Energy Company Suggestions - see my criteria

Spoonie_Turtle

FreeBear said:

bob2302 said:

FreeBear said:

Gerry1 said:

Octopus offer Monthly Variable Direct Debit and have good customer service so they should definitely be your first choice. Their app is brilliant.  I doubt that you'll find anyone that's better.

Yet I found the octopus app to be next to useless when trying to set up a Home Mini - Had to jump through hoops and set up a fake geolocation to get it to work. Octopus didn't appear to be that interested and wouldn't answer the question of why the app needed geolocation. Not that any of this helps the OP.

I just turned it on for the duration of the set-up and then removed the permission. Octopus already knows my address, so I didn't see this as a problem.

My tablet doesn't have GPS, so I have to fake it. And as you say, Octopus already knows the address, so why does the app need geolocation - It doesn't in my opinion.

It seems to be pretty standard when pairing devices now.  I don't know the reason why though.

bob2302

NotArobot24 said:

On 7 please don't tell me to take something that works against my disability, it is my decision please respect that decision.  

Smart meters have large backlit digits. What exactly is your problem?

Ildhund

I agree with other posters that you're unlikely to find a supplier that fulfils all your requirements. My own is OVO, and I suggest you have a look at what they offer. 

NotArobot24 said:

1. I want a direct debit that some companies call flexible or variable, where I pay the outstanding amount in full every month to avoid scary bills.

OVO call this Payment On Demand. It will not enable you to avoid scary bills; if you were by mistake to use much more energy one month than intended (e.g. by failing to close the freezer, or leaving the immersion heater on unnecessarily), you would get a scary bill. A fixed Direct Debit (DD) is designed precisely to avoid this scenario, by having you pay the same amount each month. OVO don't allow for variable DDs.
Payment On Demand is more expensive than DD; how much more depends of course on your consumption and also where you live, but average rates are 5 - 15% higher than DD rates. You can compare them yourself: Get energy price cap standing charges and unit rates by region | Ofgem

2. I want my variable direct debit to go out about a week before the end of the month as I have several other payments going out earlier in the month.

OVO allows you to set and change the date your DD is taken, so long as it's before the 29th of the month (i.e. on the same date each month).

3. I want accurate bills based on the reads I provide, i.e. no estimated bills.

If you submit a meter reading in the morning of the first day of your billing cycle, the reading will be used to calculate the bill for the previous month, with no estimates involved.

4. I want my bills to run from the first of the month to the end of the month regardless of the number of days, i.e. 1st to 31st or 1st to 29th or 1st to 30th or 1st to 28th..

This is the norm for OVO energy accounts.

5. I need prices to be competitive,I am a low energy user but not so low that complex schemes work for me.  So just four rates for electric and gas usage and standing charge.

I can't find a more favourable tariff with any other supplier than OVO's one-year fixed-rate plan (electricity only) that I'm on currently. I fixed in May 2024 for one year. I too am a 'low user,' with an annual energy consumption of less than 1100 kWh (not including firewood), so the standing charge is a major factor for me.

6. I want to be able to talk to the company with UK based call staff (so that they are able to carry out all the potential tasks).

If you're on the Priority Services Register (PSR), any calls to customer support would automatically be routed to a specialist team of British agents trained to help those with difficulties.

7. I do not want a Smart Meter under any circumstances, not because of some phobia but simply because they lack the control I seek (previous suppliers have confirmed this).

I don't understand this. For a start, all meters will be smart meters within the next few years by government diktat. Second, I can't see what control you need that you currently have but wouldn't have if the meter were a smart one. On the contrary, you would have much more control. You're able to request an accessible In-House Display, for example. Some IHDs can show meter readings, making it unnecessary to access the meter itself to check the reading.

A smart meter's IHD would also alert you to 'higher than normal' consumption, thus helping to mitigate the effects of the sort of accidents I referred to under (1) above. 

8. Ideally, I want to be able to escalate matters and be able to call a manager or back office staff if there is an issue that I can't resolve with call centre staff.

If support agents are unable to solve any problem you have, you can always escalate it to the next level, if necessary by submitting a complaint: Our complaints procedure | OVO Energy 

There's plenty more information about OVO's offerings to be had: OVO Energy Customer Help and FAQ 

Scot_39

Just throwing in a  curveball, since seems op cannot get all 8 points.

And a major point appears to be timing of a large monthly payment - the DD.

Although the OP says he doesn't see smart meters giving him the control he needs.

Has he considered smart prepay - currently the cheapest cap on average across regions - £1522 vs 1568 pa for DD at median tdcv.

Would have to obviously keep on top of usage and top up in advance but would have more control of the dates they did so once had some standing credit.

Seen posts from some who have made the switch since April and top up say weekly on line as required - so no major one off monthly outlay.