is the latest read an ACTUAL (A) or ESTIMATED (E) or (C).

What you must do is read your meter regularly - at least once an month -give it to your supplier and keep your own record. You are reading your meters aren't you.

If it does prove to be £40 or £50 you are doing quite well. Energy isn't cheap and you have been sheltered over the years.

Yes and it's an actual reading as we supplied the readings on the day moved in and the day the reading was due. OK that's good to know!

Robin9

Variable means that it can change over the coming months - and it probably will. Fixed means your tariff and your standing charge is fixed for the 12 months - as above what you will actually pay depends on your usage.

As you are doing - keep reading that meter. Do your own sums.

nigelbb

jemmalucy wrote: »

It was based on meter readings we supplied.

When looking at the tariff page it says that it estimates we use 2694kWh per year and that's what their offer is based on. That's a number it won't let me edit.

At the moment the tariff we're on is just paying what we used so it was £22.06 for the two weeks we have been here (plus VAT). It's broken down as £18.64 for usage charges and £3.42 standing charges. The usage is down as 115kWh for the two week period.

Electricity cost of 16.21p/kWh & 24.4p/day standing charge are not enormously high but you could find cheaper if you switch.

If you are heating & cooking with gas your consumption is a bit high. Check that no high powered electrical items like an oven or immersion heater is left switched on.

[Deleted User]

jemmalucy wrote: »

When looking at the tariff page it says that it estimates we use 2694kWh per year and that's what their offer is based on.

Go onto any approved price comparison site and use E.ON's estimate to see how their Standard Variable tariff compares to what is available. That estimate will be based on the last 2 years history of the property so is a very good starting point.
A list of approved sites can be found at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/how-switch-energy-supplier-and-shop-better-deal/compare-gas-and-electricity-tariffs-ofgem-accredited-price-comparison-sites