Standing charges and unit rates not inline with the price cap

Jibber123

I was under the impression that with the new price cap in place since April all the energy supplies were charging the same and there was no point in changing. I've just seen on the internet the new price caps compared to the current one. My prices from Scottish Power are all different to the current one, why? I rung them up to find out and the person on the phone was about as useful and a cat flap in an elephant house. They didn't even seem to understand I had 2 rate day and night? 

They even say I'm on the cheapest tariff?

[Deleted User]

Are you looking at the wrong cap?

For a start, you're on a day/night tariff so none of the things in the news can be compared with yours.  Some maths required to work out if a tariff is correctly capped on day/night rates.  Second, it's an average cap that varies by region and you probably haven't looked up your region.

pochase

You are on an E7 tariff. E7 tariffs have different cap rates than those for a single rate.

You pay more during the day and less at night.

Jibber123

So what your saying is the price cap is not universal it depends on where you are. How do i find out the price cap for my region? Also why is there no price cap for day/night tariffs? When you say some maths is required how do i calculate it is it dependant on the day/night usage split? 60/40 for example. I can't remember exactly what the example is they keep quoting something like 42/58? 

[Deleted User]

There is a price cap, its the total £ cost for a certain amount of units used at a 58 day / 42 night split.

The unit price isn't capped, because they are allowed to choose anywhere between "very expensive day and very cheap night" and "the same at day and night".

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/default-tariff-cap-level-1-october-2022-31-december-2022 if you want to see the raw numbers.

MWT

Jibber123 said:

When you say some maths is required how do i calculate it is it dependant on the day/night usage split? 60/40 for example. I can't remember exactly what the example is they keep quoting something like 42/58? 

The cap set by Ofgem for multi-register metering is based on 58%/42% day/night and 4200kWh consumption.

So different suppliers may have different day/night rates, but at 4200kWh split 58/42 they will have to be no higher than the cap.

That means as a customer you need to work out your percentage split then check the suppliers rates to see which of them better suits your split and use.

The close you are to the 58/42 split the less point there is in looking at other suppliers...

Jibber123

Ok I understand the 42/58 split we're close to it I think 40/60 but aiming of maximising this going forward to save a few extra £'s. We can use a lot more stuff on the cheap rate if we change our work/home work patterns. With regards to the region I've found this on the Octopus website. https://octoenergy-production-media.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Ofgem_price_cap_rates.pdf
So how do I know what region I'm in? Our postcode is MK45 so I looked that up on the Ofgem website and it tells me my network operator is UK Power Networks. Who manage all the areas near me South east, East England and London? So I've rung Scottish Power who helpfully tell me I'm with Scottish Power. I tried to explain to drone on the phone that I need to know the Region and thhe tell me England  I know you can look up the MPAN meter number and this should have a code that tell you what region you were in back in the day of regional suppliers, But what are the region codes and which bit of the MPAN do I need. I'm starting to thing Quantum theory and particle physics would be easier than checking you price cap is correct! Or are we just suppose to take it that the energy supplier (the people charging us are doing it correctly) conflict of interest possibly. 

[Deleted User]

It's based on the old electricity board areas - which are still the distribution licences that people like UPKN hold.

You're probably in the EPN region - so East England.

QrizB

Jibber123 said:

I know you can look up the MPAN meter number and this should have a code that tell you what region you were in back in the day of regional suppliers, But what are the region codes and which bit of the MPAN do I need.

Wikipedia has a helpful article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meter_Point_Administration_Number

Jibber123

Ok a lot of googling and i've found this link to tell you your DNO and region. https://www.ssen.co.uk/about-ssen/who-is-my-distributor/ T

Jibber123

My head really hurts now but I think I've worked it out. My unit rate p/kWh weighted average is 5.41% above the price cap for my region and the standing charge is 14.24% above the price cap for my region. Seems a little bit off but I've checked my sums a few times now and the arithmetic is right but the my method might be out. I might try Scottish Power again and see if anyone there can explain to me how it's worked out other than think of a random number multiply by you year of birth add you 1st house number and divide by the age of you aunts 2nd gold fish!
All in all I think their over charging me £105.37 a year, but I might be wrong!