The real cost of your energy

ptaylor247

I have been very frustrated that when getting energy quotes from any supplier directly or comparison sites, they only give what you can save by giving you a rough comparison. This dosn't give and real indication of the real costs at all. The only way to know their costs are the Kw hour rate and standing charge, but they ALL try to conseal these fundamental details as much as possible! All they say is "you can save.." It means nothing!! It is nothing but miss leading the public. I see people falling for this marketing tactic all the time on social media and when they switch they get stung with higher bills because they don't know the real costs. This should be regulated more. What do you think?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

there will be a 'more info' icon, will give you the details.

Hasbeen

ptaylor247 said:

I have been very frustrated that when getting energy quotes from any supplier directly or comparison sites, they only give what you can save by giving you a rough comparison. This dosn't give and real indication of the real costs at all. The only way to know their costs are the Kw hour rate and standing charge, but they ALL try to conseal these fundamental details as much as possible! All they say is "you can save.." It means nothing!! It is nothing but miss leading the public. I see people falling for this marketing tactic all the time on social media and when they switch they get stung with higher bills because they don't know the real costs. This should be regulated more. What do you think?

Pretty simple. 

All the sites give a more info or similar click button, to see rates and standing charges against each provider/tariff shown?

It is then really simple to do your own calculations regarding costs.

It is not concealed and gives you a real indication of costs. No one is mislead.

Unless they do not understand or actually do not look at what they are shown?  

ptaylor247

Hi, firstly, yes, you can finally get to see their rates when you dig deep into the pages but it is not easy on most sites, I've been doing it for a long time. My point is more that this kind of fundamental information should be at the forefront for people to access easily. The prices are not at all at the forefront of comparison sites either, only "what you can save" This dosn't make the process of truely searching for the best price very easy, no wonder people can't be bothered to switch, they don't make it easy. For example go to Pure Planet of Octopus energy of Ecotricity etc. and search for their tariff costs. No costs at all! 

Gerry1

Just go to the Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch' comparison sites and enter your annual kWh usage derived from actual meter readings.

Compare the annual costs and ignore all projections and savings claims; they're meaningless because of Ofgem's daft rules.

Don't forget that separate suppliers are often cheaper.

JJ_Egan

As above never ever had a problem tariffs easy to find .

OP your complaint should be to Ofgem its their rules that comparison sites follow .

Just checked via CEC

Pure Planet 5 seconds to find tariff prices .Same Octopus .In fact same with every supplier .

UnclaimedEnergy

Most comparison websites allow you to put in an estimated usage for Elec and Gas for the comparison. As long as you're using actual numbers and not made up ones then you can get a reasonably accurate comparison.

ptaylor247

UnclaimedEnergy said:

Most comparison websites allow you to put in an estimated usage for Elec and Gas for the comparison. As long as you're using actual numbers and not made up ones then you can get a reasonably accurate comparison.

Hi, Yes, sure, if you have accurate numbers available, Why do I need to spent time gathering that information, isn't it much easier just to be given the fundamental information (Kw/hr rate) to compare accuratly in the first place. As you have admitted "you can get a REASONABLY accurate comparison" Thats not good enough, I want to know costs. I don't go to a shop to buy a coat and they say "well, if you compare it to this one you will save £Xxx. I want to know the price of the units Im using. Comparison sites should give a simple list of units, Simples. 

UnclaimedEnergy

I say reasonably accurate as your usage in 2021 might not be the same as your usage in 2020.

A lower unit rate and high SC might be good for you based on your current usage, but if you use a lot less in the future then you may be better off on a slightly higher unit rate and a lower SC.

If you go to buy trainers/shoes do you go up to the salesperson and ask "What is the pence per steps of these trainers".....

Gerry1

If you had taken my advice to visit Citizens Advice and had clicked through to 'Tariff information', you would have seen a fully detailed comparison.

ptaylor247

Gerry1 said:

If you had taken my advice to visit Citizens Advice and had clicked through to 'Tariff information', you would have seen a fully detailed comparison.

Thanks Gerry1, that's much clearer.