energy price trends

[Grouchy]

It's that time of year when I review gas & electricity supplier. I am
faced with a choice between fixing the price for a year or accepting a
variable rate with both options approx the same price. Any idea how
prices might move over the coming year?

[Frederick Williams]

[...] Any idea how
prices might move over the coming year?

Up.

[R Gower]

Post by Grouchy
It's that time of year when I review gas & electricity supplier. I am
faced with a choice between fixing the price for a year or accepting a
variable rate with both options approx the same price. Any idea how
prices might move over the coming year?

It depends on what the companies promise the shareholders. If a company
has projected profit figures, then you know the price will increase if it is
more
than last years figures. Once set, those figures do not change - instead
the
company will divide that amount between customer usage to make sure they get
a minimum. That is why BG are nearly 3 times as expensive as the supplier I
have been with for years. You only have customers to blame - they CHOOSE
to stay with expensive suppliers like BG. They don't shop around.

[al]

Post by R Gower

Post by Grouchy
It's that time of year when I review gas & electricity supplier. I am
faced with a choice between fixing the price for a year or accepting a
variable rate with both options approx the same price. Any idea how
prices might move over the coming year?

It depends on what the companies promise the shareholders. If a company
has projected profit figures, then you know the price will increase if it is
more
than last years figures.  Once set, those figures do not change - instead
the
company will divide that amount between customer usage to make sure they get
a minimum.  That is why BG are nearly 3 times as expensive as the supplier I
have been with for years.  You only have customers to blame - they CHOOSE
to stay with expensive suppliers like BG.  They don't shop around.

For info, which company are you with thats one third of BG prices?
Thanks
Al

[Mark]

Post by R Gower

Post by Grouchy
It's that time of year when I review gas & electricity supplier. I am
faced with a choice between fixing the price for a year or accepting a
variable rate with both options approx the same price. Any idea how
prices might move over the coming year?

It depends on what the companies promise the shareholders. If a company
has projected profit figures, then you know the price will increase if it is
more
than last years figures. Once set, those figures do not change - instead
the
company will divide that amount between customer usage to make sure they get
a minimum. That is why BG are nearly 3 times as expensive as the supplier I
have been with for years. You only have customers to blame - they CHOOSE
to stay with expensive suppliers like BG. They don't shop around.

In general I would say any company offerring to fix your rate is
expecting the price to go down so you are locked in to paying more.
Otherwise they would set the price high to still allow them to make a
profit if prices rise.

However energy prices are likely to go up in the medium-long term.