£285 pm for scottish power + boiler insurance! And no other option available? Is it insane??

[graceandmercy]

Just got key to my new home in Scotland. Need to register for the utility and found existing supplier is scottish power so go and intended to register. The quote is 285pm 1 year fixed tariff + boiler insurance, or £284 1 year variable tariff without boiler insurance. Nothing more than that two! Shock me! I use to pay less than £60 pm now in current rental property ( just ds and i). Any advice? Is it no other option but that? So desperate….😢😢

Is that 1 year variable tariff the standard variable rate as it wouldn't only be for 1 year?
Have they given the prices per kwh and standing charge?

I wouldn't accept a fixed tariff as they are higher than the price capped rates of the standard variable rate. Have you tried ringing them?

For reference I am on the SVR with Octopus and these are the current price capped rates. I'm in Scotland too

P.s. anything with an exit fee is not the SVR

You can move suppliers.

She can but she would have to make sure it was the SVR they are offering. The capped rates are all very similar

The capped rate doesn't cost £284 pm unless your usage is quite high and the fix is likely to be very high cost per unit, so not worth going onto.

For average usage the capped rate would be more like £150 to £180 pm, but £60 pm is unlikely unless you are very careful, never have the heating on, minimal hot water etc. Maybe this was based on an old fix that is no longer available?

Ask to go onto the standard tariff then you know that you won't be paying for high fixed rates. However, be prepared for the direct debit to be much higher than £60 pm. But it shouldn't be anywhere near as high as £285 pm.

What size property is the new place and what is the heating and hot water like? Is it well insulated with good double glazed windows or not?

If you're renting, you don't need boiler insurance, because that's your landlord's responsibility.

Go on the variable rate and ask to be billed quarterly for your actual usage.

Don't go on the fixed tariff,stay on the standard variable

Check your figures carefully don't just go with them did you not take your supplier with you?

Quarterly billing could be the way to go until you get a feel for your winter usage, but I suggest that you save over the summer to help with the cost the colder months, as the bill that covers the quarter taking in 3 months between November and late March could be very high. That's the advantage of DD, you spread the cost of this bill over the whole year, but your supplier needs to set a fair direct debit.

We are quite high users (2 adults and 2 teens) in 4 bed detached in Scotland and last month our actual usage on the SVR was £80 gas and £140 electric which comes to less than you have been quoted.

Double check you are being offered the SVR before tying yourself into an expensive fixed rate.

Don't sign up online. Phone them up. Tell them you don't want a fixed tariff and want to go on the standard variable rate.

My current rental place is using octopus but the new home I just bought in Scotland she has yet to cover 🥹. So no option but to go for what’s currently with, being Scottish power.

Yes I should give SP a call tomorrow for a standard variable rate. I don’t understand why such is not available online ? And I don’t want to go with the boiler insurance, or should I? The new home is double glazed with gas central heating but a very ancient one, steel panel…

yes I am very cost conscious and only used heater few times a month, always urge ds to shorten his bath time (don’t understand how could he take an hour shower🥲), that’s why we could control within £60pm. How could I accept such a big jump from 60 to 284 a month !

OP I'm with Scottish Power and I've been quoted £250 fixed rate or £120 Standard Variable Rate. They don't tell you about SVR because they want to get more money out of us.

Also you don't have to go with Scottish Power. You can change suppliers.

OP we are paying about £180/month on the SVR with Scottish Power and this is a very large detached period property, unless you’re talking a 3000sqft plus property it shouldn’t be anywhere near £285.

You can ask to go on the SVR. I don't know if there are any fixes worth having right now. Do you know your previous usage? Is the new property comparable in size, fuel types and so on? If so, you could work out what the SVR is likely to cost you.

If you can't afford the quoted direct debit then try to ask for a lower one for now, the previous occupant could have been wasteful with energy. Mine is £105 for two of us (fixed above the SVR), like you we are careful with energy.

thx all. Indeed it is extremely annoying to see the energy cost rocket fly! I went to some comparable sites but found nothing good price than SP, though I don't think SP is good either! Tried to contact SP yesterday but no one answered phone. I found the ex-owner of my property left with me a smart meter and the price per unit is comparable to what I am now with Octopus, but wonder why the quote online is such a difference. Anyway I will call SP tomorrow again and hopefully something good turn out to me....

You could have taken Octopus to your new property according to their online info.

octopus.energy/blog/moving-house-heres-what-you-need-know/#:~:text=If%20you're%20moving%20out&text=We'll%20just%20ask%20for,readings%20for%20your%20old%20one

Thx @dementedpixie for the info. I followed your link and registered online. Originally with a 2 year fixed tariff until 2023 but now will stop in early July, probably Octopus will give me a market rate at that time.

Thx all OPs who shared there. I eventually called SP and registered for SVR, yes the rate is much higher but still much better than the online quote of £285pm!

got another question about boiler issue but better I open another thread for this new topic.

What do you mean by the rate is much higher, higher than what? The SVR is the lowest you can get at the moment.

Are you sure that you understand the difference between the unit rates and the monthly direct debit? These are totally different things, the estimated monthly amount that SP are suggesting isn't the amount that you wil actually use. You control that.