SSE tarriff and smart meter

Jint

Hi all, been with SSE for nearly a year and have had that 'your tarriff is coming to an end email'. Logged on to their site and checked what they're offering. Roughly £1600 pa. Went to Uswitch and loads of options for roughly £1200 pa, including one from SSE?! Am I missing something? SSE through U-switch £400 pa cheaper than from SSE? I've used the usage SSE have suggested for my new tarriff on uSwitch so it is like for like but I feel like I've made a mistake somewhere along the line. Or is this likely to really be the case?

Also they've been hounding me wanting to install a smart meter. Given they call me as often as PPI I'm suspicious and haven't agreed yet. I feel like there might be a catch? Would accept a smart meter from SSE prevent me switching to another provider?
thanks
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Dee72

Jint wrote: »

Hi all, been with SSE for nearly a year and have had that 'your tarriff is coming to an end email'. Logged on to their site and checked what they're offering. Roughly £1600 pa. Went to Uswitch and loads of options for roughly £1200 pa, including one from SSE?! Am I missing something? SSE through U-switch £400 pa cheaper than from SSE? I've used the usage SSE have suggested for my new tarriff on uSwitch so it is like for like but I feel like I've made a mistake somewhere along the line. Or is this likely to really be the case?

Also they've been hounding me wanting to install a smart meter. Given they call me as often as PPI I'm suspicious and haven't agreed yet. I feel like there might be a catch? Would accept a smart meter from SSE prevent me switching to another provider?
thanks
x

That's probably about right.

MSE always say an average user can save about £300 by switching.
You seem to be an above average user if you are spending £1600 pa - the average being more like £1200pa, so a £400 is nothing strange.

If you want someone to double check your results for you, post your annual usage in kWh figures here, along with your supply region.

I wouldn't bother ordering a smart meter if you are about to change supplier - wait until you have switched. Otherwsie there is a high risk your order for a smart meter will be cancelled as soon as your current supplier gets notified you are switching from them.

JJ_Egan

Average user saving only applies to those that are paying way to much or are on a standard tariff .


Key is always the unit rates and standing charge not some mythical saving or estimated direct debit .

Jint

Thanks Dee, I did expect a saving (I change almost yearly for that reason) but I'm shocked that SSE direct is £400 more than SSE if I go via uSwitch. And JJ I'm not comparing standard tariff to special deal, I'm comparing the best deal SSE will offer me to stay with them versus 'switching' to them via uSwitch. Seems bonkers!

matelodave

I had the same with SSE a couple of years ago. I had a decent tariff which came to it's end but the SSE offers were ridiculously expensive so I moved.

Unfortunately you've really got to keep on your toes to avoid being stitched but it usually means swapping suppliers.

TBH if you are happy sending in monthly readings then there's no real advantage in having a smart meter unless you can get a good deal by having one. I've got an SEE smart meter which has been dumb since I left them but it's convenient to use the IHD to remotely read it rather than going outside into the rain, wind and snow.

SSE still only updated the bills quarterly which although accurate when they were produced they didn't give you as much info as they could have done (even the tariff data on the IHD was wrong). You couldn't go on line and get an up to the minute status of your account to find out if you were in credit or debit.

JJ_Egan

For the last 3 or 4 years the most real savings i could make was about £30 PA . That was based upon actual cost of current tariff and actual cost of any new tariff .


I ignore the Ofcom based method of calculation based upon moving to a standard tariff .
Month 17 of current 24 month tariff and still MSE says i can save but i would pay more .

Jint

Thanks Matelodave, that's good to know re smart meters. I've never had a company pursue me so much for something that would benefit me so I guess I'm just a little cynical
JJ, I"m the same, as I move so often I rarely save much, it's just generally that staying costs more rather than moving saves much which is why this is so weird, and particularly weird to get the saving by 'moving' to my existing company! Bonkers!

Talldave

I switched to SSE back in May on a uSwitch "smart meter" tariff which was cheaper than any SSE direct tariff. I've had one letter about smart meters and that's it.

Jint

Thanks Talldave, very interesting. I've had numerous phone calls (that sound just like PPI when you first pick up), texts, letters in the post....
Good to know that going through uSwitch works out okay
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