Gas and Electric bills

Just after a bit of advice here;

Am I correct in assuming that because I'm in a shared (student) house of about 6 and we may only be at this property for another 9months or so that it isn't massively worth me going around trying to get onto a fixed price etc as it'll be long contracts?

Currently just on a saver tariff with British Gas as that's who our Landlords cover etc is also with so it made sense.

I'm guessing it's best to just stick with what I've got and suck up the % rise.
 
I moved my gas from BG to the EDF blue dual fuel which is fixed until Jan 2014. I'm saving over £200 and at least I know they won't rise for a while.
 
Bucket said:
Just after a bit of advice here;

Am I correct in assuming that because I'm in a shared (student) house of about 6 and we may only be at this property for another 9months or so that it isn't massively worth me going around trying to get onto a fixed price etc as it'll be long contracts?

Currently just on a saver tariff with British Gas as that's who our Landlords cover etc is also with so it made sense.

I'm guessing it's best to just stick with what I've got and suck up the % rise.
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Try to get people to cook at the same time, have a concrete heating rota, combine washing cycles etc. It's difficult in a shared house to make people do things economically because usually everyone is on a different schedule. I was in a house of 5 last year and each paid about £500 over the 9 months for electric alone, irritating because its other people using the washer/dryer every night and things. I'm in a flat on my own now, its much better having the control on expenses. I have top-up meters and the gas will last ages, electric will cost about £35-40 a month I reckon, water is £20 a month not metered.
 
koolpc said:
Well, with energy prices rising, anyone switching suppliers?
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Yes, fixed deal ran out last month, just doing a spreadsheet ATM (fixed only). Although edf is down for maintance and I need a few details off it for some prices.
Cheapest so far is http://www.first-utility.com/ fixed till march 2014.(£40 cash back as well on quidco)
As soon as edf websites comes up after maintance I shall be finishing it off and switching.

Helps so much that I now have over a year of data, makes live so much easier.
 
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Glaucus said:
Yes, fixed deal ran out last month, just doing a spreadsheet ATM (fixed only). Although edf is down for maintance and I need a few details off it for some prices.
Cheapest so far is http://www.first-utility.com/ fixed till march 2014.(£40 cash back as well on quidco)
As soon as edf websites comes up after maintance I shall be finishing it off and switching.

Helps so much that I now have over a year of data, makes live so much easier.
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When I switched a week ago First Energy were also the cheapest but you have to pay something like £60 if you wish to leave at any point in the future so went with Scottish Power.
 
chipperhead said:
When I switched a week ago First Energy were also the cheapest but you have to pay something like £60 if you wish to leave at any point in the future so went with Scottish Power.
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Most(probably all) fixed terms are like that, untill the contract ends.

Scottish power is no different ~£51 cancellation fee within the fixed price contract.
 
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I have never switched, always been on a standard southern electric tariff.

We are spending over £150/mo on electricity (not in a gas covered area, kerosene fired boiler for water) so perhaps it is worth paying attention to cheaper offerings.

My question really is this, how much paperwork and faff is associated with changing suppliers, in general? Is it in the real world a seamless exercise?
 
Jez said:
I have never switched, always been on a standard southern electric tariff.

We are spending over £150/mo on electricity (not in a gas covered area, kerosene fired boiler for water) so perhaps it is worth paying attention to cheaper offerings.

My question really is this, how much paperwork and faff is associated with changing suppliers, in general? Is it in the real world a seamless exercise?
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Pretty seamless, all thing you really need to do is check meter readings tally up on final bill from old company and first bill from new company and check direct debits have stopped. If its wrong just phone up.

And yes you should defy change, that's a hell of a lot to spend.
 
Jez said:
No visits needed then, or change of..anything at premesis?
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Nope. You may get a meter reader guy, like you do now. But most of the best tariffs you do it yourself and they send a guy round once in a blue moon.
Contract is all sent through the post.
 
In that case I would be interested in seeing your spreadsheet you mention above, once completed. Will you be sharing it?
 
Jez said:
My question really is this, how much paperwork and faff is associated with changing suppliers, in general? Is it in the real world a seamless exercise?
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5 minutes finding the best deal on uSwitch.com and then another 5 minutes taking a meter reading. It's incredibly simple to switch.
 
Never use comparison sites, it's how I ended on Npower with a stupidly large bill of hundreds. Don't trust them in the slightest.
Especially when places like Npower charge different amount at different times of year and comparison sites do not take this into account or at least do a terrible job.

Jez said:
In that case I would be interested in seeing your spreadsheet you mention above, once completed. Will you be sharing it?
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I can do indeed, but it does largely depend on your usage and I'm only looking at fixed rates. But I can post it.
Then again if you know your yearly useage you can just stick that in and it'll update all the figures.
 
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