Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

Chriskaren

Hi, can anyone help, I have had quotes on various websites saying I can save x amount by switching to them. But when I look the price per unit is more than I'm paying and the standing charge is more than I'm paying, so am I missing something here is it not as straight forward as that.

grumpycrab

The price comparison sites work well. Which ones have you used? Obviously this only works if you enter your current postcode, tariff and yearly usage correctly.

Chriskaren

It was the Martin Lewis money saving expert site and they had all my details.

grumpycrab

Chriskaren wrote: »

It was the Martin Lewis money saving expert site and they had all my details.

Try another (even for comparison sites its always worth trying at least 2...)
https://energycompare.citizensadvice.org.uk/
No login needed, 2 mins to enter your data.

Chriskaren

So is it not as simple as price per unit multiplied by number of units used plus standing charge multiplied by number of days ?

grumpycrab

Chriskaren wrote: »

So is it not as simple as price per unit multiplied by number of units used plus standing charge multiplied by number of days ?

Plus VAT (5%) if not already included. (and we're talking electric only right?)

Chriskaren

No it was duel fuel, direct debit.

grumpycrab

Chriskaren wrote: »

No it was duel fuel, direct debit.

For gas it's price per unit multiplied by (number of units used*11.1) plus standing charge multiplied by number of days.

The gas multiplier is used to convert to kwh. 1. assumes metric meter and 2. multiplier varies according to region. Check your bill for exact multiplier used by your supplier.

victor2

Chriskaren wrote: »

Hi, can anyone help, I have had quotes on various websites saying I can save x amount by switching to them. But when I look the price per unit is more than I'm paying and the standing charge is more than I'm paying, so am I missing something here is it not as straight forward as that.

If you are already on a tariff that is due to end in the next 12 months, the comparison sites show a pretty meaningless "savings", as they make the assumption you will go onto your supplier's standard variable tariff when the current one ends, and make the "savings" shown against that supposed cost.
Forget the savings, energy costs have gone up and will cost you more going forward, just look at the predicted costs for the coming year on tariffs available and that will be more realistic, especially if you asre looking at fixed rates.
It is essential that you use your current annual usage in kWh for each fuel on the comparison sites too. Using your current monthly cost is useless, as it could not reflect the actual cost of your current usage.

Consumerist

Chriskaren wrote: »

Hi, can anyone help, I have had quotes on various websites saying I can save x amount by switching to them. But when I look the price per unit is more than I'm paying and the standing charge is more than I'm paying, so am I missing something here is it not as straight forward as that.

It is probable that the comparison is against your current supplier's default (a.k.a. standard variable) tariff. i.e. compared with what you would pay if you did not switch at all. You could check to see what settings you have set (or have been set by default) on the comparison sites you have used.

I'm most familiar with MSE's Cheap Energy Club - You can set it up to do a straight comparison between your current tariff and the new tariff which will give you a truer estimate of the actual savings.

With prices rising rapidly of late, you are wise to be suspicious of any tariff which indicates you will pay less than at the moment.


CEC comaprison: The option on the left will give you a straight comparison between the tariffs. Don't forget to set up your other options down the left-hand side of the results page.

Hope this works better for you.