Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

harryhound

Do you use the oil for water heating in the summer?
You could wash and dry over night?
You could make sure that the freezer runs for 7 hours a night then has a break in the day time.
That said the rule of thumb these days is that you only really benefit from the night rate if the balance is 60% at night versus 40% in the day.
Depending on your level of INSULATION you could consider a Heat Pump, if the oil heating is old and inefficient. Heat pumps are a "trickle" rather than a "demand" technology. If supplied through radiators, they don't get the radiators up to too hot to handle (50 degrees max) and work best in underfloor heating at 35 degrees and allowing you to use the concrete floor slab as a giant night storage heater.

I would try phoning Scottish power and seeing what their best deal for "on-line" is; I've found them to have the best customer service of Eon/Npower/EDF/Scottish Power. In effect you simply read your own meter once a month and that is your DD for the month.
You get an email reminding you to do the reading. This avoids the problem of the meter getting right out of line with reality.
I well remember having a major run in over this with another supplier "we are only statutorily required to read the meter once in two years".
I don't know if the statute has been changed, it certainly needs to be as this board is full of complaints about the problem.
Electricity meters and bills are child's play compared with gas ones.

Don't forget the Npower deal almost certainly includes a deferred rebate. This "loyalty" rebate traps you in with the supplier for a year; leave early and you don't get the kick back.

Smamfer

Thanks very much for your answers people,

Have only been in here a few weeks so wont know about heating the water in the summer as of yet, we dont have a bath just an electric shower which always has hot water on it. Also have an electric emmersion heater should i need it but to be honest i never have it on. Rather than heating lots of water up i use the dishwasher and then we just shower

Ill ring SP up see what deals they can offer us if any x

skint_but_working_on_it

HanSpan wrote: »

Of course with Npower I only get my £105 bonus if I stay a year, paying the same way - so switching to EDF will lose me that but I wonder if I can just switch tariffs with Npower, or do they operate a 'new customer only' thing?

Has anyone tried to switch tariffs with Npower and keep their discounts? If so what did they say?

I "capped" with npower last Sept/Oct when I was already with them and it entitled me to a higher bonus (£100 compared to £80 previously) so if you swap tarriffs with them the bonus may change but you do still get it as long as you continue paying as you were before.

harryhound

harryhound wrote: »

The rule of thumb these days is that you only really benefit from the night rate if the balance is 60% at night versus 40% in the day.
.

Just for the record, I've just had the bill for dec+jan+fev+3 weeks of march.
In my case with EDF on a bill circa 400 GBP; I'm still 20 GBP better off on "Economy 7" than paying a standard rate 24 hour rate; even though my consumption has been 60/40 day to night rather than the rule of thumb of 40/60.
EDF does have an 0800 customer services number and gives nectar points.

Magentasue

harryhound wrote: »

In my case with EDF on a bill circa 400 GBP; I'm still 20 GBP better off on "Economy 7" than paying a standard rate 24 hour rate; even though my consumption has been 60/40 day to night rather than the rule of thumb of 40/60.

I think the 60/40 rule applies to annual use. It's easier to break even or profit with E7 in a quarter than it is over a whole year.

harryhound

I'll let you know:D
The summer is mainly just hot water, plus a bit of cooking and freezing.

[I'm struggling to make a rational decision about the future heating of my isolated country home - I think the answer is some sort of heat pump but it is a tricky 25 year investment decision; much more significant than getting a penny or two off utility prices.]

HanSpan

skint_but_working_on_it wrote: »

I "capped" with npower last Sept/Oct when I was already with them and it entitled me to a higher bonus (£100 compared to £80 previously) so if you swap tarriffs with them the bonus may change but you do still get it as long as you continue paying as you were before.

Thanks for that. I will check the prices again and probably give them a ring in the week.

I'm curious about whether the relative costs will have changed in a week or so - I've actually created a spreadsheet where I can input estimated usage as well as the rate information for various companies - if anyone wants a copy please pm as I'm happy to send it out. It basically does the same as the comparison websites but it allows me to fiddle with my estimated consumption and see at what usage one tariff/company becomes cheaper than another. Actually if there's anyone from MSE reading I'm happy to hand it over although it could do with a bit of tidying for public usage.

I've discovered something else that makes comparing gas prices inaccurate - the conversion from units to kwh seems to be different with different companies and its not at all easy to find what they are using! My neighbour's bill shows a different conversion factor from mine and although they are not the same date they do cover at least some of the same days. That means even if we had exactly the same rate per kwh and the same consumption in units we could be paying different amounts. Shame the comparison sites use kwh instead of units.

Sorry about the long post but this is making me increasingly cross - seems to me the energy companies are up to no good!

skattili

Hi,

I wonder if someone can help. I am currently with British gas standard tariff which I believe gives me a 10% discount on Gas (10%discount tracker) and another 5% for direct debit?
Anyway I was looking to switch and N-Power comes out 15% cheaper. My question is the search engines of energyhelpline or moneysupermarket do not have the option to put in this dicount over the standard tariff I get through British gas. So are they actually taking this into consideration when they say N-Power is 15% cheaper?

Thanks


Sash

roddydogs

foxglove666 wrote: »

If you sign p to npower at the minute directly or both gas and electric they give you £50 in 12 months time if your still with them. no matter how you pay or anything. But you have to call them up to get it and ASK for it!

Is this a new thing? im with n.power since last may, dont know about any £50 back

harryhound

Been standard for at least 18 months as far as I can remember, deferred rebate is the official description for such a kick back.