Which Gas and Electric provider??

mark_steps

Just moved in so had to contact the providers of Gas and Electricity. Having done so i found out the prices but being so clueless on all this i dont know whats bad and not etc.

Me and the OH live in a one bedroom flat in Edinburgh. I beleive its gas central heating tho how do i know for sure?We intend to put away £75 each month for gas and a further £75 for electricity. OH works Monday - Friday so he is in more at nights from say 6 onwards. I work various days on and off so may be in flat during the week.

Scotish Power provide us the electricity. Its a standard tariff with a daily charge of 15.89 pence. Standard charge is 11.799 pence per unit.

BG provide the gas. Standard tarriff that i know. For the first 7.3424 units or something like that i pay 6.459pence per unit then it goes down to 2.709 pence per unit for the day.

What is a unit? On the electric reading there are like 5 or 6 numbers with the last one being a red number. This moves from 0-9. Is it this one thats a unit?

If i can provide any more info which may help build a bigger picture, please ask me and i will help if i can.

Should i stay with these companies bearing in mind im just in or should i leave it 3 months to see what the spend is like?

mark_steps

Using u switch i entered the details i had and the best deal i got was with Npower.

Gas 5.494p per kWh 1.713p per kWh above 4572 kWh p.aElectricity 13.41p per kWh 10.58p per kWh above 728 kWh p.a Now like i said i dont know how much electric would need to be used to reach 4572KWH pa etc.

Does this look an ok deal? Read some bad reviews about them tho, so a lil scared lol

Ken68

The national average for gas is 20,000 kwh (i.e. gas unitsx 11, if your meter is metric) otherwise by 32 for cu.ft. This is marked on the meter.
The electric 'units' are already kwh, ignore the red numbers.
A flat might be less than these average figures tho being in Sc otland might be the same.
You need to take readings every so often and build up a usage picture. A gas central heating system will have a boiler and radiators and header tanks upstairs or in the loft. A combi central heating system is different.
If you have electric heating these will usually be storage heaters, look for immovable lumps with grills for letting out the heat. Storage heaters usually work on an electric economy rate called E7 and sometimes E10.

Ken68

Ball park figures, using an Edinburgh postcode,and national averages, Mark ,is £983 a year, so you are well in.
BG... 6.459pence is for the first 670 kwh, thereafter 2.709. No standing charge.
You can make savings , again roughly, of £182 per year with nPower, but they are having tariff and computer problems. Also read the thread on sculpting.
Next 'reliable company' savings are Atlantic £107, and then BG Click 5 £105 savings.
Leave things for the time being, take regular readings, research this forum, post again later after you have settled in, and after an invoice.

mark_steps

Many thanks! I have started a "journal" for recording both gas and lecy readings. Every Friday or so i shall take a reading. Obv, not moved in properly yet so wont gave washing machine on etc but it will let us see at a glance how we are getting on. No bills for 3 months so should i wait till 3 months time then see about moving?