Energy Suppliers

[Sparx]

Why are they less energy efficient? Gas per kw is still a lot cheaper than electric.

Might be a case for gas/electric cost atm, but they also don't wash as well either compared to cold feeds. The heat can kill off the enzymes that remove dirt from the detergent.

But I'm sure there is an arugment for some to use a hot feed. However the original point was someone asking if washers used gas, the vast majority are cold feeds so don't which was answered.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

It’s also the way that they fill too, most of the hot water is left in the pipes as the washer still has to take all the cold water first.

Modern washers only use a few litres and they probably have to heat via electric anyway. It’s not like you can run the tap through.

 

[OldKitMan]

Might be a case for gas/electric cost atm, but they also don't wash as well either compared to cold feeds. The heat can kill off the enzymes that remove dirt from the detergent.

But I'm sure there is an arugment for some to use a hot feed. However the original point was someone asking if washers used gas, the vast majority are cold feeds so don't which was answered.

I'm sure my old chemistry teacher back in the day said you use a biological powder for a cold wash and a non-bio powder for a hot wash as the hot water kills the enzymes in the biological powder.

 

[chrcoluk]

It’s also the way that they fill too, most of the hot water is left in the pipes as the washer still has to take all the cold water first.

Modern washers only use a few litres and they probably have to heat via electric anyway. It’s not like you can run the tap through.

I am a fan of using cold water for washing machines and they heat it themselves. Some people have very inefficient means of heating water, and implementing something more economical in a washing machine is easier and cheaper than people replacing entire heating systems. (For people in rent its also the only option).

As an example my immersion heater takes about 40 minutes to get water hot enough to wash dishes and almost 2 hours for a hot bath. The gas boiler is faster but its still a very old model and less efficient than something like a kettle or washing machine to heat a small amount of water.

 

[darael]

I'm sure my old chemistry teacher back in the day said you use a biological powder for a cold wash and a non-bio powder for a hot wash as the hot water kills the enzymes in the biological powder.

You're almost right. You can use biological powder for up to 40c washes, as far as I know - maybe even 60c. But I believe beyond 60c is when they become less effective. Try a 60c (or higher) wash with bio powder and you should find that the amount of suds about 20 minutes into the program is probably more than when the machine reachs 60c+.

Some washing machines will also heat in stages to gain the maximum benefit of biological powder. So they will heat in stages, such as 30c, 40c, etc.

 

[R3X]

Got the dreaded your energy fixed tariff is ending from BG this week. Been paying £100 per month for both Gas/Electric, new bill from July is £260 on BG standard tariff they say.

They offered me a fixed 1 year deal till July 2023 @ £264 per month.

Do you think its worth fixing or not?

 

[VaderDSL]

Got the dreaded your energy fixed tariff is ending from BG this week. Been paying £100 per month for both Gas/Electric, new bill from July is £260 on BG standard tariff they say.

They offered me a fixed 1 year deal till July 2023 @ £264 per month.

Do you think its worth fixing or not?

What are the standing charge/unit rates on both? Easiest way to try and guesstimate is work out your usage + standing charge on the cap and compare it to the usage + standing charge on the fix. You might need to then take a guess on the October % increase to the cap (50%?) to try and guess if it's worth fixing.

 

[MatsyLR]

Got the dreaded your energy fixed tariff is ending from BG this week. Been paying £100 per month for both Gas/Electric, new bill from July is £260 on BG standard tariff they say.

They offered me a fixed 1 year deal till July 2023 @ £264 per month.

Do you think its worth fixing or not?

You need to compare the unit rates (including VAT) and add about 40% on top of what the standard variable is right now.
For EDF they are offering a fixed tariff for 2 years just ever so slightly higher than what is expected come October time (40% increase on price cap)
You then need to factor in if you are a gambling man and think the prices are going to keep going up and up or the gov are going to step is as riots start happening come end of the year/early next year. Also factor in any exit fees on the fixed rate tariffs (EDF has a £150 per fuel exit fee on fixed tariffs atm)
Its anyone guess right now if fixing is the correct way to go about things, lend me your crystal ball when you are finished.

 

[R3X]

What are the standing charge/unit rates on both? Easiest way to try and guesstimate is work out your usage + standing charge on the cap and compare it to the usage + standing charge on the fix. You might need to then take a guess on the October % increase to the cap (50%?) to try and guess if it's worth fixing.

cheers, my standard rate for Gas is 2.833p per kWh (Standard charge 19.119p per day*) estimated annual consumption is 16,931.99 kWh
and
Electricity is 16.479p per kWh (Standard charge 22.174p per day*) estimated annual consumption is 2,659.83 kWh

The way I was thinking is if I switch to the £265 fixed tariff now even though its 55%+ what im paying now its locked in for a year so don't need to worry about Octobers 50% increase, I might go for it but not sure.

It almost feels like a 50/50 gamblers bet lol

 

[MatsyLR]

cheers, my standard rate for Gas is 2.833p per kWh (Standard charge 19.119p per day*) estimated annual consumption is 16,931.99 kWh
and
Electricity is 16.479p per kWh (Standard charge 22.174p per day*) estimated annual consumption is 2,659.83 kWh

The way I was thinking is if I switch to the £265 fixed tariff now even though its 55%+ what im paying now its locked in for a year so don't need to worry about Octobers 50% increase, I might go for it but not sure.

It almost feels like a 50/50 gamblers bet lol

What's the unit rates they are offering you specifically however in comparison to the ofgem price cap?
The price cap is as follows currently as of April 2022 (at least in my area)
ELECTRIC - 28.34p
GAS - 7.37p
Come October, if it goes up by 40% it will be
ELECTRIC - 39.67p
GAS 10.318p

What are the fixed rates they are offering you?
You need to ignore monthly cost/annual consumption, look at only the unit rates (standing charges as-well but less important)
Keep in mind that 40% is up in the air, it could be lower, it could be higher, but 40% is what is being reported.

 

[R3X]

The new fixed rate of 1 year Fixed July tariff is:

Gas
Standard unit rate 11.261p / kWh
Standing charge 24.480p / day*


Electricity
Standard unit rate 39.654p / kWh
Standing charge 32.438p / day*

 

[TNA]

The new fixed rate of 1 year Fixed July tariff is:

Gas
Standard unit rate 11.261p / kWh
Standing charge 24.480p / day*


Electricity
Standard unit rate 39.654p / kWh
Standing charge 32.438p / day*

******* hell…

 

[MatsyLR]

The new fixed rate of 1 year Fixed July tariff is:

Gas
Standard unit rate 11.261p / kWh
Standing charge 24.480p / day*


Electricity
Standard unit rate 39.654p / kWh
Standing charge 32.438p / day*

I'm assuming your price cap rates in your area are the same as mine as those fixed rates are also similar to what EDF are offering me currently.
You would be paying similar to what the price cap will be in October but be protected from further increases.
But you would be screwed if the government step in or its like a 20% increase or something ;p

 

[The1nonly1]

I'm facing the same issue and have no idea if I should fix now. I highly doubt the increase will be any lower than 35%. Going by Cornwall Insight, they are predicting £2,879 for October increase and then £2900 for Jan! What more will the Government do?

 

[The1nonly1]

Interesting information I never knew about on an email from British Gas recently:

What if energy prices go down again?​

This is super important: fixed tariffs are about helping you be in control, not about locking you in! It’s why we have our tariff guarantee: if prices go down, you can move to any of our other available tariffs at any time without paying any exit fees. That’s a promise.​

 

[413x]

1 year price caps at the October rate seem a bit silly to take.
If we know October will be 2900-3000 and your 1 year fix is 3200-3300 to me it doesn't seem worth it.

If it was 3 year that might be different. But you already know (ish) the heavy use period price.

 

[413x]

Interesting information I never knew about on an email from British Gas recently:

​

What if energy prices go down again?​

This is super important: fixed tariffs are about helping you be in control, not about locking you in! It’s why we have our tariff guarantee: if prices go down, you can move to any of our other available tariffs at any time without paying any exit fees. That’s a promise.​

That's pretty good.
Means a fix at October's cap is a no brainer!

 

[The1nonly1]

1 year price caps at the October rate seem a bit silly to take.
If we know October will be 2900-3000 and your 1 year fix is 3200-3300 to me it doesn't seem worth it.

If it was 3 year that might be different. But you already know (ish) the heavy use period price.

BG are offering me the following on a 1 year fixed to Jul 31 2023, works out at just under £2200 (£182 per month) so only just higher than price cap now and much lower than what it is looking to be in October. Factoring in the £150 rebate + £400 we all get, it's actually £1636 over the year, £136 per month.

Gas
Estimated cost £70.31 / month £843.67 / year
Standard unit rate 11.284p / kWh
Standing charge 24.480p / day*
Exit fee £100.00 / fuel

Electric
Estimated cost £111.90 / month £1342.76 / year
Standard unit rate 38.279p / kWh
Standing charge 42.647p / day*
Exit fee £100.00 / fuel

Edit: price cap is looking to be 45% increase on the current. For me, £2200 would be 11% and knowing what my bills are each month, is a lot less stressful for me.

 

[R3X]

I'm assuming your price cap rates in your area are the same as mine as those fixed rates are also similar to what EDF are offering me currently.
You would be paying similar to what the price cap will be in October but be protected from further increases.
But you would be screwed if the government step in or its like a 20% increase or something ;p

I think that is what BG are doing with my fixed offer as you say, its like they have already factored in Octobers increase at least I hope so, if they did increase by 40% my bill would be 5-6K per year. I think I preferred paying the £100 per month bill.....

I think nothing has changed its still a gamble either way, but at least if I fix it now I can move to a lower fixed deal and free if an offer is made just in case BG do add the october increase to 40% on top of my already 3.2K per year energy bill.

 

[R3X]

Interesting information I never knew about on an email from British Gas recently:

​

What if energy prices go down again?​

This is super important: fixed tariffs are about helping you be in control, not about locking you in! It’s why we have our tariff guarantee: if prices go down, you can move to any of our other available tariffs at any time without paying any exit fees. That’s a promise.​

Yeah this may look and sound like great news which it is kinda, but BG only offered me the option to move to a different tariff once my 1 year fixed tariff was coming to an end and not in-between.

The BG website also said this under the accounts or switch tariff option, so it blocked me for past 6 months to switch or look at other options. I could I guess leave for another company but they too went offline during the first 55%+ hike so not possible.

So I don't know if its 100% accurate you can move to another tariff even if BG claims you can, maybe after the 1 year fixed date is up perhaps like in my case.

If I for example fix to £260 now and pay 3.2K each year, I may be forced to wait til next June before I can switch to a cheaper tariff!