Help needed

Polk

hi all,

ok so my current situation is that I’ve been sitting with a key metre for both gas an electric for a while. I’ve never really worried about either of them because I just bumbled along, topping up as necessary and I could well afford it. Besides which I’m in rented accommodation and I had previously had a bad experience with a terrible letting agent who accused me of changing the metres in a previous property I lived at and tried to charge me to get them changed. That’s another story for another day.

so my current situation is that SSE want to charge me 48pence per unit from April 1st. Up from 28pence per unit. I’ve tried negotiating with them to no success. I’ve had absolutely no luck whatsoever even talking to British Gas.

I’ve also tried running through the help guide on tariffs here but I’m either not understanding the informs it needs or I’m screwed because there’s nothing out there cheaper at the moment.

I have spoken to the landlord who has explained that I am free to change the metres in the property as long I agree to settle any outstanding energy bills from my time in the property. I also have email confirmation of that. 

Someone has told me I’m better off sticking with the key metres and just loading them up as much as possible - that’s simply not an option for me I don’t have any spare cash I can use to do that.

so, please, what do I do? Change to credit metres and try for some sort of deal? Stay with the key metres and just try to cut usage to a minimum? 

Positive comments and advice appreciated 

molerat

Are you sure that is "per unit" rather than "per day" ?  The standing charge for electric is going up to around that amount but unit prices should be around  28p. I think you are somewhat muddled and are stressing over that muddle.  What region are you in ?  Someone will put your mind at rest over what you will be charged.  You are unlikely to find any other supplier that will be cheaper - there is a limit to what they can charge - and very few suppliers will take a new customer anyway as they are capped at a price below what they are paying wholesale.

Gerry1

Try EDF who say they will accept new customers on their Standard Variable capped tariff, but only if you phone them.

Depending on the region, PAYG Electricity kWh rates are actually slightly cheaper than DD (about 28p/kWh) but the daily charge is about 5p higher.  Gas kWh rates are about the same as DD (about 7.3p/kWh), some slightly higher, others slightly lower but the daily charge is about 10p higher.

If you have smart meters they can be changed to DD remotely, otherwise a meter change would be necessary; don't know whether EDF would charge, you'd have to ask them.

Polk

Thank you both, I’m going to re-read the letter tonight when I get home and report back