new octopus 14mth fix

Telegraph_Sam

@Northernstar007: Sorry to say that your renewal link doesn't seem to work for me (on Chrome) but just brings  up the dreaded Error 404 pop-up. 

northernstar007

Telegraph_Sam said:

@Northernstar007: Sorry to say that your renewal link doesn't seem to work for me (on Chrome) but just brings  up the dreaded Error 404 pop-up. 

sam did u add your account number in the link

Telegraph_Sam

Ah ... (".. if all else fails read the instructions")
The options given were to switch to Flexible or Loyal 14 M, but not to Tracker even though I reckon that I qualify. Why not?

wrf12345

You get to the trackers and TOU tariffs by scrolling down the home page until you find the link but the rates will update April 1st, I think.

vic_sf49

Telegraph_Sam said:

The following thought occurred to me - rather late in the day - in connection with comparing different (fixed) tariffs:
You can compare two different users at the same point in time and in the same geographical region. If the tariff comprises a unit charge and a standing charge, the relative advantage of one tariff over another will also depend on the relative size of consumption which in turn influences the balance between the cost of the units vs that of the cost of the days. The choice of the best tariff for a low consumption user could be different from that for a high consumption user over the same time period. 
If someone can express the above more lucidly please do so (unless you disagree   )

Yes, exactly as you said, so people need to calculate whether it's worth it to them.

With the recent drop in rates, especially the standing charge on Electric, by 6p (ish... cba re-doing the maths), if I used approx 5500kwh of electric or less per year*, then it was worth changing tariffs.

As I use about 900, due to having solar panels, it was a very very easy decision.

*Fix is 14 months, but I just did the calcs based on my annual usage.

vic_sf49

Annnnnnd, another new loyalty fix from the Octopods. Off to switch my electric for the fourth time this year.

(Rates are for the East Midlands.)

Telegraph_Sam

Doing the number crunching through the mass of recent 14-M Fixed versions it does seem at least that the recent trend has been downwards (in my situation). I'd be tempted to switch were it not for a presumed reaction from Tracker (or Agile) to the imminent price cap changes.
You wonder what motivates them to come up with the changes. More work for everyone to digest.

northernstar007

Telegraph_Sam said:

Doing the number crunching through the mass of recent 14-M Fixed versions it does seem at least that the recent trend has been downwards (in my situation). I'd be tempted to switch were it not for a presumed reaction from Tracker (or Agile) to the imminent price cap changes.
You wonder what motivates them to come up with the changes. More work for everyone to digest.

sam i can rejoin tracker in june so i will be watching closer to the time (currently on agile for electric), my current deal for gas is 5.51p untill boxing day which is on par with current tracker as with the new deal its 5.81p so hopefully during the summer that 5.81p drops a little more then i will be renewing to  get an extension end date

Telegraph_Sam

Your note arrived in tandem with the announcement of the British Gas Fixed v 49 via MSE. Excluding for a minute the MSE cashback, the saving on electric for me would be £51 p.a., matched by the £50 / fuel early exit fee for less than 16 months membership.  On the other hand it would have no advantage for gas over other similar offers (but still the £50 exit penalty). Can't say that I'm rushing to sign up - at least not until I get a feel for what the flexibles market has to offer next month.

vic_sf49

I discounted that straight away, as it was with British Gas.

Am I paying more staying with Octopus? Maybe. Do Octopus function better as a company than BG? Definitely.

I like that Octopus tariffs have £0 exit fees, as I suspect I'll be changing tariff repeatedly throughout the year. Not that I looked to see if others offer that too.