Question about EDF bills

[CWG17]

We are looking to change from EDF to another provider. We currently pay an estimated annual bill monthly, based on previous year's usage. However this year we used less than expected (I returned to work/DS in child care and we didn't need heater as much over winter).

If we switch providers, would we get a refund? I'm assuming that we would be in credit as our usage has been less than expected.

There are no break fees for our current tariff.

Does anyone know what I can expect before I ring the company on Monday?

Thanks!

So are you in credit? If there is a credit on the final bill then it will get refunded to you

Have you not registered with them online? You can then see if you are in credit

Your last bill will show if you're in credit or debit but yes, if in credit they'll refund it when you switch.

Yes, the credit is refunded. Have you done a comparison and looked at actual unit costs and standing charges to decide where to switch to? The big savings touted are a lie, if you have been on a fix you are looking at about a 30% increase in costs.

Thanks everyone. I don't remember seeing an actual bill for ages. Will see if we can register online to have a look.

I have compared the rates between providers and he new company (can't remember which right now) does have cheaper rates, although they are not fixed so could change at any time.

There's no contract so I guess worst case we can always go back if we are a massive increase in the bill.

If you have been on the standard tariff you could save something. The 30% hike is on fixes finishing in the last couple of months. Basically we are all going to pay pretty much the same, the proposed caps mean the energy companies can no longer chance having those on standard tariffs subsidising those who shop around.

Have you also submitted readings? Estimates can be wildly out.

We've never done a reading but we do have company reps come by our building every so often to do readings so I assume we've been checked at some point.

I've only lived in the U.K. for two years so am woefully uneducated on the way utility bills work here.

I will speak to EDF tomorrow and see what they say.

To get accurate bills you should really give regular readings. I do mine every 2-3 months when I remember

I have the edf app and submit readings using that

When you call they should ask for a reading to check if you have a credit. The change over process can take up to 6 weeks so even if you have a credit now you would have to wait for your final bill for any refund.

Im with edf and checked my tariff via a comparison site recently and they were about the cheapest so I didn't change but they don't make it easy to know how much you might save.

Others are right you need to keep sending actual readings or you won't really know where you are with your bills

CWG17

If bothering to change provider, I assume from one of those energy comparison websites, its also worth looking at 1 or 2-year fixed price deals, bearing in mind those currently offering cheaper standard tariff, could change in within months.

A friend of ours didn’t know that they had a property with an ‘Economy 7’ meter (with cheaper rates to the standard rate before say 9am in the summer and 8 am in the winter, very useful with storage heaters and water heated for the morning, and if not in most of the day) as she was in all day, and using the higher day tariff (to the standard rate) to heat and bathe.

The point is, maybe do a bit of homework before jumping, as you already have the cheapest provider, but not the right tariff.

You will need to find our roughly how many units you use per year to do this, so if no statements, you will have to make a call.

If you're registered online with them, just put in your current readings - you won't get an account for a few days, but they'll give you an immediate indication of the amount of debit or credit. We moved to a cheaper provider and a cheque was sent from EDF.

Aw piss off with the stupid posting about mnhq

Energy 101

• all that matters is cost per unit and cost of daily standing charge
• comparison site costs are an estimate. It all depends on what you use. Send monthly readings and keep a note
• the big savings on switching sites are a lie caused by the mandated government model. They assume you are on the expensive standard tariff.
• electricity unit prices have gone up 30% since last year without anyone noticing. Not the people that calculate inflation,not martin lewis. But last year you could get a fix of about 10p a unit and now it is 13p or more.

I had an annual statement and put in our usage as well as rates into the calculator. While it doesn't save me money compared to current rates, it does given my tariff is about to go up a significant amount in November when current rate expires. Estimated savings were around £250/year, so worth a phone call to investigate.

I didn't have time to do it Monday and have been at work since but going to try tomorrow now.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Remember it isn't a real saving. Your bill will increase less on the fix then if you do nothing. You will still pay more for your energy , probably at least 20% more.

Inflation is of course only 3%...

I know my bill is increasing either way, but if I can minimise that increase by switching providers that's a win.

But yes, funny how the unavoidable bills (council tax, insurance, utilities) always seem to increase by well above inflation each year.

Managed to log into the edf app last night (thanks PP who mentioned it!) and we are around £300 in credit. Not sure if that allows for energy usage since our last bill in April - I doubt it as there hasn't been a reading since. If I can find our meter (block of flats, I know where gas is but not electricity) I'll do a reading and see what they say.

Once you do an up to date reading, within a few days a bill is generated and it will give you any up to date balance