Bills go up each time I switch to a cheaper supplier

FJM2020

I would like some help regarding the cost of our energy bills please.

We have used this site to switch suppliers over the past couple of years. We base our quotes on our actual annual usage as provided to us by the current supplier, and switch to the best supplier. 

However, each time we switch, our bills just appear to creep up and up, growing exponentially each month of each year, even though we are on a cheaper tariff unit rate. 
I don't understand how our bills keep increasing when usage appears to remain the same?

Thanks 

Gerry1

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

FJM2020 said:

We base our quotes on our actual annual usage as provided to us by the current supplier

That could be part of the problem if they are using estimated readings.  You need to get quotations based on your own meter readings a year apart.

Robin9

FJM2020 - can you post your actual monthly readings please - bills do go up if you use more.

In my experience using suppliers estimated readings has to be taken with a big pinch of salt - far better to keep your own records and determine your actual annual consumptions.

cranford

Have you checked that the actual unit rates you pay each time you switch have gone down or have you used the switching comparison sites which can be misleading in the amounts they say you can save. Even if you have been on the best tariffs available over the last three years electricity prices have gone up by about 30% and gas by 20%. The good new is that in the last month gas prices have dropped but still higher than 3 years ago.

SonOf

Are you giving them actual meter readings throughout the year?   If their quarterly billing relies on estimates, then the costs will go up.   If they are using actual readings then your calculations are likely to be wrong.

Talldave

Could you list the standing charge and kWh rates of your current and previous suppliers?

ElephantBoy57

FJM2020 said:

I don't understand how our bills keep increasing when usage appears to remain the same?
Thanks 

Its called inflation, everything suffers from it. It's around 1.5% at the moment.

DawnCrush

FJM2020 said:

I would like some help regarding the cost of our energy bills please.

We have used this site to switch suppliers over the past couple of years. We base our quotes on our actual annual usage as provided to us by the current supplier, and switch to the best supplier. 

However, each time we switch, our bills just appear to creep up and up, growing exponentially each month of each year, even though we are on a cheaper tariff unit rate. 
I don't understand how our bills keep increasing when usage appears to remain the same?

Thanks 

Welcome to MSE.

If you have switched to a lower priced tariff, yet see your bills increase, then you must be using more energy, either actual or estimated.

Sea_Shell

When you say "cheaper" tariff, do you mean the unit rates are always cheaper than your current tariff, or just the cheapest available at the time, compared to the standard tariff you'd end up on if you did nothing?

We always move onto the cheapest available tariff, and our usage has been very consistent over the years, but our annual costs have crept up.

DawnCrush

Sea_Shell said:

When you say "cheaper" tariff, do you mean the unit rates are always cheaper than your current tariff, or just the cheapest available at the time, compared to the standard tariff you'd end up on if you did nothing?

We always move onto the cheapest available tariff, and our usage has been very consistent over the years, but our annual costs have crept up.

The OP refers to "a cheaper tariff unit rate"

Sea_Shell

DawnCrush said:

Sea_Shell said:

When you say "cheaper" tariff, do you mean the unit rates are always cheaper than your current tariff, or just the cheapest available at the time, compared to the standard tariff you'd end up on if you did nothing?

We always move onto the cheapest available tariff, and our usage has been very consistent over the years, but our annual costs have crept up.

The OP refers to "a cheaper tariff unit rate"

Yes, but compared to what?   Cheaper than their current deal, or cheaper to the standard rate that they would be (have been) moved to.

If you could ALWAYS get a cheaper tariff rate to that which you are on, and your usage doesn't change, then your overall bills shouldn't go up!