Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

Consumerist

murphydavid said:

. . . If electric cars really take off as Diesel did some time ago its only logical to assume they will need to recoup consequential losses. It will be interesting to see how they do that and still take it preferentially from motorists with refueling becoming inexorably linked to home energy.

An interesting point. It seems to me that VED (road tax) is likely to be used in the long run. The system is already in place so will be easy to extend.

Consumerist

Gerry1 said:

But the real howler is to advise doing a comparison and then adding on a ££ amount based on an arbitrary miles/kWh figure and an arbitrary cost per kWh ! That really defeats the whole point of doing a comparison.

Well, I couldn't disagree more.

You seem to be suggesting that if you are not entirely sure of how much energy you are likely to use then you shouldn't even attempt to switch supplier or tariff. Bear in mind that the consumption figures we enter into comparison tools are no more than a guess, anyway. Although our guess may be based on what was used in the previous year, that doesn't mean it will necessarily be anywhere near accurate in the following year.

Gerry1

Consumerist said:

Gerry1 said:

But the real howler is to advise doing a comparison and then adding on a ££ amount based on an arbitrary miles/kWh figure and an arbitrary cost per kWh ! That really defeats the whole point of doing a comparison.

Well, I couldn't disagree more.

You seem to be suggesting that if you are not entirely sure of how much energy you are likely to use then you shouldn't even attempt to switch supplier or tariff. Bear in mind that the consumption figures we enter into comparison tools are no more than a guess, anyway.

No, you've completely missed the point !

I'm advocating that people should take their annual in-house consumption in kWh (based on actual meter readings), work out their likely EV consumption in kWh (NOT ££) based on their expected annual EV mileage and their EV's 'electric MPG', and then seek quotations based on the total kWh.  The night usage figure should include all EV usage plus a guesstimated percentage for the house if it's not already on E7.  That's about as accurate as it gets.

The flawed methodology I was criticising was adding on ££ amounts for the EV usage instead of kWh.  That would be the equivalent to asking for quotations for £50 worth of petrol: obviously you would need to specify the volume instead.

relishthechallenge

So, it seems everyone agrees... use the comparison sites and add an estimate kWh for the EV, plus consider what MSE (and others) are saying about the myriad suppliers. Too many of the challengers going bust and suppliers being forced to accept a supplier you may never have wanted and/or are relieved to have escaped from. The big suppliers still delivering lousy customer service e.g. Scottish Power yesterday.

murphydavid

Gerry1 said:

murphydavid said:

I believe that on average; if always charging at home; the cost of electric (sic) is likely to be £8.50 for every 200 miles you drive.

D'oh !  Lots of clangers there.  Just as petrol cars have MPG figures that vary (clue: a Smart car won't be the same as a Humvee), a typical figure for an EV might be 3.5 miles/kWh but obviously that may not apply in the OP's case.

If your EV returns 3.5 miles/kWh and you pay 8p/kWh to charge it, 200 miles would cost £4.57, not £8.50.

But the real howler is to advise doing a comparison and then adding on a ££ amount based on an arbitrary miles/kWh figure and an arbitrary cost per kWh ! That really defeats the whole point of doing a comparison.

murphydavid said:

So if you do say 10,000 miles per year which is what I average in my petrol car it will cost you in the region of £36 per month. (hope my maths are good)

No, your maths are waaaay out.   At 3.5 miles/kWh and 8p/kWh it would be about £229 per year or £19 per month.

murphydavid said:

As an aside the government collects tax at a rate of about 55p per litre of liquid fuel.

Wrong again.  There's 20% VAT on the basic price of petrol, plus Fuel Duty of 57.95 pence per litre, but there's also VAT on top of the Fuel Duty.  So if the pump price is 117.9p, the base price was only about 40p.

I was not thinking my figures would match a true situation just a possible methodology to work out a reasonable estimate. Obviously without any data on the type of vehicle the use or the mileage I could only work on what I might have bought.
You said my math was wrong - should that not have been my assumptions were wrong - you didn't comment on the maths. The definition of the word math is relevant.
By the way you missed the real howler - I made the very unlikely assumption that all charging would be done at home.
As I said there are too many agendas relating to electric cars at the moment - The green lobby and the sales lobby and to some degree the governmental bias (and maybe you) all of whom want us to buy them and will do anything to persuade us that they are cheap to run (which is true until many have bought then I predict it will be tax tax tax).
Then there are the unreal realists followed closely by the sceptics and conspiracy theorists.
My next vehicle; a flying saucer; once I can get in contact with the alien sales team. 
The next big marketable item - A lock to put on your electricity supply for use when your brother with his electric car comes to stay for the night.
P.S. I write with tongue in cheek and a smirk on my face - no offence intended - and apologize for meandering off topic - couldn't resist it.

Consumerist

relishthechallenge said:

So, it seems everyone agrees... use the comparison sites and add an estimate kWh for the EV, plus consider what MSE (and others) are saying about the myriad suppliers. . .

The comparison sites are about the only way to go if you're looking for the best deal for you.

If you don't have E7/E10 (dual rate) metering already then that's an extra dimension for your search - is it cheaper to switch to an E7/E10 tariff if you intend to charge your EV overnight?

tigersb

Hi
Tried to sign up for the new MSE automatic switch service but the application does not have my tariff on the drop down menu for EDF
Does this mean I am not eligible?

Consumerist

tigersb said:

Hi
Tried to sign up for the new MSE automatic switch service but the application does not have my tariff on the drop down menu for EDF
Does this mean I am not eligible?

As it's a newly-launched service, there could be teething problems.

Perhaps, send Cheap Energy Club an email.

thorpemeister

Just cancelled switching suppliers with the new auto-switch facility. On the last step of the process, the new supplier told me I'd be paying £30/month more. Anyone else tried and had a better experience? 

Gerry1

thorpemeister said:

Just cancelled switching suppliers with the new auto-switch facility. On the last step of the process, the new supplier told me I'd be paying £30/month more. Anyone else tried and had a better experience? 

Welcome to the forum.

You shouldn't be comparing DD amounts, only quoted annual costs based on actual meter readings.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#whatyoupay