Gas & Electricity

[Saddleworth2]

So, we're coming to the end of our 3 year fix at the end of September and due to the previous 3 year fix we've been isolated to a certain extent from the price rises. (just lucky timing, not by design). I've just checked the MSE comparison site and it's telling me it'll be between a 25 & 30% price rise based on current prices. Of course on the 1st of October it's predicted to rise by another 10% with that rise remaining in January so it'll be here for at least the 6 months.

This thread has been quite for awhile but are there any ideas or suggestions besides burning the furniture? Fixed or variable? There are the odd 2 year fixes that cost more now but I'm not sure if sticking to 1 year deals would be better for now.

Edit: We had to have a new meter fitted today as the boiler service ended up with finding the meter having a leak. That means the smart meters already gone as the gas board don't fit them, so another variable to consider.

at least you have had the benefit of a fixed rate over the energy crisis. My supplier went bust. Join Octopus and get a smart meter back. Whilst not perfect they are far better than most. I find the smart meter crucial in controlling my gas costs. do you have any secondary heating? we augment the CH with a couple of wood burning stoves which have helped a great deal. Have a look at MoneySaving Expert website. They have all sorts of advice as to whether to fix or not.

 

[Saddleworth2]

These companies have all become cunts and we are so badly ripped off in the UK for everything. Always go fixed though, never variable. Every single last person I know is hugely in credit between usage and what they want in DD for it. Just one of those games you have to play, and its all shit. Can take out the surplus. Me and my gf went to Benidorm on it in March. Think of it as a savings fund.

As an aside I will say that in my view folk have become much more conscious around what they use, which is no bad thing. I dont mean about the climate, I mean about rhe habitual switching on of the heating when its not needed, and yes I mean by the females in the dwelling

Octopus are pretty good at showing you your forecast projected spend month by month, your monthly payments and the resultant balances. I use that to control my monthly payment which can be changed online. Their customer service is pretty good too (unless its about the installation of a smart meter).

 

[RobMCFC]

Christ, we're currently paying 3.95p gas & 20.04p electric. The standing charges look like they'll be shooting up as well for us.

Tariff name​	Tariff name​	Tariff name​
Easy Online 3 Year Fix Sep24​	Essentials Fixed 1Yr Aug25​	Essentials Fixed 2Yr Aug26​
Fixed term expires immediately prior to​	Fixed term expires immediately prior to​	Fixed term expires immediately prior to​
01/10/24​	1st September 2025​	1st September 2026​
Payment method​	Payment method​	Payment method​
Direct Debit (Fixed)​	Direct Debit (Fixed)​	Direct Debit (Fixed)​
​	Exit fee​	Exit fee​
​	£50.00​	£250.00​
Gas supply​	Gas supply​	Gas supply​
​	Monthly estimate​	Monthly estimate​
​	£60.57 per month​	£63.04 per month​
Unit rate​	Unit rate​	Unit rate​
3.95p per kWh​	5.39p per kWh​	5.66p per kWh​
Standing charge​	Standing charge​	Standing charge​
26.11p per day​	31.65p per day​	31.65p per day​
​	​	​
Electricity supply​	Electricity supply​	Electricity supply​
​	Monthly estimate​	Monthly estimate​
​	£84.23 per month​	£86.42 per month​
Unit rate​	Unit rate​	Unit rate​
20.04p per kWh​	21.81p per kWh​	22.54p per kWh​
Standing charge​	Standing charge​	Standing charge​
24.86p per day​	63.30p per day​	63.30p per day​

We're with EDF as well and that 1 year fix is marginally cheaper than what we're paying (22.59 & 5.40).

But after our past experience, I''m happier on standard variable and be free to change as and when and if I need to.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Christ, we're currently paying 3.95p gas & 20.04p electric. The standing charges look like they'll be shooting up as well for us.

Tariff name​	Tariff name​	Tariff name​
Easy Online 3 Year Fix Sep24​	Essentials Fixed 1Yr Aug25​	Essentials Fixed 2Yr Aug26​
Fixed term expires immediately prior to​	Fixed term expires immediately prior to​	Fixed term expires immediately prior to​
01/10/24​	1st September 2025​	1st September 2026​
Payment method​	Payment method​	Payment method​
Direct Debit (Fixed)​	Direct Debit (Fixed)​	Direct Debit (Fixed)​
​	Exit fee​	Exit fee​
​	£50.00​	£250.00​
Gas supply​	Gas supply​	Gas supply​
​	Monthly estimate​	Monthly estimate​
​	£60.57 per month​	£63.04 per month​
Unit rate​	Unit rate​	Unit rate​
3.95p per kWh​	5.39p per kWh​	5.66p per kWh​
Standing charge​	Standing charge​	Standing charge​
26.11p per day​	31.65p per day​	31.65p per day​
​	​	​
Electricity supply​	Electricity supply​	Electricity supply​
​	Monthly estimate​	Monthly estimate​
​	£84.23 per month​	£86.42 per month​
Unit rate​	Unit rate​	Unit rate​
20.04p per kWh​	21.81p per kWh​	22.54p per kWh​
Standing charge​	Standing charge​	Standing charge​
24.86p per day​	63.30p per day​	63.30p per day​

Those standing charges are outrageous, they need to get a grip of them, also gas and electric should not be linked this will bring down prices.

 

[Blue Maverick]

If anyone is thinking of switching to octopus let me know I will refer you and we both earn £50?

 

[Blue Maverick]

Our fix with Octopus ends in a month or so and we're looking at options with Octopus (can't be arsed changing supplier).

No new fixed deal available so weighing up if we should go Agile or Tracker. I suspect Tracker as neither of us work anymore so are at home during the day/peak periods.

Anyone been on them both? How did they compare?

I’ve just looked and there is a fixed deal available to me, is it different for everyone, I think as prices are due to rise in October I’m going to fix, it cost nothing to come out of it anyway if it goes the other way.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

I’ve just looked and there is a fixed deal available to me, is it different for everyone, I think as prices are due to rise in October I’m going to fix, it cost nothing to come out of it anyway if it goes the other way.

Cheers I'll get Mrs Moon to have a gander, it's her account.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Cheers I'll get Mrs Moon to have a gander, it's her account.

I couldn’t do it through the app I had to go online to view it.

 

[Two Gun Bob]

Their customer service is pretty good too (unless its about the installation of a smart meter).

If you're unhappy

octopus.energy

 

[Saddleworth2]

If you're unhappy

octopus.energy

yeah, their written processes are excellent. Pity they don't follow them (in the case of a faulty smart meter). To be fair to them it seems multiple organisations are involved and the technology is not up to working in old properties. They did end up giving me £100 because they couldn't fix it. They try and ate better than any of the others I have used but don't expect perfection.

 

[jrb]

What do you think, should I go on the fixed rate?

There is no tie in, and no early exit charge.

Comparison with my current rate.

 

[Scottyboi]

What do you think, should I go on the fixed rate?

There is no tie in, and no early exit charge.

Comparison with my current rate.

Better off on the agile or tracker if you have a smart meter. I'm having mine installed on Friday and switching over, will put my washer and dryer on delays show they're on when the leccy is cheapest.

 

[jrb]

Better off on the agile or tracker if you have a smart meter. I'm having mine installed on Friday and switching over, will put my washer and dryer on delays show they're on when the leccy is cheapest.

I'm only thinking of going on it as Martin Lewis said energy prices will be going up later this year.

TBH I don't use much electricity being single atm.

Agile Octopus is one of our innovative beta smart tariffs, helping bring cheaper and greener power to all our customers, but is directly impacted by wholesale market volatility.

Agile prices can spike up to 100 p/kWh any time - although a typical household in Winter '22-'23 paid around 35 p/kWh average.

This tariff is best suited to customers who can shift large amounts of their energy use to avoid these expensive peaks, often by using smart home technologies like solar and batteries.

Tracker.

Yes, prices may come down, but as with every winter, prices always go up before coming down again in the spring.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Shouldnt be this complicated should it? Its like having a phone or broadband contract that are based around preference and usage. Utilities are a basic need. Should be simpler than this. Use, get billed, and no more. This privatisation and creation of endless providers that all use the same infrastructure to get it to you anyway, cant be right

 

[Two Gun Bob]

Better off on the agile or tracker if you have a smart meter. I'm having mine installed on Friday and switching over, will put my washer and dryer on delays show they're on when the leccy is cheapest.

Tracker price today with Octopus is ..
Electric 18.16p kwh and Gas 4.64p Kwh
Standing charge electric is 49.77p a day and gas is 27.47p a day

 

[jrb]

Tracker price today with Octopus is ..
Electric 18.16p kwh and Gas 4.64p Kwh
Standing charge electric is 49.77p a day and gas is 27.47p a day

Where’s that info?

That’s cheaper! :-)

Edit.

Found it.

Octopus Tracker Tariff Unit Rates for Today and Tomorrow | Octoprice

Get the latest unit rates for gas and electicity on the Octopus Tracker Tariff, with graphs showing the price trends and price differences all over UK.

www.octopriceuk.app

I’m on 23.49p Elec, and 5.68p Gas.

I’m using less than 2kWh a day in Elec, and less than 0.25m2 a day on Gas on average.

Pretty pointless of me going over to Tracker. The savings are minuscule.

 

[Two Gun Bob]

Where’s that info?

That’s cheaper! :-)

Edit.

Found it.

Octopus Tracker Tariff Unit Rates for Today and Tomorrow | Octoprice

Get the latest unit rates for gas and electicity on the Octopus Tracker Tariff, with graphs showing the price trends and price differences all over UK.

www.octopriceuk.app

I’m on 23.49p Elec, and 5.68p Gas.

I’m using 2kWh a day in Elec, and less than 0.25 a day in Gas.

Pretty pointless of me going over to Tracker. The savings are minuscule.

It displays every day on the online account. If it gets too hairy you can bail with no exit fees. Best Electric price we have had this last year was around 13p or 14p kwh

 

[Two Gun Bob]

I’m on 23.49p Elec, and 5.68p Gas.
I’m using less than 2kWh a day in Elec,
Pretty pointless of me going over to Tracker. The savings are minuscule.

A saving on the Electric is a saving and £19:4545 reccuring over the year ain't all that bad if both prices remain static. Anyway we've got a better chance of survival if we work and stay together.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

What do you think, should I go on the fixed rate?

There is no tie in, and no early exit charge.

Comparison with my current rate.

Yes.
Do it.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Submitted my monthly readings yesterday.

My statement today says I’m paying £21 per month more than my usage and that I’m £121 in credit. However!!! I’m not as much in credit as they’d like so they are increasing my DD by £10 per month.

How does that work?