Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

listerdude

Can anyone answer this I signed on to the energy club and did a comparison to find out which supplier would be cheapest. I want a duel fuel supply but I can't understand why they don't state a standing charge for the gas supply but do for the electric...or is that standing charge for both?

victor2

listerdude wrote: »

Can anyone answer this I signed on to the energy club and did a comparison to find out which supplier would be cheapest. I want a duel fuel supply but I can't understand why they don't state a standing charge for the gas supply but do for the electric...or is that standing charge for both?

Look at the suggested supplier's website for tariff details if it's not clear on the energy club pages. Usually, there is a separate standing charge for each fuel, but there are some tariffs with a zero standing charge for one fuel (such as nPower Price Fix April 2015 for example).

listerdude

victor2 wrote: »

Look at the suggested supplier's website for tariff details if it's not clear on the energy club pages. Usually, there is a separate standing charge for each fuel, but there are some tariffs with a zero standing charge for one fuel (such as nPower Price Fix April 2015 for example).

I just wonder why. I just checked a direct quote from the supplier that Energy club says is cheaper but the direct quote is more expensive but I am comparing a fixed to a variable.

Npower is my current supplier and they have sent me letter saying that the rate is changing on December the 1 to 13.03p and a standing charge of 49.98 for Electric while the gase goes to 3.967 with a standing charge of 57.02.
The energy club says I would save money with E.on but it says a standing charge of 50.74p electric at 12.8625p gas at 4.1307p I just don't understand where the claimed £231/year saving is coming from.

victor2

listerdude wrote: »

I just wonder why. I just checked a direct quote from the supplier that Energy club says is cheaper but the direct quote is more expensive but I am comparing a fixed to a variable.

Npower is my current supplier and they have sent me letter saying that the rate is changing on December the 1 to 13.03p and a standing charge of 49.98 for Electric while the gase goes to 3.967 with a standing charge of 57.02.
The energy club says I would save money with E.on but it says a standing charge of 50.74p electric at 12.8625p gas at 4.1307p I just don't understand where the claimed £231/year saving is coming from.

If you are comparing a currently available fixed tariff against a variable one, then the fixed tariff will usually come out more expensive. Where you gain is towards the end of the fix, when variable rates have gone up above the fixed rate. That's the theory anyway.
If nPower have notified you of a rate increase, then you are presumably on a variable tariff with them. Are you feeding the energy club annual usage in kWh for each fuel? That is the only way to get realistic costings. If you are telling it what your current monthly payments are, that is about as much use as the proverbial chocolate teapot.

With your own annual usage figures, it is not difficult to apply them to proposed tariffs (as well as your current one) and see what the annual cost looks like - it should match the comparison site. Don't forget to include any discounts offered and VAT if it isn't included in the rate.

listerdude

victor2 wrote: »

If you are comparing a currently available fixed tariff against a variable one, then the fixed tariff will usually come out more expensive. Where you gain is towards the end of the fix, when variable rates have gone up above the fixed rate. That's the theory anyway.
If nPower have notified you of a rate increase, then you are presumably on a variable tariff with them. Are you feeding the energy club annual usage in kWh for each fuel? That is the only way to get realistic costings. If you are telling it what your current monthly payments are, that is about as much use as the proverbial chocolate teapot.

With your own annual usage figures, it is not difficult to apply them to proposed tariffs (as well as your current one) and see what the annual cost looks like - it should match the comparison site. Don't forget to include any discounts offered and VAT if it isn't included in the rate.

Yes I put the annual use per year into both the energy club comparison and into E.ons site..they simply don't match up energy club claims I would make a saving of £231/year but e.ons site says I would be paying more over that year. I have just noticed an error in e.ons checker. I put in my details correctly including my usage prediction for next year but it under-:undecidedestimates it but a few hundred. As I have that figure on the latter that Npower sent me it was easy to spot the error.

Soutie

Watch out for these guys. They published a 9% increase but when my notification arrived it was 14%.

Consumerist

Soutie wrote: »

Watch out for these guys. They published a 9% increase but when my notification arrived it was 14%.

It's the infamous "average increase" that they publish. Someone, somewhere has a less than 9% increase. Your treat.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

listerdude wrote: »

Can anyone answer this I signed on to the energy club and did a comparison to find out which supplier would be cheapest. I want a duel fuel supply but I can't understand why they don't state a standing charge for the gas supply but do for the electric...or is that standing charge for both?

listerdude wrote: »

E.on but it says a standing charge of 50.74p electric at 12.8625p gas at 4.1307p

Hi listerdude

Just thought I'd clear this one up. You're spot on with your first post. The 50.74p is a joint Standing Charge for both supplies.

Hope this helps.

Malc

AlexMac

I feel a cry for help coming on! So many people seem to have problems switching that I'm nervous to dive in, although given today's energy-bashing comments by the Minister (likening energy suppliers to bad bankers), I'd like to join the bandwaggon and put the boot in too! My problem is that I've had great customer service from British Gas over many years. They never take the urine by stoking up credit, and their online facilities are really user-friendly; meter reading, helpful historic and current usage summaries...

But having just used their tariff-check tool, their prices are eye watering! Although they replied fast when I then emailed in to squeal, they didn't offer any reductions to keep me.

If I go for Standard variable tariff or a Nov 2014 Fix, my annual costs (based on the past year's actual KWhrs) will go up 7%, and 12.5% if I fix til 2016. And this data, from BG, compares the Nov 2013 increases with an annual projection based on today's prices. If I compare them with my actual KWH usage and bills of £1330 over the 12 months to Sept 2013, the increases represent 14.3% and 28%- which are mind-blowing.

So - to turn to my question; while I wouldn't switch for a few% saving, we're possibly talking £100-300pa. What are your experiences of their competitors' customer service, refund policy and online billing & analysis?

Consumerist

AlexMac wrote: »

What are your experiences of their competitors' customer service, refund policy and online billing & analysis?

I have been with Ovo and find their customer service normally quite good (they're busy at the moment). There are occasional hiccups, of course, but they do respond reasonably quickly to emails.

They are not that competitive at the moment.

I'd say your best bet is first to get some results from an (Ofgem approved) energy comparison site and then investigate those suppliers on your short list. Make sure you opt to see ALL suppliers (not just those for which the comparison site gets a hand-out by initiating a switch for you).

Edit
Get quotes for single energy supplies as well as dual fuel. There have been recent reports of cheaper energy by splitting your energy supplies between two suppliers.
.