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Original poster

Help! Confused by British Gas rates

6 replies

Goingmadddd · 05/08/2026 10:30

Please can someone help.

I am on variable, I have 3 options;
Please see attached pics.

The fix and fall is more expensive but it says that it will review in a years time. So basically does that mean I just pay more for a year and how is that protection or a saving?

How often does the price cap change ie. What’s the movement with variable?

Thank you 🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
Goingmadddd · 05/08/2026 10:31

Rates…

Help! Confused by British Gas rates
Help! Confused by British Gas rates
Help! Confused by British Gas rates
OP posts:
Original poster
Goingmadddd · 05/08/2026 20:45

No one? 🫣

OP posts:
NoisyMonster678 · 05/08/2026 21:19

If the cost of wholesale gas increases, the fix in the tarrif protects the consumer from the the price rise and this is forbthe duration of the tarrif and saving consumers money.

If the price of wholesale gas drops, the savings are also applied to the consumer.

Work out how many units of energy you use in a year and divide it by the bill frequency and you should be able to see if you will save money, it is good to compare and if you have a smart meter this is even easier to do as the kwh (kilowatt units) are in the settings.

Awkwardisfunny · 05/08/2026 21:22

Understanding energy rates is harder than physics. I'll be going on PAYG or cheapest standing charge. Just been charged £55 for gas last month but literally have nothing using gas... How?? And electricity was same price but that is used a lot every day. Make it make sense energy companies!

Original poster
Goingmadddd · 05/08/2026 23:25

NoisyMonster678 · 05/08/2026 21:19

If the cost of wholesale gas increases, the fix in the tarrif protects the consumer from the the price rise and this is forbthe duration of the tarrif and saving consumers money.

If the price of wholesale gas drops, the savings are also applied to the consumer.

Work out how many units of energy you use in a year and divide it by the bill frequency and you should be able to see if you will save money, it is good to compare and if you have a smart meter this is even easier to do as the kwh (kilowatt units) are in the settings.

As you can see from the quotes we use a hell of a lot of gas so am I right in thinking the one with the lowest unit price is more important for us than the standing charge?

That means choosing the variable currently.

But the cap changes every 3 months? So we are not protected if a wild rise. If I chose the fix option it’s already considerably more per unit. And they say it is reviewed in a year so fix and fall sounds a misleading name.

Ahhh I hate this! Why is this so complicated.

OP posts:
Superscientist · 06/08/2026 08:38

As it currently stands most fixed rates are cheaper than the price cap and fixing is recommended.

The fixed rates are based on what the market can currently buy energy for whereas the price cap is based on prices ~4-5 months ago when there was an escalation in the instability in the middle east. The price cap is anticipated to increase in Oct and January further out than that is more speculative.

I would look at fixing, I wouldn't just look at British gas but also put your usage into a whole of market comparison site also. As a high energy user you are correct in prioritising a lower unit it rate over a lower standing charge to a degree but I would definitely fix before the October price cap where prices are forecast to increase by 6% and possibly 5% in January. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/energy-price-cap-prediction/

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