Tomato Energy (Electric Only Supplier) - Too Good To Be True ?

bob2302

coupleuk said:

QrizB said:

Newbie_John said:

From other news, TE is to build a solar panels car park with 80+ charging stations:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce832yn2w7no

700 kW of solar PV (1400 500-watt panels) is quite decent size for an urban area. Hope it gets built, and we could do with a few more of those!

Looking at the artists impression - they will be losing 50% of available parking spaces to this scheme.

I guess it's one way to cut car use.

Why do you think that? The panels form a roof, which has no effect on the number of places.

QrizB

bob2302 said:

coupleuk said:

Looking at the artists impression - they will be losing 50% of available parking spaces to this scheme.
I guess it's one way to cut car use.

Why do you think that? The panels form a roof, which has no effect on the number of places.

Probably because the artist has drawn it as though the support legs for the solar panels will block every other parking space.

Whereas it'll probably be more like this.

masonic

QrizB said:

colin79666 said:

I’ve got electric heating and no battery storage. I can’t go a week in the middle of winter with no heating just because the wind isn’t blowing and therefore Agile prices are high. E7 are also no good because the cheap rate is overnight, not when I need heating on.

How about Cosy Octopus?

https://octopus.energy/smart/cosy-octopus/

Perhaps one for me to bear in mind now they've removed barriers to joining it. Could be a good option as a refuge when prices spike.

bob2302

QrizB said:

bob2302 said:

coupleuk said:

Looking at the artists impression - they will be losing 50% of available parking spaces to this scheme.
I guess it's one way to cut car use.

Why do you think that? The panels form a roof, which has no effect on the number of places.

Probably because the artist has drawn it as though the support legs for the solar panels will block every other parking space.

Whereas it'll probably be more like this.

Actually all of the support legs in the artists impression terminate on a white line.

born_again

QrizB said:

bob2302 said:

coupleuk said:

Looking at the artists impression - they will be losing 50% of available parking spaces to this scheme.
I guess it's one way to cut car use.

Why do you think that? The panels form a roof, which has no effect on the number of places.

Probably because the artist has drawn it as though the support legs for the solar panels will block every other parking space.

Whereas it'll probably be more like this.

Thats same design as local hospital, where they did it.
While support bases do stick a bit into spaces, they do not block parking. Unless someone can't park their car.

Instead of building on fields, this should be the 1st option given to any solar company.

Newbie_John

masonic said:

colin79666 said:

masonic said:

I'm not really seeing the attraction either, as it's not hard to get an average rate below 21p. They do some E7 tariffs, but the off peak rate doesn't go below 17.5p/kWh. I'm averaging 16p on Agile Octopus since leaving TE. Standing charges haven't bitten me as much as I thought they would, as multiple heatwaves have pushed up my consumption, so I'm breaking even.

Yes Aglile may be cheaper on average price per kWh but for my kind of consumption it is much more expensive. I’ve got electric heating and no battery storage. I can’t go a week in the middle of winter with no heating just because the wind isn’t blowing and therefore Agile prices are high. E7 are also no good because the cheap rate is overnight, not when I need heating on. Prior to Tomato I had a good year on Octopus tracker but they tweaked the formula again this year and it was no longer worth it. Tomato pensioner was ideal and saved me a lot but it is increasing risky staying with them in the hope they make it through into winter. At least with 21p per kWh that I’ve got with Fuse I have some certainty. The best tariff depends on individual circumstances. 

Likewise I've got electric heating and no battery storage. I recognise that my usage is radically different at different times of the year and that the same tariff is rarely the best option all year round. I have no intention of staying on Agile throughout the coldest months (although I'll hold out until pricing drives me elsewhere). Historically, Agile price spikes have lasted 3-4 days, and last year there were only three significant ones. One of the main benefits of Agile is you get two cheap periods, one overnight and a second in the afternoon before 4pm.

Homes have a lot of thermal mass and as long as you have reasonable insulation they will hold a good overnight charge. I've found I can make it through from 6am to about 2-3pm, except on the very coldest days. Heating to about 25C in the early hours of the morning was how I was able to make substantial savings on TE Lifestyle vs Tracker at that time. I just needed a couple of small top-ups to see me through the day. 

When it comes to the winter months, during extreme periods E7 would give me an average below 21p. The best variable option has a 25/13p split, which would suit for the brief period I would need it. Perhaps costs will be marginally higher when we get there, but I'm not giving up savings of about £10/month over 9+ months of the year to lock into something that will be suited to a short period of time, albeit a time where my usage is double. Who knows, maybe TE will be given a clean bill of health and I'll be able to return.

That's exactly what I do, it works fine, sometimes the heat from cooked dinner is enough to top up the evening. I think I've discovered that during Agile negative prices, that the 6am heat stays throughout the day.

Plan for this winter is to stay with TE.
If that doesn't work out - pick the cheapest TOU tariff with the new provider - they all seem to have them now, the only difference comes with requirement of having EV - some say it's a must, some that you will make most of it if you have EV etc.