Are People on Standard GAS Tariffs Fixing Now?

TractorFactor

For those that are on Standard variable tariffs, is anyone thinking of fixing to combat January's predicted price rises?

Following on from previous years, it seems to go down in summer so would it be best to wait it out and fix next year?

QrizB

For those that are on Standard variable tariffs, is anyone thinking of fixing to combat January's predicted price rises?

Per footnote 7 on this Ofgem press release about the October cap, around 20M UK households are on the SVT. That's more than two in every three households.

I suspect there will still be lots of SVT customers in October, and probably in January too.

Following on from previous years, it seems to go down in summer …

The chart here doesn't really support that hypothesis:

https://www.pricecaprates.co.uk/history

… so would it be best to wait it out and fix next year?

You'll almost certainly end up paying more this winter (particularly Q1 2027) if you stay on the SVT. Q2 & Q3 2027 might be cheaper on the SVT than on a current fix, but most people use less energy over that period so the extra cost is likely to be small. I suspect taking a fix now will cost less overall.

Q4 2027 and Q1 2028 are anyone's guess. I've taken an 18-month gas fix but will see whether it's worth paying the early exit fee in 12 months time.

Baldytyke88

I am with Octopus, and their tracker that changes every single day based on wholesale market costs. The answer is not always to fix.

https://octopus.energy/tracker-faqs/

RavingMad

But Tracker prices have been high for quite a while now, haven't they? Certainly above SVT

t0rt0ise

I left gas Tracker six months ago and more recently took an 18 month fix. Probably should have fixed earlier but better late than never.

Cinderella77

I have just fixed for 18 months but staying on the higher gas fix for 18 months is not my aim. If prices drop from next spring I will pay the exit fee and move. I’m hoping prices will fall over summer so I will be on a better unit price by next winter. I fixed with the lowest exit fee I could find for tgis reason, £50 per fuel, and can leave one or both as they are single tariffs.

molerat

I fixed with Eon on a "no internal switching fee" tariff - best of both worlds.

Bigphil1474

I'm still with BG and they also allow an internal switch fee free, even if it's through a switching site offer. I would definitely fix Gas over the winter if you can get a decent deal for October to February ish. We pay about £800 a year for gas, but December to February accounts for half of that cost. Depends on your usage, but you should save more over winter by fixing, than you would lose in the summer by being in a slightly higher fix. Different for leccy of course.