Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

silvercar

Consumerist wrote: »

You seem to be a relatively high user so perhaps that has made a difference.

If in doubt, use any of the Ofgem-approved energy comparison sites to confirm your findings. I use <UK Power> if you want to try that one.

Thanks for that. It also showed the same ovo tariff. It showed the British gas one at £2295.

GrandmaStar

I had problems with my previous supplier ..I have no idea how much of each fuel I used in a year .. I have been with my current supplier less than a year.
My bills now show Tariff Comparison Rates ( TCR )
Why do the comparison sites not use this ?

Nada666

GrandmaStar wrote: »

I had problems with my previous supplier ..I have no idea how much of each fuel I used in a year .. I have been with my current supplier less than a year.
My bills now show Tariff Comparison Rates ( TCR )
Why do the comparison sites not use this ?

If you have no idea of how much fuel you are likely to use (why is this? I never understand that statement) what use is a Tariff Comparison Rate?

I hope comparison sites continue to manage to hide the TCRs. They will appear in the detailed results but do hope they do not migrate to a more prominent position - they are misleading and useless for many.

If you want to compare your current supplier and tariff take a guess at your likely consumption (it's the end of winter you should have some idea by now) and use a comparison site - far more sensible than parsing tariff information labels or comparing TCRs.

Consumerist

GrandmaStar wrote: »

I had problems with my previous supplier ..I have no idea how much of each fuel I used in a year .. I have been with my current supplier less than a year.
My bills now show Tariff Comparison Rates ( TCR )
Why do the comparison sites not use this ?

TCR is a generalised figure whereas what customers want to know is a personalised figure of how much their energy is likely to cost them at a given consumption level.

My advice to you is to read your meters, keep your own record and submit those readings monthly to your supplier. In a year you'll know exactly how much you used. In the meantime, your supplier's bills should give you their own estimate of your likely annual consumption; use their estimates as a guide until you have your own annual consumption figures.

boobbby

I have to disagree with previous comments on the TCR as it allows the average customer to compare all the companies using the same average usage. Maybe somebody could take the trouble to show that a company with a higher TCR than another company with a lower TCR would work out cheaper.

wavelets

boobbby wrote: »

I have to disagree with previous comments on the TCR as it allows the average customer to compare all the companies using the same average usage. Maybe somebody could take the trouble to show that a company with a higher TCR than another company with a lower TCR would work out cheaper.

Surely unless you are that 'average user' then any variation is likely.

I would suggest you look at a user that uses say just 1kWh per year
That should quickly give you an example that you are looking for

If it was as simple as every consumer looking at TCR comparisons, there would be no need for comparison sites to ask for your usage details.

Consumerist

boobbby wrote: »

. . . Maybe somebody could take the trouble to show that a company with a higher TCR than another company with a lower TCR would work out cheaper.

You could have a look at this <article from Utility Week (April 2013)>

TCR is about as useful, or useless, as RPI or CPI are to consumers.

Trasimeno

I have recently discovered that it is all very well and good to encourage people to swap their energy supplier for one that offers better value for their circumstances. But if you are on a low income and consequently rent a flat you can barely afford, because that's the price you have to pay in the area, then more than likely the gas and electricity meters will not be registered on the National Grid system and it will be a nightmare to get things sorted.

Once you rent the property you read the meters and take the serial numbers. You call the supplier (possibly chosen by the Landlord) you register and get an account number. Fine but having researched prices you want to swap to a better value supplier. Unless the existing supplier has registered the meters with the National Grid as to the ownership (registered address of rental property) then you have a problem. You cannot swap suppliers and must rely on the existing supplier to unravel the problem, then come out to check the address and meters and eventually register them. The onus is on the existing supplier, so why should they make much of an effort when you want to stop using them? You will be faced with questions like... What is the MPAN number and the MPRN number that only your present supplier knows. You will be told about ECOES & XOSERVE ...all to no avail.

The whole experience is crushing when you are already struggling on a low income. Bad Landlords get away with renting shabby flats and discouraging tenants to get better deals on Gas and Electricty. Surely there should be a way of giving more power to the tenant who wants to swap suppliers? If you know and can tell me then I would welcome your comments.

landolas

Using this site I found a competitive price and switched from Scottish Power to EON. Or at least I, my new supplier EON and this site thought I did. Unfortunately Scottish Power seem to think differently and continue to charge me for energy which they haven't supplied since January. Despite a plethora of emails and calls (mainly from me to them!) and numerous promises to resolve the problem, I have now had to invoke the help of the Ombudsman. My word of warning would be to ensure that your old supplier is able to send you a closing statement and also to ensure that you know how much money you may be in credit and do not assume they will pay you until asked. Ah well, seven months in - and you can bet I'll get no interest on my money they've kept back or compensation for the grief they've caused!

MSE_Dan_L

Hi Landolas

I'm sorry to hear that you've had some problems following your switch with Cheap Energy Club. This shouldn't happen, but occasionally suppliers do make errors following a switch. Hopefully your complaint to the Energy Ombudsman will help to resolve this, (it sounds like you've already read our guide on Reclaiming Energy Refunds)
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/reclaim-energy-bill-refunds

We've also updated our FAQ on Direct Debit cancellations, to make things clearer for our users.
https://cheapenergyclub.moneysavingexpert.com/faq