April price cap announcement, fall of 7%

GingerTim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81898949#Comment_81898949

That assumes you will be able to freely join one of these low SC tariffs, and that it's not invitation only.

EssexHebridean

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81898949#Comment_81898949

My suspicion is that you're right to keep an eye on the various offerings out there - specifically the ones without exit fees. The trial for the new tariffs is by the sound of it going to be very limited on numbers, and so the chances of getting on to it are relatively small - there is little point in risking nailing down a decent tariff because you are waiting on a slim chance of being successful in applying for the trial tariff.

I'd guess that as soon as solid information is confirmed about the requirements for the trial there will be a MSE article forthcoming summarising everything. In the meantime, do your homework really thoroughly around your own annual use - and if I were you, break that down by season if not month, too. If you were to be offered a place on the new tariff, you don't want to have to make a rush judgement on it without the backup information at hand.

Remember that if approaching the end of a fix, you can jump off without exit fees from 49 days out from end date.

tfhnota

Who knows what kind of deals for low s/c they will come up with but worth waiting a month, given stable pricing going forward for this year (famous last words…) to see what eventuates. The EDF tracker is a £100 off s/c charges but that does not mean the s/c won't go up even if the unit rate stays okay, and EDF are on my list of energy retailers to avoid, though it is topped by British Gas. At best probably end up saving a fiver a month, or so, but better than price increase.

I suspect Octopus, with its strong socialist leanings, will restrict it to people on the priority list, which I happen to be on, but only cos I am nearly seventy, and may want to check one's income (hopefully, taxable income as I can get away with it on that basis).

EssexHebridean

Ahh I'm with you - EDF are on my list too - "energy suppliers not to be touched even with a really long bargepole!" - Utility Warehouse come top of mine, but yes, BG feature too!

born_again

Eon have already stated one limitation they will apply is customers will need a smart meter [for no apparent technical reason]

Seems a fair request. For people that want to get the benefit 🤷‍♀️

There needs to be more from the companies to get everyone on SM's. Perhaps anyone wanting to change tariff would be a good starting point going forward.

tfhnota

Happy with my smart meter as it reads slightly lower than the old one it replaced but not so happy with the slow response from Octopus to replace the shot communications unit, someone else said there has been a ten percent failure rate - which basically means the meter suppliers have cut corners somewhere and pocketed some extra coin. When 3G gets closed down they will have to be replaced again, talk about printing money…

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81899191#Comment_81899191

Most fixes have required smart for years - and their is little point in switching on most SVT deals - so not sure that will have any impact.

Fixing the meters, customer support for the meters, the comms hubs and the networks that they communicate over - so they can be set-up and work more reliably would be an even better one.

IF HHS so essential to the networks - 10% + comms failures - MSE estimate not mine - seems a pretty poor baseline.

Scot_39

The 4G rollout is now in full swing - after staged trials last year - I believe now even in the North - millions of 4G hubs required by iirc 2033 (I'd need to check to be sure)

Ildhund

@Scot_39 wrote:

The 4G rollout is now in full swing -

Perhaps. I think the emphasis just now is on exchanging the 3G cellular hubs that were installed as a stopgap last year particularly for RTS victims in no-WAN areas in Scotland. DCC has pulled the plug on the mobile network contract that covered them (new deadline: 30 June 2026, I think) so 4G hubs are being installed as quickly as possible. Others in no-LRR areas will probably have to wait until that 3G > 4G upgrade is completed.