Advice on EDF Energy tariff hike

SSheldonW

Hi All

I'm looking for some advice for my elderly mother. She's on a fixed EDF tariff that ends at the end of April.

She currently pays £126 DD per month, and the last two years she's had approx. £100-200 credit at the end of the year. She's been sent the new EDF tariffs and they're quoting her £327 per month on a fixed tariff. That's a 160% increase. I'm trying to establish if that's just unfortunately what the increase is, or whether there's an issue (trying to contact EDF to question it is a nightmare at the moment). £327 per month for someone on a pension seems a lot, even with heating allowance?

Current tariff:
Unit: Electricity: 16.29p per kWh
Unit: Gas: 2.761p per kWh
Standing: Electricity: 24.50p per day
Standing: Gas: 27.35p per day

New EDF fixed tariff:
Unit: Electricity: 29.49p per kWh
Unit: Gas: 7.319p per kWh
Standing: Electricity: 41.66p per day
Standing: Gas: 27.22p per day

FYI, she's on a smart meter so doesn't submit readings, and SVR quote is £217 per month. Any advice is much appreciated.

Robin9

Do nothing she will roll over onto the Variable Tariff -  that's her best option as things stand

[Deleted User]

They seem quite low for new fixes, being around the current cap.  If the next change in the cap is as expected, that looks a good deal.

Whether the DD is too high or not depends on their estimate of her usage and her actual usage.

SSheldonW

Thanks @Robin9 . Looks like there was a post on the forum a few minutes before mine on the same subject. As you said, best advice is to go onto the SVR.

pochase

SSheldonW said:

Current tariff:
Unit: Electricity: 16.29p per kWh
Unit: Gas: 2.761p per kWh
Standing: Electricity: 24.50p per day
Standing: Gas: 27.35p per day

New EDF fixed tariff:
Unit: Electricity: 29.49p per kWh
Unit: Gas: 7.319p per kWh
Standing: Electricity: 41.66p per day
Standing: Gas: 27.22p per day

Are you sure that is the fixed tariff she is being quoted. Than she should immediately take it. The prices look more like the Standard Variable Tariff.

As she is coming off a fixed tariff be prepared for the direct go up by a lot. Increase for Electricity will be around 70%, Gas 150%.

pochase

Just checked, the tariff you quoted is the SVT for the South East and not a fixed tariff.

Increase for electricity is 81%, gas is 165%. The new direct debit of 327£ is not that far out.

Do you have her usage data for the last 12 months for electricity and gas, so we can better calculate?

[Deleted User]

EDF over estimated my usage by 300 units against my actual usage last year so you should look at what her last 12 months usage is. 

Fred2712

300 units at 20p a unit is only £60, hardly loads over a year.