The Range :: FAQ's - Energy Saver

Tariff FAQ's

What different tariffs are available on this
website?
Can I select a tariff based on my preferences?
Do you include historical tariffs in your
comparisons?
What are IGT tariffs?
How do I find out if I am on an IGT tariff?
What are online only tariffs?
What is green energy, and what are the
requirements for a 'green tariff'?
What is Economy 7? And how can I change to this tariff?
What is a capped tariff?
Are there any tariffs featured on The Range Energy Saver for the over 60s?

General Faq's | Supplier Faq's | Tariff Faq's

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What different tariffs are available on this website?
Capped tariffs - Many energy suppliers now offer capped or fixed price products, meaning the price of your gas or electricity will not rise above a certain level, but should the price of gas and electricity be lowered then so will yours. The scheme is set over a set period of time, which varies between suppliers, and is based on your monthly direct debit payments

Economy 7 - Economy 7 is a tariff that has different pricing structures - it has a lower price for energy used during a seven-hour period at night. This allows you to make savings by heating your water and storage heater during this period.

Green Energy - More and more energy suppliers are now offering green energy, based on supplying you with energy produced from natural sources renewable, such as wind and solar power, which do minimal harm to the environment. Unlike fossil fuels these sources are infinite, and currently supply around 4% of our electricity requirements each year

Dual Fuel tariffs - These are tariffs that combine gas and electricity on a single account, so you can get both from a single supplier

Loyalty tariffs - some suppliers offer additional benefits to customers, in partnership with major loyalty schemes such as Air Miles, Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Argos and Homebase

Charitable tariffs - some suppliers will make donations to charity when you sign up, and for continuing to supply your energy.

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Can I select a tariff based on my preferences?
Our service allows you to specify your individual preferences such as green tariffs, service ratings, capped tariffs or loyalty points from major retailers. You can select your preferences after you have added your postcode and current energy supplier details.

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Do you include historical tariffs in your comparisons?
No, we only include tariffs that are currently available to domestic gas and electricity customers.

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What are IGT tariffs?
An IGT tariff is one where your gas supply is delivered to your home by an Independent Gas Transporter, rather than the National Grid Gas. According to energywatch, 760,000 gas consumers (equal to 3% of all gas consumers) are currently connected to one of the networks operated by an Independent Gas Transporter. The number of IGT network connections is however increasing rapidly and the industry regulator Ofgem estimates that 1 million homes and businesses will be connected to an IGT by 2008.

Four out of the big six suppliers, EDF
Energy, Npower, E.ON and Scottish Power,
are currently levying supplemental
charges for their customers on the IGT
supply networks. The charges for domestic
consumers range from £30 to over £50 per
annum (excluding VAT) for an average user.

We do not currently feature IGT supplements on the
The Range Energy Saver website.

How do I find out if I am on an IGT tariff?
If you look at your gas meter, or on a recent bill, you will find your 10 digit Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN). If this number starts with 74, 75, 76 or 77, you are being supplied by an Independent Gas Transporter, and may face additional charges for your gas supply from some suppliers.

We do not currently feature IGT tariffs on the The Range.

What are online only tariffs?
Some suppliers now offer 'online only' tariffs. These can be the cheapest deals available, but you will need to have internet access and be happy to receive your bills by email or on the internet.

What is green energy, and what are the requirements for a 'green tariff'?
Green, or renewable, energy is generated by wind, sun and sea or by burning replaceable sources such as waste products and crops (biofuels). The most popular sources in the UK are biofuels, wind and water. Unlike fossil fuels, these will never run out and do not release extra carbon dioxide (CO2). With traditional energy sources such as fossil fuel running out, here's how you can do your bit for the planet. Switching to a green energy tariff could really make a difference. The UK has only 1% of the world's population, but we produce 2.3% of its CO2.

The best green tariffs are offered by suppliers who produce more green energy than their legal obligation. For more information on green tariffs see our Green Energy section.

You can search for Green Tariffs by the lowest price available, or by fuel mix. If you select fuel mix, your results will be displayed in order of the amount of renewable energy used in the energy supplier's fuel mix and not by price. All suppliers have to provide information about the mix of fuels they use to generate the electricity supplied to its customers as well its environmental impact. You can see the fuel mix for each energy supplier in our Energy Supplier section.

All green supply tariffs must:

(i) Be transparent and meet with the general consumer perception of what constitutes the definition of green energy.
(ii) Provide the consumer with the satisfaction that their use of this green tariff makes a difference to the environment.
(iii) Have supporting evidence to verify all claims and upon request be made available to the public or an external verifier.

What is Economy 7? And how can I change to this tariff?
Economy 7 is an electricity tariff which charges you less for the energy you use during the night (per unit), than that you use during the day. This can be a good deal if you use storage heaters or can run your washing machine or dishwasher on a timer. We estimate that you need to use roughly 20% of your total electricity use between 1am and 8am to make a saving.

If you think this may be the best deal for you, contact your current supplier. You will need a different meter installed (some suppliers charge for this). Once you have changed your meter you will then be able to switch between suppliers, so come back to this web-site and look for your cheapest deal.

What is a capped tariff?
Many energy suppliers now offer capped or fixed price products, meaning the price of your gas or electricity will not rise above
a certain level, but should the price of gas and
electricity be lowered then so will yours. The
scheme is set over a set period of time, which
varies between suppliers, and is based on
your monthly direct debit payments.

Are there any tariffs featured on The
Range Energy Saver for the over 60s?
StayWarm from E.ON is a tariff designed for the
over 60s. It is a fixed price tariff that is not
calculated on usage, and is paid in equal
monthly instalments.

The key benefit of StayWarm is that you always know exactly how much you will pay, no matter how much energy you use. This gives complete peace of mind, and means you don't need to worry about how much heating you use, even in the depths of a cold winter.