Low Standing Charge

EnergyRookie

davidm_uk wrote: »

My mum in law has just gone into a care home. She owns her house but we are just going to "mothball" it for the time being (security lights and low level heating). So I'm looking for an energy supplier (dual fuel) with low or zero standing charges. It must be a not uncommon situation, so does anyone have any recommendations (positive or negative). Don't suggest MSE Cheap Energy Club, been there, rates are out of date!

If you have evidence that any of the displayed rates are out of date (maybe allow 2-3 days to update for any recent changes), then please contact the energy club with your evidence.

I can't say I agree with your assertions.

MSE get their tariff information direct from their parent company MSM, which is accredited by Ofgem as an energy comparison site, and therefore comply with the Ofgem Confidence Code.

If MSE attempt to pass the buck, then complain direct to MSM. As an ofgem accedited comparison site, they must operate an effective complaints process. And if you still remain unhappy, you can then complain to Ofgem (and I do mean Ofgem, not an ombudsman service) about MSM.

Heres' the full list of all Ogem accredited comparison sites:

Energy Helpline
Energylinx
The Energy Shop
Money Supermarket
My Utility Genius
Runpath
Simply Switch
Switch Gas and Electric
Quotezone
Unravel It
uSwitch

Always good to check a couple, just to ensure you get consistent results
Don't forget if you use the special MSE links available here, you can earn possible cashback/free wine for any switch through those particular sites

Gerry1

EnergyRookie wrote: »

Here's the full list of all Ofgem accredited comparison sites:

The Ofgem accreditation is meaningless because it allows price comparison websites to exclude the cheapest suppliers (those that don't pay them commission, e.g. Symbio).

Ofgem's flawed methodology also means that the closer you are to the end of a fixed tariff, the more likely it is that many sites will switch you to a tariff that's more expensive; the comparison assumes that you will do nothing an pay expensive standard rates.

EnergyRookie

Gerry1 wrote: »

The Ofgem accreditation is meaningless because it allows price comparison websites to exclude the cheapest suppliers (those that don't pay them commission, e.g. Symbio).

Ofgem's flawed methodology also means that the closer you are to the end of a fixed tariff, the more likely it is that many sites will switch you to a tariff that's more expensive; the comparison assumes that you will do nothing an pay expensive standard rates.

In your opinion

2. Why choose a Confidence Code comparison service?

The Confidence Code is a code of practice to govern independent energy price comparison sites and how they operate their services. Ofgem accredits sites to the Code. This means that if you use an accredited website, you can be sure that the prices and options displayed have been calculated fairly in an unbiased way.
We regularly review the code to make sure it provides the right protections for consumers.

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

Most, if not all, of the Ofgem accredited comparison sites include all suppliers & tariffs (unless a supplier explicity requests it not to be listed on the comparison site)
You may need to change the the list displayed by default to show all the suppliers.

Using your example, I have found Symbio Energy (a newly lauched, small supplier who only supplies electricity, so you won't find them listed if you are searching for a dual fuel tariff) on a number of the Ofgem accredited comparison sites listed above
(I stopped checking once I found then on a number of sites)

As for the calculation method, can you suggest an improvement? If so, contact Ofgem with your suggestions.
Most of the Ofgem accredited comparison sites give the annual cost of any tariff listed for your consumption and supply region. (assuming no price change over the year)

As this thread is about searching for a supplier/tariff that has low or zero standing charges to support an effectively empty property (albit with some usage to support low level heating over winter, security lighting, etc) then I think your attempted criticism of my post is totally inappropriate.

Ofgem accredited comparison sites do not switch you unless you ask them to and they have an affiliate relationship with that particular supplier.

You may be confusing Ofgem accredited comparison sites with automatic switching sites which are entirely different, do only list those suppliers with which they have an affiliate relationship, and are not themselves Ofgem accredited

Gerry1

EnergyRookie wrote: »

Most, if not all, of the Ofgem accredited comparison sites include all suppliers & tariffs

The CEC doesn't include Symbio.

EnergyRookie wrote: »

You may need to change the the list displayed by default to show all the suppliers.

Yes, I'm well aware of that, I'm not that stupid.

EnergyRookie wrote: »

As your the calculation method, can you suggest an improvement?

Yes, just give a snapshot of the existing annual costs.

EnergyRookie wrote: »

Ofgem accredited comparison sites do not switch you unless you ask them to and they have an affiliate relationship with that particular supplier.

Yes, I'm well aware of that, I'm not that stupid.

EnergyRookie wrote: »

You may be confusing Ofgem accredited comparison sites with automatic switching sites which are entirely different, do only list those suppliers with which they have an affiliate relationship, and are not Ofgem accredited

No, I'm not that stupid.

EnergyRookie

Gerry1 wrote: »

The CEC doesn't include Symbio.
Yes, I'm well aware of that, I'm not that stupid.
Yes, just give a snapshot of the existing annual costs.
Yes, I'm well aware of that, I'm not that stupid.
No, I'm not that stupid.

The CEC is not included in the comprehensive list of current Ofgem accredited comparison sites I provided above .;)
It is therefore not covered by the Ofgem Confidence Code.

Why do you want a snapshot of the annual costs of a tariff that is coming to end?
Perhaps you would also like a snapshot of annual costs from a decade ago to see just how much prices have changed :cool:

And then a snapshot of annual income you had 10 years ago too???

You need to look to the future, not what you had (or perhaps missed) in the past.

But if you do like to look to the past, the CEC (a site you appear to prefer to use) does allow the historical calculation you ask for, as does at least one, if not more, of the Ofgem accredited comparison sites.

Horses for courses, mate!

Gerry1

You've completely missed the point, I'm talking about prices at the instant that the enquiry is made, NOT what they may have been in the past.

If I'm paying £1000 p.a. now, I don't want to be told that switching to a tariff costing £1300 p.a. will save me money just because my current supplier would move me to a standard tariff costing £2000 p.a. in the future if I did nothing.

The CEC really should do better. It says it'll do it'll do 'a full market comparison', but it doesn't, despite its parent Money Supermarket being Ofgem accredited.

FelineFunk

Gerry1 wrote: »

You've completely missed the point, ...

With due respect, you appear to have missed the point.
The point of this thread, the points made by others, etc.

Please refrain from posting until you have carefully read and considered the thread topic and the points others have made in an attempt to assist the OP.

And then, if you have anything of value to add, pleases do so, keeping to the subject matter of this thread, rather than attempting to push your own agenda.

If you wish to discuss anything else, please feel free to start your own thread on that topic. Pleanty of threads here already discussing the pros and cons of what Ofgen have carefully considered is the best option to advise customers of energy savings. As already pointed out, most of the comparison sites show the current annual cost of any specific tariff (for a given usage and supply region) anyway.