If you are currently on the Staywarm tariff, you can now compare this with all other suppliers. To compare prices, simply do the following:

• Go to the home page
  
  
• Enter your postcode and which fuels you would like to compare (gas and/or electricity)
  
  
• On the next page, select Powergen as your supplier, and Staywarm as your current tariff
  
  
• Enter how much you spend and also how much you use in KWH (this information will be on your bill)
  
  
• UK Power will then show you every other supplier and tariff available and how much you could save
  
  
• If you find a tariff that you prefer, you can even switch supplier through UK Power
  
  
• This service is fast, free and easy
  
  
• Do price comparison now...

STAYWARM - BACKGROUND INFORMATION

StayWarm is a special energy purchasing scheme which only applies to houses where someone aged 60 or over lives. Electricity and gas is supplied at one fixed price all year round regardless of how much is used. The cost of StayWarm is based on the number of bedrooms in the house and the number of people who live there.

StayWarm is now operated by Powergen.

See www.staywarm.co.uk

PRICE COMPARISONS

In order to compare the prices to other suppliers, the annual CONSUMPTION of gas and electricity & HOW MUCH MONEY YOU PAY needs to be known or calculated. The consumption is required in Kilowatt-hours. This is because the all other suppliers charge by using rates per kWh.

It's best to have meter readings for a year. If you have kept a record at each month end, or quarter end, or year end, then you can calculate how many "Units" have been used for a one year period.

If you only have meter readings from when you started with StayWarm you can work out what the consumption is as by taking a current reading, and deducting the opening meter readings. This tells you how many "Units" have been used during that period. Divide these numbers by the number of months it covers from start date to current date. Then multiply by 12. This gives you an estimated average of the consumption for a year stated in "units".

Take care!.. If the period covers more summer time than winter time, or the other way round, this calculation may produce a lower or higher result. Make allowance for this in the calculation for the average years consumption.

CONVERSION TO KILOWATT HOURS

Electricity units are usually already stated in kilowatt-hours, so the electricity kWh's figure is ready to use.

Gas units need to be multiplied by 31.3 to convert from the units used according to the meter, to kilowatt-hours. Then the gas kWh's are ready to use. This is a rough estimate and the exact conversion details are below. (Or, for rough figures, multiply by 100, then divide by 3).

(To convert gas units to kilowatt hours: gas units used x imperial to metric conversion factor (2.83) x volume conversion factor (1.022640) x calorific value (39.7) divided by kilowatt hour conversion factor (3.6) = kilowatt hours used.)(This is the same as: gas units used x 31.3 = kilowatt hours used)

If you have a metric meter, you do not need to use the imperial to metric conversion factor (2.83). In this case, the rough estimate is to multiply the metric units by 11 instead of 31.3.

USING THE PRICE COMPARISON CALCULATOR

Having established the kilowatt hours, go to the domestic calculator on the UK Power website and enter the information requested. Use Powergen, as the supplier and StayWarm as the tariff. Enter your payment type and meter type etc. Then input the number of kWh's for gas and electricity & how much you pay.

When you click "View Results" you will see a list of the suppliers and how much they would each charge for the number of kWh's that you entered.

The saving column displays the amount you could save by switching supplier and the percentage saving available.

Note: Some tariffs are capped/fixed, which mean the price show will be fixed until the period stated. Other tariffs are not capped/fixed, which means suppliers are free to change their prices.

Click here to go to the price comparison calculator at www.ukpower.co.uk

SUMMARY

Make sure you review your calculations carefully and bear in mind the benefits of staying with StayWarm before making a decision to switch to another supplier. Consider if the next winter is very long and cold, will it be better to stay with a fixed price supplier.

The StayWarm scheme can be excellent for some people and is well worth considering whether to join or to stay joined with them.

The calculations above are provided as a guide only and you should check the calculations and overview carefully before making a change. UK Power only provides this information to assist and is not responsible for any decisions that you make using this guidance. Please take care and check before switching.

Further Information

The StayWarm website contains full information about the scheme. The StayWarm website is at http://www.staywarm.co.uk

We welcome any feedback concerning this page, especially if you have suggestions to make the comparison calculations easier, please email us at Staywarm@ukpower.co.uk

We hope you find this page useful and welcome your feedback and suggestions.