Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

egglife

Hi,

I am moving into a new student house next week. And we are trying to check those comparing website to see which company offers the best tariff.

However, the problem is that our rental contract will ends in mid-July. Most of the contracts we found require 1 year with a cancellation fees apply if we ends early. Moreover, many contracts will only offer discounts when you use them for 1 year. And those discount will be considered by those comparing website.

So, how can I choose from those price comparing sites? Just ignore those traiff with 1 year or above contract period?

Many thanks.

KimYeovil

egglife wrote: »

So, how can I choose from those price comparing sites? Just ignore those traiff with 1 year or above contract period?

Good news! You may choose the tariffs with penalty charges as they do not apply if you cancel due to moving house.

Watch out for tariffs with annual discounts, though - nPower and Atlantic and some Scottish Power offers.

Susan1942

I had been entering my no of units based on previous bills but have now discovered the past year and I am using 2280 day use and 12808 units of economy 7.
Currently with Go direct 5 and am thinking of changing to Scottish Power on line 11 where the units are costing less.
Looks like with Uswitch I would save £119 but the figures when I enter them into Moneysupermarket are saying £345 and energyhelpline also is higher than uswitch. I can't understand the big difference in figures.
Uswitch ask me to put in the units of each whereas the others ask me to submit a percentage of night units. This must be where the difference is.
I have a £50 penalty for Go direct 5 so am wondering if it is worth my while to save £85 mind you I would get some cashback which would off set the £50. The question is is it worth while?
I thought I had switched middle of last week but for some reason the details did not go through.

Welcome comments

Sue

Would welcome advice.

Spendaholic_Chick

My head is spinning with cashback sites and tariffs and comparisons....can anyone advise please?

I'm currently with British Gas for both Gas and Elec, just received annual statements which (along with Martin's email) prompted me to look into switching. They estimate my annual use for the next year will cost me £525.74 (Gas) and £385.82 (elec).

Looking at the energy helpline website, npower would be the cheapest to switch to, followed by eon, scottish power and ovo - however none of the listed tariffs are the ones on Quidco. I'm not sure how to compare the tariffs to see whether the cashback is available, or if I will get it? Confused!

Premier_2

Spendaholic_Chick wrote: »

My head is spinning with cashback sites and tariffs and comparisons....can anyone advise please?

I'm currently with British Gas for both Gas and Elec, just received annual statements which (along with Martin's email) prompted me to look into switching. They estimate my annual use for the next year will cost me £525.74 (Gas) and £385.82 (elec).

Looking at the energy helpline website, npower would be the cheapest to switch to, followed by eon, scottish power and ovo - however none of the listed tariffs are the ones on Quidco. I'm not sure how to compare the tariffs to see whether the cashback is available, or if I will get it? Confused!

You should always use consumption in kWh for the best results.
If you don't have that detail available from previous bills, your supplier should be able to provide it.

Then use a comparison site to find the best deal that suits you.

But before clicking on it, go to a cashback site (as you did when you visted quidco) to see if you can get the same tariff via them for more cashback. It may be the supplier isn't included on the cash back site, or even if they are, the specfic tariff you are interested in is not offered. (Often, but not always, cashback sites require payments by direct debit)

If no cashback site gives you the tariff you want, buy through the comparison site that offers the best cashback (typically in the region of £15-£30 via MSE links).

The tariff is the important part; any cashback should be considered an added bonus if available.

blahblahdoh

Spendaholic_Chick wrote: »

My head is spinning with cashback sites and tariffs and comparisons....can anyone advise please?

I'm currently with British Gas for both Gas and Elec, just received annual statements which (along with Martin's email) prompted me to look into switching. They estimate my annual use for the next year will cost me £525.74 (Gas) and £385.82 (elec).

Looking at the energy helpline website, npower would be the cheapest to switch to, followed by eon, scottish power and ovo - however none of the listed tariffs are the ones on Quidco. I'm not sure how to compare the tariffs to see whether the cashback is available, or if I will get it? Confused!

If you want a simple answer - go for eon via Quidco

Premier_2

blahblahdoh wrote: »

If you want a simple answer - go for eon via Quidco

Simple perhaps, but not the cheapest it would seem
(nor the simplest which would probably be to apprach the supplier direct or go via the comparison site used).

hoopstars

Susan1942 wrote: »

I had been entering my no of units based on previous bills but have now discovered the past year and I am using 2280 day use and 12808 units of economy 7.
Currently with Go direct 5 and am thinking of changing to Scottish Power on line 11 where the units are costing less.
Looks like with Uswitch I would save £119 but the figures when I enter them into Moneysupermarket are saying £345 and energyhelpline also is higher than uswitch. I can't understand the big difference in figures.
Uswitch ask me to put in the units of each whereas the others ask me to submit a percentage of night units. This must be where the difference is.
I have a £50 penalty for Go direct 5 so am wondering if it is worth my while to save £85 mind you I would get some cashback which would off set the £50. The question is is it worth while?
I thought I had switched middle of last week but for some reason the details did not go through.

Welcome comments

Sue

Would welcome advice.

Hi I have economy7 and am with Utility Warehouse, did the comparison sites and chose Scottish Power, had emails and letters from both companies saying everything was going ahead and giving me a timeframe for my switch and then today had letter from SP saying that due to the "metering configuration in my premises" (Economy7) they can't offer me a "suitable compatible electricity pricing arrangement" and they advise me to have my Off Peak meter removed to comply. UW will charge me £45+VAT to remove meter or they can charge me as if I don't have Economy7 i.e. flat daytime rate (no cheap rate at night) but for this I have to pay a flat fee of £15! All this even though I was asked what Economy7 % or units I used when I completed the comparison sites. Just thought it might be helpful to know though I am not sure what to do now to get a better tariff.
Good Luck

Premier_2

hoopstars wrote: »

Hi I have economy7 and am with Utility Warehouse, did the comparison sites and chose Scottish Power, had emails and letters from both companies saying everything was going ahead and giving me a timeframe for my switch and then today had letter from SP saying that due to the "metering configuration in my premises" (Economy7) they can't offer me a "suitable compatible electricity pricing arrangement" and they advise me to have my Off Peak meter removed to comply. UW will charge me £45+VAT to remove meter or they can charge me as if I don't have Economy7 i.e. flat daytime rate (no cheap rate at night) but for this I have to pay a flat fee of £15! All this even though I was asked what Economy7 % or units I used when I completed the comparison sites. Just thought it might be helpful to know though I am not sure what to do now to get a better tariff.
Good Luck

If you genuinely have E7, almost all suppliers will support this; certainly Scottish Power will, as will all the 'big six'.

If Scottish Power are saying they can't offer you a suitable tariff, then it sounds like you've got an oddball tariff (like E10 or something).
Sadly options will be extremely limited in such a circumstance, and attempts to change nearly always end in tears. I'm surprised your current supplier will support...perhaps they just haven't realised what type of installation you really have yet.

Usually, but not always, it's only the legacy supplier for the area that will support ... and then sometimes only for existing customers on that tariff.

You can, of course, get the meter changed. It may be easier siad than done, but nothing is impossible. What you need to consider though is will the existing installation/appliances (most usually heating) suit a different meter/tariff.

hoopstars

Thanks Premier, I definitely have Economy7, meter shows Low and Normal readings and I have even checked times when electricity is cheaper with Utility Warehouse (12midnight to 6am). I have been with UW for about 5 years, so would assume they would have realised if I had something strange with my meter.
I don't understand why there is a problem switching either as I was quoted a night rate when I did my comparison. I have today used a different comparison site (Uswitch) and input my exact day and night usage and still SP come out as cheapest for me, I telephoned Uswitch and asked if my results were for E7 usage and they confirmed that yes, the results were for E7. However the young lady said that they have had similar complaints in the past and that SP don't like a particular type of E7 meter (presumably the one I have)! I will telephone SP on Monday and see if I can find out exactly what the problem is. Their Ts&Cs even state that the offer is open to anyone with either a single or two rate meter. I will post what happens so it may be of help to others.
In response to your last paragraph, I don't know if it's relevant but when we moved in the house had electric ceiling heating which didn't work properly, so we had it disconnected and gas central heating put in(that was 5 years ago). So we don't use enough electricity at night rate to make E7 viable anyway, although I do put washing machine and dishwasher on at night but only because we have E7.