Help me decide, please and Octopus question

GlitterMedusa

Hi everyone, I am coming to the end of a low standing charge fix with BG and trying to decide what to do. I have been musing and dithering for days... 

Background info:
London region, annual usage gas 6500 kWh, electricity 1300 kWh 
Current prices: gas sc 14.75, unit 6.13. Electricity sc 22.98, unit 27.20

BG have sent me an offer of a new 1 year fix. Gas sc 30.77, unit 6.49. Electricity sc 35.43, unit 23.60
On that tariff the electricity works out about the same but the gas is obviously a fair bit more. Although it is a fixed contract with exit penalties, I can switch to another BG tariff with no penalties should they have a better one later. 
BG also do a few hours of half price electricity on Sundays which save me about 80kWh a year

After spending some time looking at things, the only way to save some money would be Octopus. I don't have solar panels or batteries. I have a gas hob, gas heating and hot water (HW cylinder with backup immersion heater) 
I was thinking of having the gas on Tracker and the electricity on Agile at least for the summer months and then maybe switch to the 12m fix later in the year (but the current Octopus fix is more expensive than the BG offer) 

My Octopus question is: can I join on the fix and then switch to tracker/agile or do I have to join on the SVT (which is eye-watering)? 

Also, I am wondering if I am not overthinking all this to save something £50 over the year (OK £100 if I include the £50 Octupus referral) 

Thoughts and suggestions welcome! 

happyretiree

I moved from BG to Octopus over 2 years ago. I have a gas boiler and hot water and gas heating, but electric oven and hob. I joined Tracker 18 months ago and switched to December 2024 Tracker in December. At the beginning of winter I was over £600 in credit and I’m currently over £600 in credit. The rates rocketed in the cold months but drop quickly. I’m very happy staying on Tracker. 

You can ring Octopus to ask about joining and then moving onto Tracker - my understanding is that you can do it once you’ve joined. I phoned and they immediately moved me onto Tracker. 

GlitterMedusa

Thanks. Octopus have confirmed that I can join on the 12m fixed tariff and then as soon as they've connected to my smart meters I can go onTracker/ Agile. No need to start on the expensive SVT.
I've got a referral link from a friend so will likely switch 

t0rt0ise

The Agile/Tracker combination is a popular choice. It's what I'm on and works well for me. I don't have solar panels or a battery either but still save a bit.

GlitterMedusa

Thanks. I've requested the switch so I'll see how I get on with things. It definitely seems like a good plan for the summer and I'll decide in a few months whether to fix for peace of mind over winter

GlitterMedusa

Change of plan: I've spoken to BG retentions and decided to stay with them on the Fixed 63 (which works out £30 a year more than the fix that's ending) but they're crediting £150 to my account... So good result for minimum effort

GlitterMedusa

The £150 credit is equivalent to a16% discount off my annual bill, and obviously if BG release a cheaper tariff later in the year I can switch to that without penalties 

Bigphil1474

I'm with BG and we recently switched our electricity to their v49 fix for a year. The gas was still on their v16 fix that ends in September. I was finding their gas tariffs a bit more expensive. However, I have just switched to their longer 24 month fix v31 which is actually cheaper per unit with a slightly higher daily charge so will cost me about £4 a year extra but fixed in for 2 years. As you say, no exit fee if switching to another BG product.