Is a fixed tariff better than standard tariff?

Kit1

Gerry1 said:

Also do a meter sanity test otherwise you could be paying for someone else's flat.  Much the same for gas.

Sorry don't mean to sound thick but my brain is going round in circles with this mess.  What is a meter sanity test?

Scottish Power and EON are already testing my sanity as it is.

QrizB

Kit1 said:

Gerry1 said:

Also do a meter sanity test otherwise you could be paying for someone else's flat.  Much the same for gas.

Sorry don't mean to sound thick but my brain is going round in circles with this mess.  What is a meter sanity test?

Gerry1's link will take you to the details (I've copied-and-pasted them below). It's a way to check that the meter you think is yours, really is.

Gerry1 said:

Have you done the meter sanity test?  If it's not inside your flat but in a communal cupboard or meter room then what you think is your meter might in reality be supplying someone else's flat or even all the heating and lighting for the communal areas of the block.

Gain access to the meter, preferably after dark and as late as possible, turn absolutely everything on especially the immersion heater, washing machine, tumble dryer, oven etc.  Find the meter with the serial number shown on your bill and look at the red LED marked '1000 Imp/kWh' or similar.  It should be flashing like crazy.  Then unplug all sensitive electronic equipment and switch everything off at the consumer unit.  Go back to the meter, watch the red LED like a hawk for at least five minutes and make sure it never flashes once.  Rinse and repeat if in any doubt.

Finally, do a rough and ready accuracy test by plugging in just one item of known high usage, a full 3kW kettle is ideal provided that you're quick enough to complete the test before it boils.  Count the number of flashes per minute and calculate the power being drawn.  For example, if the LED is marked '1000 Imp/kWh' then you'd expect to see about 50 flashes per minute.

Kit1

The meter is in my flat so how they have got them wrong l have no idea but will check this out.

Kit1

well after hours of trying to sort this out l have finally found out that they have put me on a fixed rate until Feb 2024.

In fact this one, without telling me.

scottish power help beat cancer tariff fixed feb 2024 and the charges are:-

27.9585p per unit
25.240p standing charge

I guess these are their most expensive tariffs even though l asked them for information on their best rates which fell on deaf ears.

Gerry1

Why haven't you challenged them and switched to the SVT?

If you don't do anything you'll just have high bills.

Have you done the meter sanity tests?

Astria

27p/unit might be cheap by next April... What are the exit fees in case it's not?

So ask yourself this: Do you want to know how much you are paying for your energy? Or do you want to guess how much you might be paying for your energy come next April?

Kit1

Gerry1 said:

Why haven't you challenged them and switched to the SVT?

If you don't do anything you'll just have high bills.

Have you done the meter sanity tests?

I spent all day yesterday trying to contact them which was why l came on here and try and get some info of what others are paying and l knew what l was talking about.  I also wanted to know if SVT was the best way forward.  I expect l will spend all day today again trying to sort out their mess,  The meter is in my property and l have never done a meter sanity test before so any clues on how to do this would be appreciated.

Kit1

Astria said:

27p/unit might be cheap by next April... What are the exit fees in case it's not?

So ask yourself this: Do you want to know how much you are paying for your energy? Or do you want to guess how much you might be paying for your energy come next April?

From what l can see it says l can opt out any time up to 49 days before the end of the contract.  I guess l am just trying to find out if l am paying over the odds and would be better looking at other providers.  As l said they were not my choice and l had to go with them because the last owner used them and l couldn't change to anyone else to begin with.  I have already had so many problems because they had the flats mixed up and it has taken me 3 weeks to sort that mess out so was just looking for a little help before l lose my sanity altogether.