Someone help me understand the energy crisis and how its going to effect us.

[OnNaturesCourse]

I thought I was on a variable energy tariff and had been given advice to stay on it.

Checked again and...I'm on a fixed contract until 2024. I pay via Direct Debit currently set at 115 but going up to 130 next month. Our unit price is 3.787kwH, standing charge is 26.12.

What can I expect over the winter in terms of prices etc?

They honestly should teach this kind of thing in schools!

That must be for gas. What about electricity? You are very fortunate!

The next thing you need to know is how many kwh you used for elec and gas last year.

If you think your usage will stay the same, you can calculate your annual bill. Multiply the standing charges by 365 to get the annual cost of that. Then do same for energy - multiply the number of kwh you use by the cost of each kwh (3.787 pence for gas). Add together. Your monthly payments should cover that, so roughly annual total divided by 12.

Sorry, just realised I missed a bit! Yes, you are right.

My electric figures are - 18.19 kWh rate and 23.68 standing charge.

I don't have a usage figure for last year but we were paying about 120 a month and got refunded approx £150.

If you log in to your account, you should find somewhere (maybe on bill) your annual usage. Without it, you cannot judge how much you need to pay to cover it.
It looks as if you need to pay between £100 and £120 a month depending on 1) How accurately your DD/refund have been calculated and 2) how typical your use over the last year has been.

It would be worth you keeping a record of as many monthly meter readings as you can find from previous (actual reading/smart reading) bills, so that once you have a year's, you can make your own forecast.

Thank you.

Will our prices rise with all these changes or is it truly fixed?

If you're on a fix until 2024 (it will say on your bill, the tariff name and end date) at prices, it's like you've won the utilities lottery.

18.19 for electricity compared with 34 p on the variable rate from next week and
3.787 compared with 10.3 p for gas.

You'll continue paying your £130, assuming it's the right amount for your usage whereas someone on the variable tariff will be paying more like £250 to £300.

What luck and it sounds like you have no idea.

It looks like your price per unit is fixed. So the cost per kWh won't change until 2024.
However, if you use more units, the direct debit you have will increase.
Think about petrol. If the price at the pump stayed constant at £1.80/litter that is a you will ever pay for a unit. But if you suddenly start driving an extra 500 miles a week, you will pay more for petrol overall.
IF, and it's a big if, the company have got your direct debit right, it shouldn't change much, if your habits don't change too much.

Thanks, and you're right, I don't have much clue about these things. In the past I've just taken the cheapest deal. Looked at my contract and it says fixed until March 2024. We don't expect to be using more, perhaps a little less actually as we no longer have a tiny baby in the house and have had the roof replaced so hopefully not leaking heat as much.

We have always upped our direct debit by about 30-50 over the winter months, and we set out direct debit ourselves online. Just hoping to stay in credit with the supplier and not get into debt. Currently have £350 in credit.

Thank you all for taking the time to explain these things.

I'm clueless about this sort of stuff too! I leave it to DH. We only have electricity (new air source type) and fixed until next April too. We switched from Ovo to So Energy and pay £62 p/m all in. I have no idea how much it will increase. We are holding off switching the heating on but we can't do that for much longer. Obvs it's gonna get colder but also the house will get damp if we don't heat it.

I caved this afternoon and put the heating on at 17. Kids were wrapped up and still cold so needs must. It was 15 in my house 😭❄️

I feel a bit better now after finding out I'm on a fixed until 2024 so I might feel a bit easier about heating from now on. Heating was on atleast 12 hours a day last winter and set for 21!