Are there any gas electricity comparison websites that just compare std charge and unit prices?

Marvel1

greenguppie said:

Marvel1 said:

Shame, was hoping the same, on a prepayment meter, I just top when needed.

Guess I will say unknown for both questions and see what happens.

Not sure what 2 questions you are referring to, but this MSE article on getting the best deal for those currently on a PPM will hopefully help you
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity/

British Gas here I come, look into switching to credit meter for free.

Tarian

Gobsh said:

Are there any gas electricity comparison websites that just compare std charge and unit prices?

I'm with the OP.
I just don't understand why so many people are content with an estimated annual cost - based on assumptions.

Imagine if petrol stations hid their prices behind an estimated annual consumption.....
Tesco           £1,589
Sainsburys  £ 1,598
Esso            £ 1,607
Shell            £ 1,607

And a price comparison site came up with different amounts due to different assumptions ???
Wouldn't Customers be outraged ?
"What are they hiding ?"


In the early days of energy competition, OfGem produced a table / list of unit prices (and standing charges) for each area.
That enabled me to make my first switch. Easy !

In Northern Ireland prices are still available:>
https://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-12/electricity_price_comparison_table_081221.pdf


As for Comparison sites, why should a Customer have to enter so much info - and still not get unit prices ?
And to get unit prices, to click each tariff individually ?
(And often not show all tariffs.)


Energy companies also hide actual prices.
Try finding unit prices on SSE/Ovo or E.on Next without filling in lots of info !

Ofgem should be insisting on transparency - with Unit Prices being available at a top level - not hidden.

Astria

Tarian said:

Gobsh said:

Are there any gas electricity comparison websites that just compare std charge and unit prices?

I'm with the OP.
I just don't understand why so many people are content with an estimated annual cost - based on assumptions.

Imagine if petrol stations hid their prices behind an estimated annual consumption.....

We are content with it because the lowest estimated annual cost (and the ones at the top) is typically the cheapest for us overall, based on our usage.

If Tesco charged you £1.50 per litre but had a entrance fee of £10, where as Sainsburys charged £1.80 per litre but had no entrance fee, which would you pick?

QrizB

Astria said:

Tarian said:

Gobsh said:

Are there any gas electricity comparison websites that just compare std charge and unit prices?

I'm with the OP.
I just don't understand why so many people are content with an estimated annual cost - based on assumptions.
Imagine if petrol stations hid their prices behind an estimated annual consumption.....

We are content with it because the lowest estimated annual cost (and the ones at the top) is typically the cheapest for us overall, based on our usage.

Yes, I get the feeling someone has lost sight of the objective - which is to pay the minimum for the amount of energy we're actually going to use.

Let's assume for a moment that the OP and the OP's supporter(s) could get a list of 100 tariffs, with details of the daily standing charge, unit rate, fix duration and exit charges. What would they then do with it? They might choose to plug those numbers into their own model of their energy use to see what the annual cost would be. That's exactly what the price comparison websites do behind the scenes.

Or of course they might not do that, and simply pick the tariff with the lowest standing charge, or the lowest unit rate, or the longest fix, or whatever. But doing it that way they're quite likely to end up paying more than they need to.