Cheap Energy Club - British Gas tariffs

loughlini

On the advice of the Cheap Energy Club I decided to switch my BG tariff from a dual fixed to the Energy Plus Protection Green Jun 2020. This was supposed to save me £355 pa.
I have just had a letter from BG about my new payment plan but the details are exactly the same as what I'm already paying by DD. The girl at BG says that my DD will stay the same but the energy (standing charge and watts) will be cheaper. I was expecting my DD to be reduced under the new tariff.
Will I end up with an actual saving or am I being a thicko?

Robin9

The savings shown on the comparison sites assume that you will be supplied on your present suppliers STANDARD tariff not on the existing one.

It is best that you do your own sums.

JJ_Egan

What is the current tariff and what was your last tariff costs .


DD is only an estimate not an actual charge for total amount used .

loughlini

My previous tariff was BG's HomeEnergy Secure Mar 2021. I was paying £65.08/month for gas and £48.93/month for electric.
When I got the MSE notification about a cheaper tariff it implied that my monthly DD would be reduced. (That's why I opted for it).
Maybe my DD is based on actual usage and will be reduced in due course. Don't know why this has to be so difficult.

JJ_Egan

Difficult as comparisons are against Standard Tariff .
Complain to the regulator that makes those rules .

matelodave

Look at what the standing charge is and what the cost per kwh is and compare them with your previous tariff.

Unless one or both are less then you'll not save any money.

Learn how to work it out and you wont be surprised because you'll have done the sums yourself and you'll understand how it works

Just multiply your last 12 months worth of energy (in kwh) by the cost per kwh. Add to this the the standing charge (365 x the s/c) add them together and add 5% vat if its not been included and thsi will give you the cost for 12 months worth of energy. Divide it by 12 to get the monthly DD amount. .

You DD isn't your bill it's an amount of money that you pay towards your bill based on an estimate of how much you'll use in a year. If you use more than the estimate, then your DD will be insufficient, if you use less then you'll pay a bit extra and you'll be able to get it back. If you use last years actual consumption then your estimate will be a lot more accurate than a random guess by the supplier.

The bill should be based on actual meter readings. You do give monthly meter readings don't you? and hopefully you check your bill or on line statement to ensure that it's correct and using the meter readings that you send in.

loughlini

I have a smart meter so don't need to submit readings. I accept the fact that I can check the costings myself. The only reason I subscribe to the Cheap Energy Club is so that I don't have to, and can leave the comparisons to experts.

Joyful

You should have hit the compare tariff button on the BG website. It has your info and would tell you if any savings could be made.

loughlini

Joyful wrote: »

You should have hit the compare tariff button on the BG website. It has your info and would tell you if any savings could be made.

Joyful - I did do the comparison. That's why I decided to switch.

Talldave

loughlini wrote: »

Joyful - I did do the comparison. That's why I decided to switch.

On the BG website, as Joyful stated?

Joyful

A few months ago I too changed tariffs and my dd did not change. I am glad it did not as I still have my heating on! For anyone else, if you are a large amount in credit go to your online account and reduce your dd.