HELP! Accept this fix? Or wait?

What_time_is_it

"That means for me she can afford it. She is just making a decision what is more important for her."
- yes, that's pretty much it. It is doable, with our help and our time. We will have to organise the selling of some of her things to balance things out.

"Any chance to do something with insulation, heating only some rooms etc?"
- Not really. She already only heats some rooms and the house has never had any work and is in a very poor state of repair. Chances are that the next owners will be a property company who will demolish the house and build something new on the site.

"Also £1250 water seems very high, is she on a meter?"
No. She gets very upset and agitated when we suggest this. Somebody she met a few times about 20 years ago switched to a water meter years and told her it was more expensive, so that's it. Case closed! We have tried explaining that she would save around £1,000 a year if she got a meter, but she won't hear it and it's all very upsetting.

Thanks for your suggestions. 

wittynamegoeshere

I'm currently in the process of switching to Green Energy.

However, I do have reservations.  I'm not worried about them going bust, if that happened I'd just end up on the capped variable tariff with some other supplier, as I currently am.  I'll be paying extra for a couple of months-ish, then a lower rate than standard beyond 1st October, when we start using much more energy.  I reckon if they went bust on 1st December I'd probably be in profit.

I am worried that they may NOT go bust!  In which case, either at the end of the fixed period or if I decide to jump ship early, they can charge me pretty much whatever amount they decide is their current variable tariff.  I'd like to be corrected if I'm wrong, but I believe that the "eco" suppliers are exempt from the government cap, so can charge as much as they like.

If this turns out to be some kind of honey trap then I'd need to find another supplier who is willing to accept new customers, which may not be easy.  I don't know whether Ofgem have any kind of backup supplier process in this sort of situation, but I suspect not.

Also, my welcome email states that, as a new customer, I will pay by variable direct debit per month for that month's bill.  This is absolutely perfect for me, but for some it may be an issue.  You will get very low payments for a few months, then high (or very high) payments through the winter.  Obviously you need to have enough in the bank to pay that month's bill.

Also be aware that the 65% rise prediction for October is not a fact and may well be discounted by the government, the current contenders to be our next PM are making assorted noises about it.  If they continue previous form then everyone would get a lump sum regardless of tariff, in which case you'd be a winner on a fix.  But they may do things differently in future.

As I say I'm already signed up, but tread carefully and be aware that there isn't a risk-free option.

What_time_is_it

Surely one can switch suppliers at the end of the fixed term? And actually, since there are no exit fees with Green Energy, one could switch supplier at any time?
Sorry if I'm being niave, but why wouldn't you be able to switch to another supplier? And why would suppliers not be willing to accept new customers?

Mstty

What_time_is_it said:

Surely one can switch suppliers at the end of the fixed term? And actually, since there are no exit fees with Green Energy, one could switch supplier at any time?
Sorry if I'm being niave, but why wouldn't you be able to switch to another supplier? And why would suppliers not be willing to accept new customers?

Yes you can switch during or at the end date and you can also changed to fixed DD it's all on their website.

wittynamegoeshere

What_time_is_it said:

Surely one can switch suppliers at the end of the fixed term? And actually, since there are no exit fees with Green Energy, one could switch supplier at any time?
Sorry if I'm being niave, but why wouldn't you be able to switch to another supplier? And why would suppliers not be willing to accept new customers?

Of course there's nothing to stop you switching away from them.  The problem is likely to be finding another supplier that actually wants new customers, they're a bit thin on the ground.

I don't know whether there's a supplier at the moment that anyone could switch to and get the capped variable tariff.  Even if there is, there's no predicting what the situation will be in the future.

There isn't a way of forcing an alternative supplier to accept you against their wishes.  If nobody wants new customers then you're lumbered with the company you're with and their prices.

pochase

At the moment there are only two suppliers who accept new customers on SVT, EDF and Octopus. Both require you to phone them and Octopus seem to be very hesitant to accept new customers, you might need to call them several times.

Nobody knows if they are still will accept new customers when you want to leave, during the fix or when it ends.

Of course everything might change again, and suppliers might even pay again for you to join them, but current situation is nobody really wants new SVT customers.