Energy price cap confusion

Mistermeaner

hi i am with octopus on their standard variable dual fuel tariff paying by direct debit, northwest based

Confused by their charging


Looking at ofgem pricing for Q1 2024 should be:

Elec    51.8p/day   28.44p/kwh

Gas    29.6/day     7.42/kwh



Octopus website quotes the following pricing (https://octopus.energy/blog/energy-price-cap-jan-2024/)

Elec    49.77p/day   28.44p/kwh (less than cap)

Gas    27.47p/day     7.42/kwh (less than cap)



However my tariff shows me paying:

Elec    60.18p/day   29.57p/kwh (more than cap)

Gas    27.47p/day     7.45/kwh (more than cap)


Why would i be paying more than the cap? I will call them but thought this should be simple they charge the cap and that's that

Thanks

MultiFuelBurner

Mistermeaner said:

hi i am with octopus on their standard variable dual fuel tariff paying by direct debit, northwest based

Confused by their charging

Looking at ofgem pricing for Q1 2024 should be:

Elec    51.8p/day   28.44p/kwh

Gas    29.6/day     7.42/kwh


Octopus website quotes the following pricing (https://octopus.energy/blog/energy-price-cap-jan-2024/)

Elec    49.77p/day   28.44p/kwh

Gas    28/day     7.42/kwh

Octopus have a long standing discount on the standing charges as they don't believe they should be as high as they are so they give them a little discount for its customers.

Mistermeaner

that would be great but my tarriff appears to be higher than both the cap and the charges they state on their website

bristolleedsfan

Mistermeaner said:

that would be great but my tarriff appears to be higher than both the cap and the charges they state on their website

Do you live within North Wales/Mersey region as opposed to North West region ?

Mistermeaner

hi i live firmly in cheshire, not near the borders of either northwales or merseyside, thanks

bristolleedsfan

Mistermeaner said:

hi i live firmly in cheshire, not near the borders of either northwales or merseyside, thanks

As can be seen from  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6495322/octopus-flexible-standard-and-e7-rates-1st-jan-2024#latest  Your tariff rates are  North Wales/Mersey region 

"However my tariff shows me  paying"

Elec    60.18p/day   29.57p/kwh 

Gas    27.47p/day     7.45/kwh 

TheElectricCow

Mistermeaner said:

hi i live firmly in cheshire, not near the borders of either northwales or merseyside, thanks

A quick google suggests Cheshire may in fact be included in the energy distribution region “D” which is the same as North Wales and Merseyside. You could try double checking with your own postcode here to be sure:
https://mysmartenergy.uk/Electricity-Region

Edit: Forgot to add that your electric distribution area code will be printed somewhere on your bill as well, although it may not explicitly say what it is. It would be a D for North Wales & Merseyside or a G for North West.

la531983

Mistermeaner said:

hi i live firmly in cheshire, not near the borders of either northwales or merseyside, thanks

And that has the sum total of nothing to do with electricity distribution areas. 

Mistermeaner

thanks that will explain it - the ofgem website is less than clear as doesn't call the region "Northwales, Mereyside and Cheshire" it refers to it instead as "Northwales and Mersey"


https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/get-energy-price-cap-standing-charges-and-unit-rates-region

Scot_39

Your meter MPAN code - printed on all bills - includes the regional DNO code -  to identify your standing charge and unit rates. The dividing lines are pretty obscure - some historic - and some do not match other traditional dividing lines - like council boundaries etc.

I live in town under West Midlands local govt wise - but in East Midlands supply region.

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

First 2 digits on bottom line - should be 13 for N Wales and Mersey.

MPAN also contains data like meter timing code - which can be a useful guide for those on E7 etc.

ArbitraryRandom

Mistermeaner said:

hi i live firmly in cheshire, not near the borders of either northwales or merseyside, thanks

As someone who used to live in Cheshire, this is a hilariously Cheshire response