Changing supplier could stop storage heaters working

jake_jones99

EssexHebridean said:

jake_jones99 said:

My projected monthly cost is around £200, with BG it's ~£110, with EON 1 year fix it's ~£130.

Ignore those figures - you need to compare the actual unit rates and standing charges you are being offered to get a true picture of which is cheapest. 

These figures are computed using my day/night consumption in this flat, based on the day/night rates and standing charges. I ignore their predictions and make mine.

Phones4Chris

jake_jones99 said:

EssexHebridean said:

jake_jones99 said:

My projected monthly cost is around £200, with BG it's ~£110, with EON 1 year fix it's ~£130.

Ignore those figures - you need to compare the actual unit rates and standing charges you are being offered to get a true picture of which is cheapest. 

These figures are computed using my day/night consumption in this flat, based on the day/night rates and standing charges. I ignore their predictions and make mine.

Have you checked EDFs current SVR E7 rate for the Southwest. When I last checked it was marginally cheaper or the same as other suppliers so I stayed with EDF. The problem with BG is they had historically been unable to cope with E7 Smart Meters and that issue may still be ongoing for some.
Stick to companies with reasonable (even good) customer service. I would have gone to Octopus but their night rate (most of my use) was slightly more than EDF and I use about £200 pm in the winter.

jake_jones99

Phones4Chris said:

jake_jones99 said:

EssexHebridean said:

jake_jones99 said:

My projected monthly cost is around £200, with BG it's ~£110, with EON 1 year fix it's ~£130.

Ignore those figures - you need to compare the actual unit rates and standing charges you are being offered to get a true picture of which is cheapest. 

These figures are computed using my day/night consumption in this flat, based on the day/night rates and standing charges. I ignore their predictions and make mine.

Have you checked EDFs current SVR E7 rate for the Southwest. When I last checked it was marginally cheaper or the same as other suppliers so I stayed with EDF. The problem with BG is they had historically been unable to cope with E7 Smart Meters and that issue may still be ongoing for some.
Stick to companies with reasonable (even good) customer service. I would have gone to Octopus but their night rate (most of my use) was slightly more than EDF and I use about £200 pm in the winter.

I'll check them out thanks!

jake_jones99

jake_jones99 said:

Phones4Chris said:

jake_jones99 said:

EssexHebridean said:

jake_jones99 said:

My projected monthly cost is around £200, with BG it's ~£110, with EON 1 year fix it's ~£130.

Ignore those figures - you need to compare the actual unit rates and standing charges you are being offered to get a true picture of which is cheapest. 

These figures are computed using my day/night consumption in this flat, based on the day/night rates and standing charges. I ignore their predictions and make mine.

Have you checked EDFs current SVR E7 rate for the Southwest. When I last checked it was marginally cheaper or the same as other suppliers so I stayed with EDF. The problem with BG is they had historically been unable to cope with E7 Smart Meters and that issue may still be ongoing for some.
Stick to companies with reasonable (even good) customer service. I would have gone to Octopus but their night rate (most of my use) was slightly more than EDF and I use about £200 pm in the winter.

I'll check them out thanks!

I checked them now and they're more expensive than the EON Next fixes. I am still trying to work out if on 1 April when the cap goes down also the fixes go down. And if they do, by how much. They might go down by as much as the cap.

jake_jones99

Now it seems the tariffs for EON 1 year fix went up 11%, so I would be saving only 23% by fixing. Does it make any sense to assume they will go down closer to April?

jake_jones99

My mistake, it didn't go up, it was the same tariff, but didn't consider the direct debit discount. This system is quite complex, so no wonder many people don't bother and end up paying huge amounts. I fixed my tariff for 1 year as it is 31% cheaper than what I am paying currently on variable tariff. I take my chance and move on with other aspects in my life.

jake_jones99

Scot_39 said:

If you rely on your meter switching the off peak (restricted) suplly for nsh and hw immersion - you need to ensure you get a meter that supports internal (5 port with in built alcs) or 4 port with external alcs contactor to switch the 7 hour only off peak supply if say BG or another were to insist on new meter.

But that should be a simple enough like for like install for them to provide.

The meter itself controls the switching from a table of timings - but with smart meters there is I suppose a risk these tables could be changed via a new supplier update - but many just default to old DNO timings or supplier defaults these days like say 0030 to 0730 regardless of region according to sone suppliers blog posts.



British Gas - had a period when it had particular problems with E7 smets2 meter installations and switchers.

A while back there were dozens of populated posts here with disgruntled BG and SG customers re their E7 metering.

It iirc actually paused their role out in many areas - possibly more signal related.

And for many of it's bespoke time of use tariffs now insists on it's own particular model of meter being installed.

(Its not a strange concept - but it does fly in the face of the supposed open / easily transferrable promises for smets2 - kind of akin to perhaps say your ISP who may only fully support you if use their chosen model of router and sends you one out when you switch).

Others have reported issues with register order for peak and off peak rates on switching supplier - by choice or last year or so under supplier of last resort.

But provided you are willing to check meters and billing - that is fixable - if the deal warrants it. 

And in e7 it can be - if far from the nominal 42% split - one very high off peak user posted a serious of quotes - iirc the off peak rates varied 4-5p in his region - and although not posted - the opposite swings in peak rates to match Ofgem profile class2 overall cap.

Edf and Octopus publish their default e7 variable rate tariffs for all regions -openly - other suppliers you seem to need to ask for quotes e.g.

https://www.edfenergy.com/sites/default/files/2023-12/DM1903_Standard (Variable), Deemed and Welcome - standard, E7 and prepayment meters_EPG rates.pdf


https://octopus.energy/blog/energy-price-cap-jan-2024/


Remember the new price cap is announced iirc tomorrow- and suppliers can vary the balance of peak / off peak rates  some dramatically (*) as part of that periodic review (* EDF Eastern quarter off peak rise was highlighted by many recently - from sub 10p to over 16p iirc - probably about the biggest swing reported by users here).

I'd wait a while until you see next quarter's rates before switching - it can however take weeks for them to update operator specific pricing balance peak vs off peak - after cap sets the total overall cap price though.

I started a 1y fix today. I have a 2 week cooling-off period though, so if I see some dramatic change I will take action.