Southern Electric Go Direct 4 Tariff Review
The latest incarnation of the Southern Electric Go Direct tariff is 4, which has replaced the previous Go Direct 3 tariff. The new rates are similar, but the contract lasts for a more extended time.
Southern Electric Go Direct 4 Summary
The new Southern Electric Go Direct 4 tariff allows you to benefit from their lowest tariff rates until 30th June 2011, but only by signing up online. Go Direct 4 is a much higher discount than go direct 3, saving around 20% on their standard tariff with no standing charge. Some regions have benefitted more from this change; for example, in the Midlands, where previously Go Direct 3 was discounted by 13.3%, Go Direct 4 provides a 20.3% reduction. All figures quoted are for electricity prices payable by monthly direct debit.
There is an exit fee if you switch to another provider or one of the other Southern Electric tariffs before the end of June 2011 of £50. If you exit early, you must also repay the difference between the standard tariff and the discounted price, together with the exit fee.
This tariff is flexible so if prices increase, then so will this tariff. You have to sign up online and pay by monthly direct debit to get the full advantage of all the discounts on offer. This tariff does not have a daily standing charge (which would normally be 11.5p per day or around £3 per month).
Go Direct 4 versus British Gas Websaver 6
As British Gas has recently introduced a new Websaver product (Websaver 6) we have compared rates around the country. The following prices are per unit for electricity only and for paying by monthly direct debit with no standing charges including VAT:
A customer in London
- Southern Electric Go Direct 4 – 13.16p for the first 225 units, then 9.91p per unit
- Southern Electric Go Direct 3 – 14.30p for the first 225 units, then 9.91p per unit
- Southern Electric Standard – 16.51p for the first 225 units, then 11.53p per unit
- British Gas Websaver 22.25p for the first 125 units then, 8.73p per unit
- British Gas standard – 23.67 for the first 125 units then, 11.43p per unit
A customer in the Midlands
- Southern Electric Go Direct 4 – 13.26p for the first 182 units, then 9.15p per unit
- Southern Electric Go Direct 3 – 13.56p for the first 182 units, then 9.15p per unit
- Southern Electric Standard – 16.86p for the first 182 units, then 11.38p per unit
- British Gas Websaver 22.16p for the first 125 units, then 8.27p per unit
- British Gas standard – 23.58 for the first 125 units, then 10.32p per unit
By just looking at the raw unit numbers, you won’t know who’s cheapest, as you need your monthly or annual consumption data to see your total bill over the entire year. Most comparison sites suggest that British Gas is currently the cheapest supplier overall. However, depending on where you live and your consumption (if it’s higher than average, then at first glance, it looks that way), you should go to the various websites to undertake an instant online quote to see your potential savings. At least compare Southern Electric to British Gas.
Benefits of Go Direct 4
The Southern Electric Go Direct 4 tariff is only available when you sign up online via their website. Below is a summary of the product benefits:
- offers the cheapest tariff from Southern Electric
- you must pay by monthly direct debit
- exit penalty of £50 if you switch before 31 June 2011
- no standing charges
- available for all areas of the UK
- you must sign up for this tariff via their website
In summary, if you want to stick with Southern Electric and want to fix your prices, then the Go Direct 4 tariff may be worth considering. Southern Electric is the second largest energy company in the UK and part of the Scottish and Southern (SSE) group.