Electricity tariffs - tearing my hair out!!

The online conversation that I have just had with npower is reproduced below. Basically our latest bill, received last week, offers us huge reductions on our annual bill:

^Avishek: Hi, my name is Avishek. Please may I have your full name?
Customer: ****
Avishek: Good morning
Avishek: How are you today?
Customer: My latest statement tells me that I can go onto one of two different tariffs which will save me money. I have no idea what that entails, or watch the catches might be. If there are cheaper tariffs why am I not on them anyway?
Avishek: It is like we keep launching new tariffs regularly and keep updating our customers, so any reductions in rates is informed accordingly.
Customer: So what should I do?
Avishek: Would you like me to help you through some steps to check the best product?
Customer: Yes please
Avishek: I will help you today, please do not worry.
Avishek: I believe you have an online account with us? Can you please log into that so that I can help you with the tariff options?
Customer: I am logged in
Avishek: Great,Please click on the Gas & Electricity link.
Customer: Done
Avishek: Please click on Personalised quote now.
Customer: Done
Avishek: Are you on the quote page?
Customer: Yes
Avishek: Have you got the tariff options?
Customer: Yes
Avishek: what is the name of the option on top of the list?
Customer: Shortfix E7
Avishek: Ok, is there a potential saving in Shortfix E7?
Customer: Yes - but I do not know what happens at the end of the short period, whether there are any charges for changing to it (or coming off it) and if there is a standing charge.
Avishek: I would like to let you know that there are no termination fees in any of our tariffs, so you can switch to any other product, you are not tied to any contacts.
Avishek: Online Price Fix November 2016:-

"Your prices are fixed up until 30th November 2016, After this you will automatically move to our cheapest standard variable tariff applicable to you. There is no early exit fee if you change your tariff or supplier. You'll need to manage your account online and receive bills and key communications via email. You must pay by direct debit on this tariff.
Please ensure that the relevant script wording is also used in relation to the Direct Debit discount:- As you have chosen to pay by Direct Debit throughout the year, you??ll benefit from a discount which will be taken off your daily standing charge and over a year this will represent a discount of (Insert discount) Dual Fuel £90, Electricity £40, Gas £50. If you stop paying by Direct Debit, you??ll move on to the non-discounted version of your chosen tariff or the non-discounted version of our standard tariff if direct debit is mandatory on your chosen tariff Our discounts are
Avishek: Above is the tariff details for your best understanding.
Would you like to switch to this new tariff? I will share some steps with you.
Customer: The letter I have received says that I can go onto a tariff which costs £350.62 less than the one I am currently on. The one we are discussing does not give me that much discount.. This cheapest tariff is descibed as Price Fix June 2017 Elec DD - electricity. I cannot find this on the website
Avishek: It is because the price Fix June 2017 tariff is not on sale any more, it has been replaced by Price Fix March 2017, I am sure you will have that on the website.
Customer: Is it one of those on the quotes page that you directed me to? It does not seem to be there to me. None are labelled Price Fix March 2017
Avishek: Is there some thing called Medium Fix?
Customer: Yes - is that the one I should be looking at, and is it the best possible for me?
Avishek: That is the one.
Avishek: The best option will be on top of the list. Is Short fix option on top of the list?
Customer: That is only £145 less per year - the letter we have says we can save either £209 or £350.
Avishek: I would like to let you know that the comparison on the bill is compared to the standard tariff however the one on the online account takes into consideration your current usage details and also the current tariff. So in all probabilities the online account will give you the most accurate quote,
Customer: So the offers in the bill, which tell us we could save £209 or £350 relate not to the tariff we are actually on now but to some other tariff?
Avishek: Yes that is compared to the standard tariff, however the online account took your current tariff into consideration. That is the reason why there is a difference in the rates.
Customer: Do you not think that the letter is therefore misleading in telling us we can save these amounts, when that is actually not true?
Avishek: It is true when you are in standard tariff, however that is something we sent across to all our valued customers. My sincerely apologies for any inconvenience on behalf of npower.
Customer: But directly above these potential savings figures is an identically presented tariff projection for the tariff we are on now; then below it it tells us what we can save.
Avishek: The savings figures is most accurate in the online page that you have received in the online page.
Customer: But that does not explain the contents of the letter which are misleading.
Avishek: I can certainly understand that, however as I mentioned that only difference is that the letter is compared to the standard npower tariff and the online account your current tariff.
Customer: The letter should say that!
Avishek: I would like to apologise again for any inconvenience from npower's end.
Customer: If I go for Short Fix E7, what happens in November 2016?
Avishek: The tariff ends however you can log into your online account before or after that to check your best deals. You can do it anytime you want to as the short fix tariff does not have any early exit fees. If you do not change you will be shifted to standard tariff after November 2016.
Customer: So - if I change my tariff, I have to remember to log in at the appropriate time in order to change the tariff once more?
Avishek: No appropiate time, you can do that any time you want to, before or after November 2016.
Customer: If I fail to remember to do this before November 2016 (because I have a life!), what tariff do I then finish up on?
Avishek: Standard npower tariff.
Customer: In other words - one that will cost me more than I am on now?
Avishek: That will depend on your consumption at that point of time, however standard tariff is a variable tariff and not a fixed one.
Customer: So - it could be less or it could be more. But the tariff I am on is described as Standard Economy, so surely an economy tariff must always cost less than a Standard one.
Avishek: I sincerely apologise again for any inconvenience today.I can certainly understand that there has been a miscommunication however let me assure you that things will be perfect in terms of tariff from here.
Avishek: Yes you are correct.
Customer: So an economy tariff could in fact be more than a standard one?
Avishek: The tariff rates will be as per the area, the monthly amount will be as per the usage.
Avishek: And as we like billing our customer on actual reads, that ensures that the bill that you get is actual and you do not over-pay for your energy.
Avishek: Avishek: The tariff rates will be as per the area, the monthly amount will be as per the usage.
Avishek: And as we like billing our customer on actual reads, that ensures that the bill that you get is actual and you do not over-pay for your energy.
vishek: Online Price Fix November 2016:-

"Your prices are fixed up until 30th November 2016, After this you will automatically move to our cheapest standard variable tariff applicable to you. There is no early exit fee if you change your tariff or supplier. You'll need to manage your account online and receive bills and key communications via email. You must pay by direct debit on this tariff.
Please ensure that the relevant script wording is also used in relation to the Direct Debit discount:- As you have chosen to pay by Direct Debit throughout the year, you??ll benefit from a discount which will be taken off your daily standing charge and over a year this will represent a discount of (Insert discount) Dual Fuel £90, Electricity £40, Gas £50. If you stop paying by Direct Debit, you??ll move on to the non-discounted version of your chosen tariff or the non-discounted version of our standard tariff if direct debit is mandatory on your chosen tariff Our discounts are
Avishek: This is the short fix tariff for your best understanding, can I please have your post code?
Customer: Why do not all customers automatically be charged on the "cheapest standard variable tariff applicable to you"?
Avishek: It is because we have a range of products from variable to fixed, depending on the needs on situations from customer.
Customer: * *
Avishek:
Electricity:-
TCR 15.29 p/kWh
Unit rate 12.579p
Standing charge 22.9425p
Avishek: The above rates are based exclusively as per your post code and region for the short fix tariff.
Customer: My needs are the cheapest possible tariff, that automatically puts me on the best deal and that I do not have to mess about with every few months.
Avishek: As for now your best deal is the short fix as suggested by the system taking into account your usage details.
Customer: Hmmmm.. Thank you for explaining the unexplainable!
Avishek: I am sorry for any trouble today and also apologise on behalf of npower for any mistakes from our end.
Avishek: You will find a page where there will be various tariff options. You can choose the desired tariff by clicking on View and Apply.
You can now click on Add to basket.
You can then check out once the desired tariff is added to the basket.
You will have to fill in your contact details ( Email / Mobile Messaging / Post / Phone) and click on Continue to next step
Please read the Terms and Conditions. If you agree click on the check box to proceed.
You will have to click on Order now to finish the process.
Avishek: Once the process is complete you will receive an email from us which will contain the details of the new tariff.^

Right - so there we are - clear as mud. I get a letter saying I can save X, then go onto the website and it says I cannot. I am presented with a plethora of options all of which mean that I will have to remember to change to another tariff by Nov. '16, but there might be cheaper tariffs popping up anytime, and it is up to me to keep in checking; and forgetting to change it might cost me extra. And this is within a power company - heaven knows what it is like if you are trying to compare several companies.

Hooray for choice! - hooray for competition! - hooray for privatisation!!