Beware the "new" method being used by energy price comparison sites.

[towny44]

Just been doing my regular check to make sure I'm not missing any big savings and found that most Comp sites show my annual cost is £30 more than my own spread sheet.
The reason is that they now factor in the assumption that you will allow your supplier to role you over to their standard tariff when your current Fix ends, so if you have less than 12 months to go your annual expected cost rises, and the nearer you are to the end date the more "savings" you could "apparently" make.
Of course no savvy energy switcher would ever allow this to happen, but you do need to know your current tarrif and the annual cost at your expected consumption rate otherwise you could get duped into switching onto a higher tarrif.
Now this seems a new practise to me but maybe not!

[Silver_Shiney]

Thanks for that snippet, John. I saw somewhere recently that, where you are within a certain period of the end of your "contract", the supplier is not allowed to charge the "early cancellation fee".

I haven't looked for a few months, but when I did last try to do a comparison, I found that all the companies had a different way of recording unit, KWh, etc etc so it was extremely difficult for me to work out what was what. I seem to recall that the government(?) was going to make all the suppliers use the same system?

[towny44]

Thanks for that snippet, John. I saw somewhere recently that, where you are within a certain period of the end of your "contract", the supplier is not allowed to charge the "early cancellation fee".

I haven't looked for a few months, but when I did last try to do a comparison, I found that all the companies had a different way of recording unit, KWh, etc etc so it was extremely difficult for me to work out what was what. I seem to recall that the government(?) was going to make all the suppliers use the same system?

Now that seems possible, it does rather have the feel of some central govt. dept bureaucracy with very little common sense applied.

[Raybosailor]

I only use comparison sites to get the info I need as in price per therm. discounts for direct debit and dual fuel and when the tariff expires.

Home and motor insurance comparison sites can lead you in to temptation too if your not careful, I look at all the sites and note down the savings offered and then phone the companies direct they always have a margin for adjustment.

Same goes for buying a car don't think for one minute the price on offer is the best they can do they always have a bit to work with. Most car showrooms don't make a lot on new car sales their profits are made by selling you finance deals and extras like paint protection and seat fabric protection etc. at remarkably hyped up prices. The Porsche dealership near me used to charge £150.00 for Diamond Brite protection treatment and they were buying the packs in for only £25.00 and the valet team got nothing for doing the job which took about two hours to do. Get a reputable car valet man to do the job at a fraction of the price. (by the way I still have a Diamond Brite kit in my workshop if anyone interested).

[towny44]

Just giving an up date on this topic, despite Uswitch saying they reply to compaints within 3 days, I have had no reply to an e-mail I sent on 28th Apr outlining my concerns about this policy.
However I have have another entreaty from them claiming they can save me £65 pa against my current supplier, the actual annualised saving is only £18, the other is determined from 323 days left on my fixed tariff and 42 days assumed changeover to Scottish Powers standard variable rate, which of course as a seasoned tariff switcher I will never allow to happen.
On checking all the comparison sites I use they all, including the Daily Mail's comparison site, operate the same system, some do provide your annualised fixed rate amount, but you do need to search for it.

[Kendhni]

Having been responsible for the pricing systems for one of the main utility companies for several years you find a lot of it of it is smoke and mirrors.

When shopping around always make sure you are using figures that reflect your own personal usage and not using industry averages.

[towny44]

Interesting that I posted this over 18 months ago and only now are the Daily Mail starting a campaign to have the idiotic way that Ofgem want to display your annual cost saving changed.
So can I suggest that any of you currently using a comparison site to find the best deal, change to using the Cheap Energy Club comparison site. They show both your current annual usage on your current tafiff, as well as what the annual cost will be if your tariff has less than 12 months to run, which is the Ofgem standard.
If like me you always ensure that you switch to a cheaper tariff before or when your current one ends, the cost comparison against your annualised current tariff is the figure which really matters.

[Stephen]

We are sticking with EDF for another year on another fixed tariff. Paying fractionally more but not anywhere near as much as other suppliers and certainly cheaper that a variable tariff. No exit fee either which a lot more companies appear to be introducing.

[oldbluefox]

Happy with OVO.

[GillD46]

We switched to Extra Energy at the beginning of the year, but have had no bill since, as they seemingly only generate a bill biannually, so yesterday we called them. We have a surplus balance of £1,100+ and they want us to drop our payments from £146 to £65! Our gas usage from early March to yesterday was £114!!!! Now we've switched on the gas central heating it will increase, so we have elected to pay £110 pcm. And now we've switched on the underfloor heating in the conservatory - which we use all day, every day - electricity will rise too because we have all heating on all day - all night too for the underfloor heating. They are extremely good, they answer after a couple of rings, are polite and very cheap!

[Keechy]

We are sticking with EDF for another year on another fixed tariff. Paying fractionally more but not anywhere near as much as other suppliers and certainly cheaper that a variable tariff. No exit fee either which a lot more companies appear to be introducing.

Like you, we've been with EDF for about three years. Our monthly bill dropped by £25 in the first year and then another £11 following. However, they do have a little trick they play about four months before the deal ends and that is to offer a new one, which costs a bit more 'but may be withdrawn soon'. We opted to take the offer and agreed on an additional £7 pm... which means we pay £28 more for the original deal. I'm expecting a call around June next year!

It has to be said we've had no problems with EDF but I wonder if that'll be the case after Brexit.

[Stephen]

We are sticking with EDF for another year on another fixed tariff. Paying fractionally more but not anywhere near as much as other suppliers and certainly cheaper that a variable tariff. No exit fee either which a lot more companies appear to be introducing.

Like you, we've been with EDF for about three years. Our monthly bill dropped by £25 in the first year and then another £11 following. However, they do have a little trick they play about four months before the deal ends and that is to offer a new one, which costs a bit more 'but may be withdrawn soon'. We opted to take the offer and agreed on an additional £7 pm... which means we pay £28 more for the original deal. I'm expecting a call around June next year!

It has to be said we've had no problems with EDF but I wonder if that'll be the case after Brexit.

If they start playing silly bu99ers Keechy then we just up sticks and go elsewhere. But for the time being I am happy to give them another year of custom.

[qbman1]

This is nearly as exciting as the discussion on the price of logs !

[Stephen]

Don't read it if your not interested. Haven't you got a job to do

[qbman1]

Now, you know very well the answer to that !!

[david63]

This is nearly as exciting as the discussion on the price of logs !

Not sure why you would be interested in Gas and Electricity if you use logs for fuel

[GillD46]

This is nearly as exciting as the discussion on the price of logs !

Not sure why you would be interested in Gas and Electricity if you use logs for fuel

We use 'em all!

[qbman1]

Not much call for solar panels at the moment, though

[GillD46]

Being a village on the South of the Gower Peninsula, at least 75%" of the houses here have solar panels, and most swear by them. Having them doesn't seem to affect property sales either - maybe because this is a very sought after area. Sadly, we don't have any, and at this stage, we don't want to tie up £25,000 buying them and are reluctant to rent.

[Manoverboard]

Solar panels are in the fields where they belong in these 'ere parts ... darzet folk have more sense than to put them on their roofs.

[oldbluefox]

Solar panels are in the fields where they belong in these 'ere parts ... darzet folk have more sense than to put them on their roofs.

Mud huts wouldn't carry the weight!!! You'll probably find the houses have sunk so far it looks like the panels are in the fields.

[Manoverboard]

Solar panels are in the fields where they belong in these 'ere parts ... darzet folk have more sense than to put them on their roofs.

Mud huts wouldn't carry the weight!!! You'll probably find the houses have sunk so far it looks like the panels are in the fields.

Question ....

How many thatched roofed houses have you spotted toting solar panels ?

[qbman1]

They look a bit precarious though!

solar-water-heating-panels-on-a-thatched-roof-n-francis-A2294F.jpg

[Stephen]

Surprising how many there when you Google it.

I guess, why not. The roof is going to get hot anyway so why not utilise it.

[qbman1]

So long as it doesn't get too hot !