Standing Charge

wrf12345

I may be wrong but was under the impression that Utilita would accept non prepay if you phone them up, electric works ok but for me the gas rates would not work unless you really do keep the gas off during winter. Most areas have seen the electric standing charge come down recently, BTW, still too high but going in the right direction until the new tariffs come out for winter.

20122013

I would like to see whether my calculation is correct, for switching to Utilita please:

My property has electricity only with no storage heaters

Utilita charges first 1-2 kwh at 48.980p, thereafter:
26.380p / kwh

all excl VAT

If I only use a maximum of 5 kwh / month. I am thinking Utlilia would be cheaper than Octopus. as it has have no Standing Charge

Monthly Standing Charge

Utlilia is £0

Octopus  £14.19 = (£0.4666 x 365days / 12)

Electricity base on 5 units used pcm excl VAT

Utlilia £ 1.771  (£0.4898 / kwh x 2) + (£0.2638 / kwh X 3) 

Octopus  £1.277 (5 units) 

Monthly biil

Utlilia £ 1.771  + VAT

Octopus £15.467 =   £14.19 +  £1.277 + VAT

Have I overlooked something/ Thanks

20122013

Utlilia contact details  for non - existing customer;  0345 207 2000 option 4 of 4 (Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm)

can pay by direct debit but requires a hard credit check search, No exit and no contract.

Can switch over the phone or online.

MWT

20122013 said:

Have I overlooked something/ Thanks

Yes, Utilita are still going to be cheaper, but all of your 5kWh a month will be at the higher rate as it is the first 2 units per day that are charged at that rate, not per month.  

20122013

Utlilia is on variable tariff not sure whether to go with them as I am currently with Octopus paying about £25 pcm for standing charge ( this includes  VAT and £3 electricity  use) this is making me dizzy but I will persist as I know this will be on going for at least another 12 months.

MWT

The cost per unit is not really important to you given you only use 5kWh a month, avoiding the daily standing charge is important to you so the Utilita tariff is your best option.

20122013

MWT said:

The cost per unit is not really important to you given you only use 5kWh a month, avoiding the daily standing charge is important to you so the Utilita tariff is your best option.

Appreciate the reply. I had called Utilita to switch and now they tell me that I need to have a smart meter installed and it will not use any electricity to run? I am put off, as my current provider was saying my meter was faulty as it  was not moving forward despite explaining to them that no / low energy was used,  and have to take time out to entertain their meter reader, I can see this happening again with Utilita..

t0rt0ise

You'll have to have a smart meter soon anyway, everybody will. You won't have meter readers coming with a smart meter. That's the point of them. Not having one is going to be very costly.

QrizB

20122013 said:

MWT said:

The cost per unit is not really important to you given you only use 5kWh a month, avoiding the daily standing charge is important to you so the Utilita tariff is your best option.

Appreciate the reply. I had called Utilita to switch and now they tell me that I need to have a smart meter installed and it will not use any electricity to run?

Smart meters (and most dumb ones) run on unmetered electricity.

20122013 said:

... my current provider was saying my meter was faulty as it  was not moving forward despite explaining to them that no / low energy was used,  and have to take time out to entertain their meter reader, I can see this happening again with Utilita..

Utilita will only take you on with a smart meter. So long as the meter is working smartly, you shouldn't see a meter reader at all except for occasional "safety checks" (which are also anti-pilfering inspections) every few years.

20122013

Utilita has asked for my permission to 'download' my usage per second or I can opt out? 

Does this make sense? as I thought they monitor your usage anytime ? 

or are they talking about ' 'in-home display' (IHD)'

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/using-the-energy-monitor-for-your-smart-meter/