Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

HuttonFrank_2

I am perfectly capable of deciding if one Tariff is better than another. I know how much Gas and Electricity I use per year. I just spent ages trying to find out what the ACTUAL figures for the BIG SWITCH 7 Tariff are. My present fixed deals are ending NOW. Comparing with my current tariffs is useless. :mad:

molerat

MSE CEC easily gives you all the information you need including unit price, daily charge and discounts. By inputting all your data it compares most of the available tariffs against each other and against your current tariff and the do nothing option as well as the annual cost for your selected usage. It does all the hard work for you.

KTF

Johnnn wrote: »

They told me it was only available to expiring Blue+ Fixed price May 2017 customers. Strangly it works out just cheaper than the Cheap Energy Club switch.....

John

I am on Blue+Price Promise June 2017 and Blue+Fixed Price June 2018 is showing as available to switch to. What I cant work out is how it is cheaper based on the figures they are showing.

June 2017 on left, June 2018 on the right:

Electricity
Daily standing charge 18.90p per day 18.90p per day
Unit rate 10.03p per kWh 15.05p per kWh
TCR 12.26p per kWh 17.28p per kWh

Gas
Daily standing charge 26.25p per day 26.25p per day
Unit rate 2.211p per kWh 3.116p per kWh
TCR 2.98p per kWh 3.89p per kWh

How can it be cheaper when the standing charge is the same but the unit rate higher? The TCR suggests it would cost more as well.

victor2

KTF wrote: »

I am on Blue+Price Promise June 2017 and Blue+Fixed Price June 2018 is showing as available to switch to. What I cant work out is how it is cheaper based on the figures they are showing.

June 2017 on left, June 2018 on the right:

Electricity
Daily standing charge 18.90p per day 18.90p per day
Unit rate 10.03p per kWh 15.05p per kWh
TCR 12.26p per kWh 17.28p per kWh

Gas
Daily standing charge 26.25p per day 26.25p per day
Unit rate 2.211p per kWh 3.116p per kWh
TCR 2.98p per kWh 3.89p per kWh

How can it be cheaper when the standing charge is the same but the unit rate higher? The TCR suggests it would cost more as well.

It's not cheaper than the June 2017 tariff, but using the official OFGEM method of calculating, it will assume you go onto the supplier's standard variable tariff when the fix ends, which will be more expensive. Hence the totally artificial "saving".

KTF

victor2 wrote: »

It's not cheaper than the June 2017 tariff, but using the official OFGEM method of calculating, it will assume you go onto the supplier's standard variable tariff when the fix ends, which will be more expensive. Hence the totally artificial "saving".

Ah, I see. Its compared against the SVR. Thanks.

I can change the MSE site to say that I am on the June 2018 tariff which makes it easier to compare the results.

mike_stone

Just changed to SO Energy from OVO. This was based Firstly on the Price but the Second Element that did it for me was their Reports on Trust Pilot. Their Rating was Excellent - 9.3 From a range of 0 - 10.
From a total of 259 people 214 gave them 5 Star the top rating.
The remainder -
37 - 4 star
2 - 3 star
3 - 2 star
3 - 1 star

Compare that to Green Star Energy, who are the Energy Deal of the moment, who by my Calculations are £33.00 a Year more Expensive than SO Energy.
But when you look at Trust Pilot - Green Star Energy has 19 Reviews they only get 2 - 5 star but get 14 - 1 star. Dismal or What !

This may be a small numerical sample but I think it shows which way the wind is blowing

Hope this is of assistance to those considering a change of Supplier.

Consumerist

mike_stone wrote: »

. . . This may be a small numerical sample but I think it shows which way the wind is blowing. . .

Hi mike stone and welcome to the forum.

The problem with small suppliers is that they can make their prices look very attractive and then they can become overwhelmed by demand. What may be a good service today might not be so good in a year's time.

Looking at <CAB's energy complaint statistics>, based on actual complaints, can paint a slightly different story.

Slinky

Anybody who has their energy through Engie Power and pays by direct debit from Santander 123, I queried with them why I wasn't getting cashback on my direct debits. They have investigated and now added Engie to their list of companies they will give cashback on but won't backdate it. Check to make sure you're getting it in future, and if not, query it with them.


If your supplier isn't listed as part of their cashback scheme there's something at the bottom of the list saying you can ask for it to be added, so it's worth contacting them to ask.

Comicguy76

I'm new to MSE and looking for advice. I am a small business owner and have recently agreed to enter into a new electricity contract with a different supplier through a broker. There was a verbal contract I agreed to but I didn't know there was no cooling off period. So here comes the problem, when I called my current supplier, they offered me a better deal and I verbally signed up (I know now it was stupid). I called the broker and they said it tough. I am in contract. What can I do? Its all too stressful, and the contract doesn't start until march next year!

Consumerist

Comicguy76 wrote: »

I'm new to MSE and looking for advice. I am a small business owner and have recently agreed to enter into a new electricity contract with a different supplier through a broker. There was a verbal contract I agreed to but I didn't know there was no cooling off period. So here comes the problem, when I called my current supplier, they offered me a better deal and I verbally signed up (I know now it was stupid). I called the broker and they said it tough. I am in contract. What can I do? Its all too stressful, and the contract doesn't start until march next year!

On the face of it, you have signed two contracts which both parties could hold you to. If you can't come to some agreement with one or both suppliers then I think you need legal advice.

Edit
As a domestic customer you would be entitled to a cooling-off period from the new supplier but I'm not sure whether SMEs have the same right.

If you are entitled to a cooling-off period from the new supplier then you should contact them direct to cancel the switch within that period. The broker is probably not willing to help because they will get a commission from the supplier if you switch through them.