Recommend me an energy provider please.

[Somerset Jim]

Understand your usage before you look at different companies. As per previous, if you're charging up an EV or a Powerwall every night your needs a re different. I've got solar panels, a ground source heat pump and underfloor heating everywhere so I can use variable tariffs such as Economy 10 quite efficiently. Green Energy do a good Tarrif (called TIDE) where electricity is priced in different time blocks through the day / night. 7 hours worth of 7.5p an hour during the night, mostly about 19p during the day and more from 1600-2000 when demand is high.  Works for me as I can get all the heating and hot water done at 7.5p per KwH and use the PV panel output for day time stuff. About £600 a year for an open plan 4 bedroom house.       

Excellent customer service as well - they just answer the phone immediately and talk sensibly, not reading a script. 

[Richard (OldStager)]

3 hours ago, Man On The Clapham Omnibus said:

I changed to Shell Energy recently as their fixed price tariff was the best available from 'reputable' firms. However these things change like the wind.

Geez, I wasn't thinking straight yesterday, as I use Shell as my Broadband supplier , got to be my first port of call. Thank you.

[Richard (OldStager)]

50 minutes ago, Somerset Jim said:

Understand your usage before you look at different companies. As per previous, if you're charging up an EV or a Powerwall every night your needs a re different. I've got solar panels, a ground source heat pump and underfloor heating everywhere so I can use variable tariffs such as Economy 10 quite efficiently. Green Energy do a good Tarrif (called TIDE) where electricity is priced in different time blocks through the day / night. 7 hours worth of 7.5p an hour during the night, mostly about 19p during the day and more from 1600-2000 when demand is high.  Works for me as I can get all the heating and hot water done at 7.5p per KwH and use the PV panel output for day time stuff. About £600 a year for an open plan 4 bedroom house.       

Excellent customer service as well - they just answer the phone immediately and talk sensibly, not reading a script. 

Thanks, I did have a quick look last night, and it's just getting harder and harder for me as a consumer to be able to wade through the vast amounts of tariffs for this and that, I would just like a company say ' we charge X amount per KWH' and be done with it, not all the other stuff they do. Too many options is not always a good thing.

[Richard (OldStager)]

2 hours ago, corsechris said:

Another Octopus punter here. I’m on their ‘Go’ tariff which gives me 5p units for 4 hours at night. Works well with my Powerwall.

 

If you do go with Octopus, find someone already with them and use the referral link, you both then get £50

 

 

Thanks Chris, I note your sig message, so may get back to you on that.

[Richard (OldStager)]

1 hour ago, Captain Colonial said:

One thing you might want to consider is this bit of news from last week:

 

Energy firms overcharged one million switching customers

 

Friend of mine has been fighting Shell for two years now over this, even though he has smart meters fitted.  They failed to take meter readings or payments the whole time (he saw what was coming and recorded them and saved money in a separate account to pay for it as well) despite numerous requests and complaints, and Shell refused to come out to inspect the meters or take the readings manually.  Finally they accused him of tampering with the meters and sent him a revised bill for £5k (twice what he was expecting) and tried to take it by direct debit.  They picked the wrong guy to brass off though as he has contacts in the media and spread it all over the local press.  Sorted now, but what a mess.

 

When you change suppliers, ALWAYS take and keep the meter readings on the day and ALWAYS keep a record of your annual energy consumption so you have proof if you start getting vastly overcharged.

Good advise thanks, I was considering Shell as well, EDF didn't read mine either ( covid related I think) but I did submit readings online when asked.

[Jim RS]

16 hours ago, OldStager said:

I have been with EDF for some years now, I now find their prices are getting out of hand as far as my direct debits go. I don't use gas, so this is just for electric.

Any that you can recommend as someone worth using?.

Thanks

Richard

'Outfox the market' gets our vote. We have air source heat pump now so electrickery is the main energy provider apart from lpg for cooking. When survey done for government grant the representative was quite impressed with choice saying that they were among the best. As with all of them you have to keep an eye on them as they do try it on occasionally but they do listen unlike others. Heating by electric is proving to be cheaper than kerosene even with covid rates drop so quite economical although very slow witted.

[Richard (OldStager)]

Well Shell energy aren't that good with their automatic help bot thing, I can't seem to find an email for them either yet.

 

 Me - I would like a quote for my electric supply please

 Bot - Sorry, I've not been trained to answer that yet

 

ETA they have an online web form instead of an email it seems.

[Rory's Dad]

Two things - I was with Shell previously (they had taken over my previous provider). Their prices just went up and up. Hence my change to Octopus. If you do switch to Octopus I think I have 1st dibs!! 

[Richard (OldStager)]

1 minute ago, Rory's Dad said:

Two things - I was with Shell previously (they had taken over my previous provider). Their prices just went up and up. Hence my change to Octopus. If you do switch to Octopus I think I have 1st dibs!! 

LOL, now this is awkward, how about you and Chris splitting the £50, lol. 

I have been looking at everyone's suggestions and to be honest they are much of a muchness from the quotes I get back. Maybe a quid or so either side of each other. But far cheaper than EDF are currently offering me.

Deary me it's a mine field out there !!!

[Rory's Dad]

Of course! (if it's allowed)

 

I'll take the £26!!!!!

[Richard (OldStager)]

1 minute ago, Rory's Dad said:

Of course! (if it's allowed)

 

I'll take the £26!!!!!

🤣 I see what you did there... when I went to school half of 50 was 25, maybe it's changed😄

[dombanks]

octopus for me also, seemed to come out the best on various comparison sites which appeared to be backed up by a little bit of back-of-a-fag-packet calculating. 

Biggest issue I have is having moved a bit too much I have little to base my usage on so have to rely on the rough calculations sites do. 

I have an inherent dislike of the big 6 and mainstream after they continually make my life annoying when moving and have no discernible benefit. This time was no different, from experience job one of moving in/out are clear timestamped photos of the meters. I immediately swited and then a few days later was called by scottish power we deemed it reasonable to switch me back & signed me up to their expensive tarrif despite me saying I did not want that. It was a sales monkey who probably didn't understand what i was asking and blatantly lied when I repeatedly asked if this was to generate my final bill. at least he had the family brain cell and put in the meter reading correct. Anyway octopus sent me an email and after a quick call refused the switch request and sorted out getting me off an economy 7 plan due my ancient meter

[Richard (OldStager)]

16 minutes ago, dombanks said:

octopus for me also, seemed to come out the best on various comparison sites which appeared to be backed up by a little bit of back-of-a-fag-packet calculating. 

Biggest issue I have is having moved a bit too much I have little to base my usage on so have to rely on the rough calculations sites do. 

I have an inherent dislike of the big 6 and mainstream after they continually make my life annoying when moving and have no discernible benefit. This time was no different, from experience job one of moving in/out are clear timestamped photos of the meters. I immediately swited and then a few days later was called by scottish power we deemed it reasonable to switch me back & signed me up to their expensive tarrif despite me saying I did not want that. It was a sales monkey who probably didn't understand what i was asking and blatantly lied when I repeatedly asked if this was to generate my final bill. at least he had the family brain cell and put in the meter reading correct. Anyway octopus sent me an email and after a quick call refused the switch request and sorted out getting me off an economy 7 plan due my ancient meter

Thanks, got a feeling EDF are doing the same to me. They requested another reading about an hour ago, despite me submitting one 4 days ago and as at this time I'm still with them. I think they know what's in the wind.

[Onliest Smeg David]

Octopus here

[Richard (OldStager)]

Just now, Dave (OnliestSmeg) - Manchester AO said:

Octopus here

Blimey, the way we are going everyone's getting a pound, never mind £50 😄

Well if you are a user, is there something I need to put on the signup form to tell them that a fellow user recommended them, in order to qualify for this 'refund' ?.