Energy Bills Crisis - Fixed vs Variable Tariffs? - Other Supplier Support?

ThriftyThree

Like many I am extremely concerned about the increases in the price cap already confirmed and those to come in January and April. I am trying to work out if it is worth asking my supplier for a fixed deal versus remaining on the variable tariff? I know I may be late for this, I was honestly hoping the gov wold come in at the 11th hour with a price cap freeze. I hate the uncertainty of having my bills change (always up) every three months. Is there any chance I could get a fixed price tariff close to my current charge on the variable tariff to beat future cap rises? I currently pay £150 electric (per month) and £10 gas (per month) so £160pm total. I have included more specific detail further down. 

This did go up earlier in the year to current value, but hasn't yet changed to reflect October price cap yet. Even this is more than we would ideally pay but is (just) affordable unlike the projected increases.

Not sure how much difference there is between suppliers, but I am with British Gas. Have been with them for over 20 years now, perfect account record, never had debt and a member of the household is classed as being (extremely) vulnerable due to their age (pensioner), being housebound and having medical complications (asthma and diabetes). We are on the priority services register through our supplier because of this. Sorry if this seems totally irrelevant, but just mention it as I am not sure whether this info can be used to bargain/haggle a slightly better deal from them? e.g. is there any way I could access a social tariff or other more targeted assistance? 

Also, I haven't contacted my supplier in several years and not really sure about the process for requesting a fixed deal or best way to go about any negotiation (if there is even the option)? Are there any specific techniques people who have recently negotiated fixed deals would recommend? 

I was able to pull this info from the BG site about my current tariff:

About this electricity tariff

Tariff type Variable

Payment method Monthly Direct Debit

Standard unit rate 27.092p per kWh

Standing charge 48.913p per day*

Estimated annual consumption 6,408.92 kWh

Estimated annual cost* £1914.76

About this gas tariff

Tariff type Variable

Payment method Monthly Direct Debit

Standard unit rate 7.226p per kWh

Standing charge 27.220p per day*

Estimated annual consumption 700.96 kWh

Estimated annual cost* £149.98

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Deleted User]

If there is a fix offered at the moment, it is likely to be above the October prices but below some of the predicted prices for next year.  I think you're too late to get anything fixed near the present prices.

QrizB

The time to fix was June or July. There were a couple of deals promoted here on MSE and on this forum.

There are some vague suggestions of additional government support for poorer households but nothing concrete yet.

LindsayT

There is no haggling with energy companies, the price is what it is.
Don't forget, you will get £400 @ £66/67 a month from October to March.
Does the pensioner get Winter Fuel Allowance? If so, that is £200 or £300 if 80 years old or more plus he/she will get an extra £300 this winter, all of which is supposed to go towards fuel, though some people don't take that into consideration.
This is without any additional support we may or may not get.

BUFF

That's a very low gas consumption, what do you use it for (hob perhaps)?
2/3 of your bill is the standing charge.

ThriftyThree

LindsayT said:

There is no haggling with energy companies, the price is what it is.
Don't forget, you will get £400 @ £66/67 a month from October to March.
Does the pensioner get Winter Fuel Allowance? If so, that is £200 or £300 if 80 years old or more plus he/she will get an extra £300 this winter, all of which is supposed to go towards fuel, though some people don't take that into consideration.
This is without any additional support we may or may not get.

Thanks, yes we are aware of that and (thankfully) do get some of the available government support. However, some of the support we get is classified as general cost of living support rather than being specifically for energy bills, so we are not prepared to use that solely on energy bills when the price of everything else is rising too. 

We are trying to avoid the slippery slope of agreeing a huge DD increase on the strength of the support we have right now (which to be clear we are very grateful of), only for that support to come to an end and us then stuck on an unaffordable DD with no additional support incoming. 

ThriftyThree

BUFF said:

That's a very low gas consumption, what do you use it for (hob perhaps)?
2/3 of your bill is the standing charge.

Yes, it is low, our gas use vs electricity has always been miniscule. The only thing gas in the house is the cooker (oven, hob and grill). We don't use gas or electric central heating. Had gas but it failed many years ago and as there are only two of us in the house we just heat the rooms we occupy. 

Not sure we can really do much about that standing charge since we can't rebalance our usage towards gas (at least without a whole new central heating system - don't want the hassle or cost tbh).

[Deleted User]

The only way to keep your long term DD lower is to use less.  You will get "stuck" on the DD appropriate to how much you use - there's no haggling and no discount tariffs (at the moment).

For budget purposes, you may be happier on a fixed rate tariff (so you know what each unit will cost you for the next 12 months), but that's entirely up to you.

pochase

Here is a quick calculation what the next year would cost you at October cap and predicted January prices (Auxilione, but CI is not far off)



I doubt that you will see any fixed tariff below 65p for electricity now, BG does not even do any fixed tariffs at the moment.

If you get lucky to find a fixed tariff expect it to be near to £5000 per year.

I am sorry, but you will  need to use the whole cost of living payments for the increased energy costs. Based on the October rates, which have been officially set now, you will be paying an additional  £1600 per year.

When the talk of freezing the came up a few weeks ago it was already to late for the "good" fixed tariffs. That was in May/June with some like the Green Energy UK open market fix available into July.

LindsayT

£650 was cost of living payment if you are on certain benefits.
The figures I mentioned in my previous post are specifically for energy costs.

ThriftyThree

Deleted_User said:

The only way to keep your long term DD lower is to use less.  You will get "stuck" on the DD appropriate to how much you use - there's no haggling and no discount tariffs (at the moment).

For budget purposes, you may be happier on a fixed rate tariff (so you know what each unit will cost you for the next 12 months), but that's entirely up to you.

Unfortunately, we absolutely cannot cut back on things like heating, which over winter is without doubt our biggest cost, since it's all electric, due to the vulnerable relatives age and medical conditions. I really think there desperately needs to be a social tariff for people like us who absolutely can't limit things like heating in the same way other families or households might be able to (not that I think anyone should have to mind!). I think British Gas should already be offering something like a social tariff TBH considering they are owned by Centrica who are positively raking it in.