Electricity prices and switching

An actual saving compared to present, or merely when compared to an expensive tariff it's presumed you will revert to? The latter is the way most suppliers and comparison sites work ...

Ah! Yes, that makes sense. Bastards. The new tariff cannot possibly save anything when compared to the existing tariff. That means I've got to go through the rigmarole of comparing prices again. *sigh*

There is a regulator approved misleading formula used by the comparison sites and the energy suppliers.

Your current contract is your 9.40p per kWh/22.6p per day for for the next 3 months and then they assume you are stupid enough to spend the 9 nine months on the "standard rates" at a higher cost. This is how they calculate your current yearly price.

The comparison is then made against a full 12 months at the rate the new supplier is offering.

You are doing the correct thing by assuming that your consumption for the next year will be similar to that of the previous year and performing your own calculations.

Be careful about switching within 40?? days of a contract ending as you may incur the switching penalties written into the existing contract.

Sounds more expensive than EDF to me, as long as you use their latest blue thingy. Of course I'm using economy 7 which does skew it a bit or there would be no point in having it would there? Brian

In message , alan_m writes

It really is a misleading practice, at best.

Unless you've recently switched off a heated towel rail :-P

In message , Brian Gaff writes

Scary! Just looked at Money Supermarket, and their best is PFP Energy who want 13.167p per unit plus 28.479 per day, which is 893.65 pa compared to current rate 650.57; rather depressing.

If you find entering the info a PITA on comparison sites. You could register at energy saving club - part of martin lewis moneysaving org. They remember your consumption and makes repeated comparisons easier Just login and press compare job done

Just looked back, and our consumption this year was slightly less than the preceding year, but I have been adding LED bulbs.

In message , Bob Minchin writes

Just done exactly that, and yes, my details were there. Mr Lewis offers no greater savings than the Supermarket site, but at least I'll know the options.

I feel your pain. I pay Flipper to do it all for me. Initially, they only charge you if they can find you a better deal than their fee costs. They also do regular checks to make sure you are still on the best deal.

Not DIY, of course, but as with that it pays to know your own skill limitations.

The only variations there should be between comparison sites is the amount of cash back they offer. The basic prices "should" all be the same.

I'm beginning to think these comparison sites don't always work in 'our' favour.

I got some very odd results when using several when thinking about changing to a car which I guessed might be expensive to insure (a sports car) They all suggested it would cost a lot more (reasonably well known companies only)

In fact, my current insurer changed it from the existing car for only an admin fee.

I suggest that you look at alternative suppliers.

I have a Co-op supply, I agreed early to a similar switch knowing that the switch would take place when the current tariff expired, and that I could change my mind actually up to several days after the change was due to take place.

EDF behave in a similar way.

I dislike confusing TCRs and looking at yours, I suspect a typo as the new TCR is the same as the unit rate.

Bugger. Yes, sorry. TCR 17.23

Agreed. Car insurance comparison market is a totally different animal. Each site only listing options from companies that favour them. According to ML, there is an order in which to do the comparisons and a few extra companies who wont play ball with the comparison sites to try as well. The price you are quoted also depends on how long to your renewal date. Always worth doing your comparison around 30 days before renewal and saving the best ones to recall later. Comparing in the last few days indicates to them a degree of desperation on your part and the premiums go up.

I've been looking at Powershop

I think it works at 10.8p/unit + 15.76p/day if I take advantage of all their special offers, and about ?30 more if I'm lazy but stick with them for a year (on about ?350 usage).

Oh and none of the systems can cope with the fact that I want a single rate and not an E7 rate 'cause my meter comes up on "the database" as a dual rate meter. I just don't use enough E7 to justify the other extra charges.

Some right tw@s specify and design these systems.

In message , AnthonyL writes

That does look interesting, but 'Unfortunately Powershop does not have any tariffs available in your region.'