Working away from home a lot - changing supplier stress

notional

Since Christmas I am working away and only go home for about 4 days a month.  Energy prices are rocketing and I am dreading my fix (with e.on) coming to an end on 17 June - even though I will hardly be using any energy, the standing charges seem high (and there are no companies any more without). I think the minimum I can pay per year for standing charges alone is about £160.

It seems complicated to search for a new contract, as my estimate for the whole of the last year (£27 a month) won't reflect the year coming up. I've done lots of comparisons on here with different parameters, and am still confused. I don't want a contract with an exit penalty even though I had one last time, in case prices go down, as they are so high at the moment. Then again, I had a lot of problems and stress switching the only time I've done it and I don't want to switch willy-nilly in future.

I prefer major companies and I've come up with:

Igloo variable £35 a month, no cashback

British Gas evolve 2 year fix £40, £25 cashback  (I do not need the insurance as I rent) - seems to have a slightly lower standing charge

Octopus 2 year fix £42, and I can get a £50 referral

Stay with e.on - 1 year fix £44, 2 year £45, no cashback of course

These figures may seem low to many people but I am paying for energy in my temporary accomodation too.

Questions:

Am I being an idiot even worrying about the difference given that I won't be home much before March 2022? 

I am not at home much to give meter readings, I took them last week but the electricity smart meter reading may be a little bit higher now.

Am I better off staying with e.on because a new supplier will initially put me on a much higher direct debit and I'll end up running up a credit?

niktheguru

If you really aren't going to be using any energy at all in the next 6 months I suggest you do a search on the usualnsearch engines putting your annual usage at say 100kwh, that way you will see which providers have the lowest standing charge. Switch to one of them that has no exit fee. When they arrange a direct debit ask them to make it a low one as you are barely in the house, but ensure you submit regular meter readings when you're home to ensure your account doesn't go into too much debit or credit.
Then when you move back and are gonna use more energy do a price comparison and move to the cheapest overall. Simple.

notional

In the end I went to Octopus.  They botched the transfer of the electricity so have given me a £30 goodwill payment because I am now still paying my DD to e.on as well as they are still supplying my electricity. Looking back I am laughing at why I was even bothered, it's such a lie that switching is quick and straightforward.  Octopus politely told me that the electric switch fiasco will take 2 months to sort out.  Only then can I get my refund balance from e.on.

JJ_Egan

For 99% its is easy , but when it goes wrong it goes wrong .

notional

JJ_Egan said:

For 99% its is easy , but when it goes wrong it goes wrong .

I am not skint but if I was, having my money tied up in overpayments and direct debits to two companies would cause serious problems.