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Compare, switch and save on your Gas & Electricity Bills |
Ask the expert
- STANDING CHARGES R. NAIR - 15th November 2009 at 6:49pm
SOME SUPPLIERS QUOTE PRICES AND MENTION THE COST OF STANDING CHARGES. OTHERS QUOTE SAYING 'NO STANDING CHARGE'. IS THIS A CONVOLUTED WAY SAYING THAT THERE WILL BE AN EXTRA CHARGE {THE STANDING CHARGE} ON TOP OF THEIR QUOTE? Simon Moynihan, our energy expert says: Dear Mr Nair, For the most part, suppliers that do not have a standing charge will
charge two rates for gas and two rates for electricity. Suppliers and/or tariffs that do
have a standing charge will charge only one rate for gas and one rate for
electricity. Having no standing charge, but charging a higher initial
unit rate is essentially a way of making back the standing charge. It?s as
simple as that - and really just marketing. A tariff with a standing charge will not necessarily cost more than one without. Our calculator linked below lists total annual cost including standing charges and discounts so you can be confident that you are switching to the cheapest supplier - whether or not they have a standing charge. I hope this helps Energy Expert Compare energy deals › - How do I register my Tesco clubard with E-on? E J ASTON - 14th November 2009 at 11:41am
How do I register my Tesco clubard with E-on Simon Moynihan, our energy expert says: Dear Ms Aston, We are no longer able to take Clubcard details as part of an application to E.ON. However, you can still sign up to received points as part of your E.ON energy supply deal. You'll need to contact them directly at
0845 059 9905
I hope this helps Energy Expert Compare energy deals › - Ceasing use of Economy 7 MICHAEL HENLEY - 3rd November 2009 at 7:18pm
I wish to cease to use Economy 7 because it is uneconomical for me. Can a new supplier refuse to let me change? Florian Ritzmann, our energy expert says: Dear Mr Henley,
For most suppliers and tariffs, economy 7 makes sense if you can shift at least 50% of your electricity usage into the night hours (usually between midnight and 7AM)
If this is not an option you can request that your current supplier replace the meter for a standard meter. There may be a cost for that service, this is entirely at the supplier's discretion.
Alternatively, 2 suppliers with the cheapest tariffs right now (npower and e-on) have the ability to bill you on their standard meter rate, even if you keep the economy 7 meter. You'll be able to determine whether this is of benefit by entering your kilowatt hour usage for the year (your supplier can provide this) into our calculator and ticking No to the question as to whether you currently have Economy 7. ?Our service will tell you what the cost will be on the standard meter rate.
Note that if you switch to either of these two suppliers (assuming that you are not already supplied by them) using this service, your switch would initially be handled as Economy 7. You should ring the supplier once you receive the welcome pack in a few days (not before) and inform the service representative to bill you on the standard equivalent of the tariff you chose.
We hope that these tips help you save money - and quickly. Compare energy deals › - household energy efficiency HOWARD CLARKE - 3rd November 2009 at 2:07pm
is it possible to get advice or a household survey done Florian Ritzmann, our energy expert says: Dear Mr Clarke
We recommend that you visit the excellent Energy Savings Trust (www.est.org.uk) website for information about energy efficiency in general. Your supplier will also be able to run through an efficiency survey with you, if you ring their customer helpline. Compare energy deals › - Economy 10 MIKE ROBERTS - 3rd November 2009 at 9:29am
I am arranging a new domestic supply for a new build house using a heat pump for all heating and hot water. How do I find a supplier offering an economy 10 tariff.
I can't find this on comparison websites. Florian Ritzmann, our energy expert says: Dear Mr Roberts,
You are correct in that Economy 10 is a diminishing market. Before you arrange your metering in this way, you should note that your choice of energy supplier will be very small, and you may end up paying over the odds because of that. It may be more beneficial to go for an economy 7 metering arrangement if possible.
The two suppliers that are known to have sizeable economy 10 customer bases are npower and Southern Electric. You are advised to ring these suppliers for a quote if your heart is set on economy 10. Compare energy deals › - Cost of finishing Easywarm tariff GARY MORGAN - 26th October 2009 at 11:37am
I believe we are paying over the odds for the Easywarm tariff on Gas and Electricity. Over the last couple of years the cost has shot up quite sharply. If we decided to end this deal to move to a new supplier, how do Swalec decide on the final figure for settlement. We are due to pay the next installment on November 2nd. Simon Moynihan, our energy expert says: Dear Mr Morgan, As I'm sure you know, SWALEC's Easywarm tariff is designed to give you peace of mind by charging a flat monthly rate regardless of how much gas and electricity you use. You are assessed annually and the amount you pay is adjusted based on your previous year's usage. E.ON have a similar tariff called Staywarm. Both companies will typically charge a little bit more than you would expect to pay for the same consumption if you were to pay for what you use. When considering leaving Easywarm, it is wise to find out how much gas and electricity you have used in any one year period and find out how much it would cost with other suppliers. You can then determine if Easywarm is actually a good deal for you. You can use our comparison service linked below to do this and if you want to change you can do it here also. After you have checked to see if you are paying more than you should be for your home energy, and are sure you want to change suppliers, I would suggest you contact SWALEC and ask them to put you onto their standard tariff until the switch completes - this typically takes six weeks. That way you'll pay for what you use rather than paying another couple of Easywarm installments. When you leave Easywarm, there are usually no rebates or settlements, however you may want to stay on Easywarm until your switch completes because you are probably using more than the actual value of the payment now that we are approaching winter. I hope this helps Energy Expert Compare energy deals › - Which supplier is cheapest? MR.JAMES LEWIS - 17th October 2009 at 7:45pm
I pay Quarterly for gas and electricity from the same suplier. Which is the company to switch to to obtain a saving. Simon Moynihan, our energy expert says: Dear Mr Lewis, Paying quarterly is usually the most expensive way to pay your bill as most suppliers will give you a discount for paying by monthly direct debit. There are 14 energy regions in the UK and without knowing where you are and how much gas and electricity you use, it is not possible to tell you which supplier would be cheapest. However, an average user in the London area who is supplied by the incumbent suppliers (EDF and British Gas) and paying quarterly can save 24 per cent or GB300 by switching to the cheapest online direct debit deal. If you want to run the most accurate comparison, you can contact your supplier and ask exactly how much gas and electricity you have used in any one year period. Your supplier will give this to you in kilowatt hours (kwh). You can then use our comparison service linked below where you'll see a list of all available suppliers and tariffs listed according to price. If you want to switch online, you can do so from here also. I hope this helps Energy Expert Compare energy deals › - E.ON Staywarm MARTHA HEANEY - 13th October 2009 at 2:59pm
I am asked to give separate amounts for gas an electricity, but I pay monthly direct debit combined amount with staywarm. I am not aware of their tariffs as I am only issued with the total monthly amount for twelve months for both. EON is my supplier I believe.
Gas 2615 kwh.......Electricity 4599.22kwh
Total £128.89 pm Amanda Lynch, our energy expert says: Dear Martha Heaney,
E.ON's Staywarm tariff, as you say, charges a fixed monthly amount by direct debit for your gas and electricity regardless of how much or how little you use. Every year, E.ON sends Staywarm customers a renewal letter that includes how much gas and electricity they have used over the past year and tells you how much you will be charged every month for the coming year.
To compare Staywarm using our service, you need to enter your gas and electricity usage in killowatt hours (kWh), which you have. Also as suppliers charge different prices for different areas your postcode is required.Finally, when you see the results page, you will be presented with a list of suppliers according to price. If the cheapest would cost you GBP1000 per year and your renewal letter says you will be paying GBP100 per month in the coming year, you will save GBP200 by switching and even more if you reduce your usage.
I have ran a comparison using a random postcode and the cheapest you are likely to get this amount of gas & electrcity elsewhere is in or around GBP110. this would be on the basis that you are to pay by monthly direct debit and manage your account online which is the cheapest way to go at the moment. Going on the monthly direct debit amounts which Staywarm has quoted you I am assuming you gas units of 2615 are in cubic feet and not kWh. These units converted to kWh is approximately 28765 kWh.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 279 4091 and we will gladly assist you further.
I hope this helps,
The Energy Expert
Compare energy deals › - tariffs WENDY WATTS - 11th October 2009 at 10:45am
is there any way off finding out what the energy suppliers prices are per ohm and per kilowatt on the internet? That way I could see at a glance who is going to be the cheapest. Amanda Lynch, our energy expert says: Dear Wendy Watts,
The unit prices, thresholds and
discounts are all available through our comparison service. You will need to enter either an annual usage or annual spend consumption figure
to see them. You will aslo be asked to enter your correct post code as
the prices per unit charged vary from region to region. You
will be presented with results according to price. Beside every tariff
there is a link to "more details". Click on this and you will see the
unit prices and discounts for all tariffs.
Hope this helps,
The Energy Expert
Compare energy deals › - EDF GRAHAM HARVEY - 29th September 2009 at 10:38am
How do I register my Tesco Card with EDF? Amanda Lynch, our energy expert says: Dear Graham Harvey,
For being a loyal customer you can collect Nectar points with EDF Energy, E.ON are the only supplier who offer you bonus Tesco clubcard points. To register your nectar card with EDF contact them on the number detailed on your most recent bill. Alternatively you can register your nectar card online by going to the following page;
http://www.nectar.com/earnpoints/eenergy.nectar
Hope this helps,
The Energy Expert Compare energy deals ›
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