Shell Energy

Ultrasonic

QrizB said:

True, but I've a hunch that it's a loyalty tariff not on general offer!

Are these common? I've basically given up on the concept of any company genuinely offering a better deal to retain customers but perhaps I'm being unfairly cynical  .

QrizB

Ultrasonic said:

QrizB said:

True, but I've a hunch that it's a loyalty tariff not on general offer!

Are these common? I've basically given up on the concept of any company genuinely offering a better deal to retain customers but perhaps I'm being unfairly cynical  .

Yes, we've seen them from Scottish Power and E.ON Next in recent weeks. The BG tariffs with "Exclusive" in the name are loyalty ones, like this one (might be the one in question here):

Ultrasonic

QrizB said:

Ultrasonic said:

QrizB said:

True, but I've a hunch that it's a loyalty tariff not on general offer!

Are these common? I've basically given up on the concept of any company genuinely offering a better deal to retain customers but perhaps I'm being unfairly cynical  .

Yes, we've seen them from Scottish Power and E.ON Next in recent weeks. The BG tariffs with "Exclusive" in the name are loyalty ones, like this one (might be the one in question here):

And these are notably cheaper than tariffs that a new customer could sign up for?

QrizB

Ultrasonic said:

QrizB said:

Ultrasonic said:

QrizB said:

True, but I've a hunch that it's a loyalty tariff not on general offer!

Are these common? I've basically given up on the concept of any company genuinely offering a better deal to retain customers but perhaps I'm being unfairly cynical  .

Yes, we've seen them from Scottish Power and E.ON Next in recent weeks. The BG tariffs with "Exclusive" in the name are loyalty ones, like this one (might be the one in question here):

And these are notably cheaper than tariffs that a new customer could sign up for?

Yes they are.

330d

Just to update this. I phoned British Gas a few times and they are not taking on any new customers so currently stuck with Shell Energy 

Ultrasonic

330d said:

Just to update this. I phoned British Gas a few times and they are not taking on any new customers so currently stuck with Shell Energy 

Other options were available but the market is changing extremely quickly right now. I instigated a switch form Shell to Scottish Power last Sunday but the equivalent tariff now is MUCH more expensive and not something I'd personally consider. You could try phoning Octopus if you wanted to explore an alternative to Shell.

330d

So phoned Octupus today who have offered me a tariff. What do you think?

Shell Variable Tariff from April;
Electric unit - 0.29
Electric standing charge - 0.47
Gas unit - 0.07
Gas standing charge - 0.32

Octupus has offered me;
Electric unit - 0.35
Electric standing charge - 0.24
Gas unit - 0.09
Gas standing charge - 0.26

Based on my usage, the Octupus is around 15% more expensive than the Shell Variable from next month.

What do you suggest?

QrizB

330d said:

So phoned Octupus today who have offered me a tariff. What do you think?

Shell Variable Tariff from April;
Electric unit - 0.29
Electric standing charge - 0.47
Gas unit - 0.07
Gas standing charge - 0.32

Octupus has offered me;
Electric unit - 0.35
Electric standing charge - 0.24
Gas unit - 0.09
Gas standing charge - 0.26

Based on my usage, the Octupus is around 15% more expensive than the Shell Variable from next month.

What do you suggest?

Is that a 12 month fix? If so, there's a good chance it will be cheaper than the variable rate through next winter.

And Octopus don't generally have exit fees so if the variabble does stay low, you can switch in August when it's intended for the new rates to be announced.

330d

QrizB said:

330d said:

So phoned Octupus today who have offered me a tariff. What do you think?

Shell Variable Tariff from April;
Electric unit - 0.29
Electric standing charge - 0.47
Gas unit - 0.07
Gas standing charge - 0.32

Octupus has offered me;
Electric unit - 0.35
Electric standing charge - 0.24
Gas unit - 0.09
Gas standing charge - 0.26

Based on my usage, the Octupus is around 15% more expensive than the Shell Variable from next month.

What do you suggest?

Is that a 12 month fix? If so, there's a good chance it will be cheaper than the variable rate through next winter.

And Octopus don't generally have exit fees so if the variabble does stay low, you can switch in August when it's intended for the new rates to be announced.

Yes 12 months fix. The only downside is i will be paying 15% more from now until September (when the price cap changes). 

QrizB

330d said:

Yes 12 months fix. The only downside is i will be paying 15% more from now until September (when the price cap changes). 

That might or might not be true, depending on your gas and electricity consumption over that period.

I have no idea how much energy you use in the summer, when your heating is off, but (if I didn't have solar) I use around 6kWh/day of electricity and 10kWh/day of gas. Using your numbers:

• On Octopus's variable tariff, that would cost £3.23
• On your new fix, that would cost £3.50

That's an 8.3% increase.