Electricity prices

[DaveGrohl]

The secret's buried in the contract terms. When you sign up to the deal, the small print tells you that if the company's costs increase, they can increase their charges. So the 'fixed price' that you're on is actually an illusion. Waste of time, really.
The industry gives this an important-sounding name: 'pass-through' costs. So if your supplier has a supplier and that supplier raises his prices, your supplier 'passes through' that cost to you. It's doublespeak for 'we'll jack up our charges whenever we feel like it'.
That said, Opus is the only company that's done it to me within the period of a contract. And they dropped it when I kicked up.

They tried that with us a few weeks ago. I made clear in no incertain terms I wouldn't stand for it and they backed down. I made clear the fact that no other company had tried to do that in 30 years of buying electricity to us including Opus and that if they didn't back down then we would leave as they'd breached the contract. They didn't argue that point. But also in our favour was the fact that they'd mentioned higher pass-through costs being known by them (in their letter to bump prices up) about a month before they quoted and we signed, so they had no leg to stand on as they knew everything prior.

Curiously, we have two meters with them but they only tried the scam on one meter.

 

[dudders]

Good on you, or us. Shows that it's worth standing up for yourself when the shysters start playing around, but it's not good for the blood pressure, causes so much aggro and colours my whole attitude to life in general!

 

[DaveGrohl]

Good on you, or us. Shows that it's worth standing up for yourself when the shysters start playing around, but it's not good for the blood pressure, causes so much aggro and colours my whole attitude to life in general!

Yup. It's the whole starting point of trying it on that's so disgusting about these companies. Not just electric companies either, we've all got tales of woe about various companies. I'm on fighting Water Plus and Vodafone currently, Vodafone on two fronts, @rses. Next month it'll be someone else..........

 

[Fubar]

Just signed up to a 3 yr deal with B G through a broker. Single rate 14.75 p and 36 ppd s/c. It doesnt start till next Aug so I'm locked in now until 2024. Using approx 50 k units per year. Only time will tell if it's right. Gas prices seem to be falling but electricity seems to be going up. At least I can now tell the cold callers I'm fixed until Aug 2024. Their reply... " I'll call you in August 2023 then when the renewal window opens " !! You can't say they're not keen.

 

[Mr Mackay]

Thanks Fubar , I have been quoted 16.52 Day and 12.00 night and 30.5 standing charge ! That was today. for 3 years starting 2021
48k usage for us ,nearly as much night as day ,so if I average ours out ,thats approximately 14.50 p ,on a single rate !! And staying with British Gas lite !

 

[Fubar]

Most of my neighbours run two rate meters. I've only ever been on single rate. The last time I had a 2 rate quote though there was nothing in it, even if I used more at night than daytime. I run potato fridges in insulated stores so the idea would be to switch off in the day and run at night, assuming the temp doesn't rise too much.

 

[Mr Mackay]

Most of my neighbours run two rate meters. I've only ever been on single rate. The last time I had a 2 rate quote though there was nothing in it, even if I used more at night than daytime. I run potato fridges in insulated stores so the idea would be to switch off in the day and run at night, assuming the temp doesn't rise too much.

Yes ,interesting I had a broker call in a car today .
He told me how he would quote me for the next 3 yrs (after this one ) and wanted to quote just one rate .
He then said for example ,19p for the 3 yrs

Not quite sure what he meant

 

[Fubar]

You do need to play them off against each other. I always tell them I've had a cheaper quote and they go off to 'talk to their manager' and then come back with a lower price. They're working on margins.
What I can never understand is that I'm being supplied by BG yet when I went direct to BG for a quote they wanted 1p per unit more.

 

[Mr Mackay]

You do need to play them off against each other. I always tell them I've had a cheaper quote and they go off to 'talk to their manager' and then come back with a lower price. They're working on margins.
What I can never understand is that I'm being supplied by BG yet when I went direct to BG for a quote they wanted 1p per unit more.

Thats because they cannot be arsed with lots of people ringing asking ?
They sell or rather promise a chunk of generation , to brokers ,then the broker gets a fee ,either by retentions or by getting you to accept the highest rate (or so I was told )
I have had 8 brokers going in one week lol
The question is ,where is the price going . I have a hunch that the Govt will stick on more levies in the next yr or 2 to claw back some of this Covid expense ,as everyone pays for water and leccy /Gas .

 

[Water Wheel]

Quote from British Gas by phone direct to them . for 110,000 units / year pay DD

Standing charge per day (29.769p)

Day units per kwh (15.689p)

Night units per kwh (10.974p)

 

[Mr Mackay]

Quote from British Gas by phone direct to them . for 110,000 units / year pay DD

Standing charge per day (29.769p)

Day units per kwh (15.689p)

Night units per kwh (10.974p)

How long a deal ?

 

[Water Wheel]

How long a deal ?

1 year

 

[Mr Mackay]

1 year

That looks about right , we agreed in the end on a 2 year deal starting in 12 months at 16.080 day 11.52 night and 34.23 standing charge ! British Gas - Love Energy
So covered for 3 years in effect.
I can see how people might not want to fix too far ahead

 

[dudders]

I've just got 24.75p SC and 13.53p per unit with Octopus. Dealt with them for a year already with no probs.

Just got a quote from Bulb for another meter, 27.4p SC and 12.53p per unit, which is a lot better. But your consumption is a lot higher than mine, also with a night/day set-up, so prices will be different. These companies have been consistently cheaper than any of the big boys though.

 

[Courier]

A word to the wise - British Gas will often quote BEFORE the 7% Direct Debit discount whereas the brokers seem to assume that 7% discount within their quote ..

 

[bobk]

That looks about right , we agreed in the end on a 2 year deal starting in 12 months at 16.080 day 11.52 night and 34.23 standing charge ! British Gas - Love Energy
So covered for 3 years in effect.
I can see how people might not want to fix too far ahead

Have you been with BG before ?

 

[Farma Parma]

I dont get why the SC has too differ? its is what it is why is there such a variation with all the diff providers? the per KWH charge of electric unit i get yes no probs there
Also to get the best deals you have to be on monthly DD & they want your approx worked out payment a month in advance... and keep the account in plenty credit which
you then have to chase this up months n months down the line. & its not just straight forward to get it all back neither.
Why cant they all the day the amount has been decided you have used for that money then simply take the payment on a variable DD days later?
None of them seem to do this? why?
If i change ins policy for any reason with the NFU they simply alter next months DD ? all Interest free its so easy its unreal.
Cant say ive found a single Electric Supplier that would even conceive of operating in this way

 

[bobk]

I dont get why the SC has too differ? its is what it is why is there such a variation with all the diff providers? the per KWH charge of electric unit i get yes no probs there
Also to get the best deals you have to be on monthly DD & they want your approx worked out payment a month in advance... and keep the account in plenty credit which
you then have to chase this up months n months down the line. & its not just straight forward to get it all back neither.
Why cant they all the day the amount has been decided you have used for that money then simply take the payment on a variable DD days later?
None of them seem to do this? why?
If i change ins policy for any reason with the NFU they simply alter next months DD ? all Interest free its so easy its unreal.
Cant say ive found a single Electric Supplier that would even conceive of operating in this way

You should be on a smart meter , sends the readings every month and bill follows

 

[Farma Parma]

You should be on a smart meter , sends the readings every month and bill follows

Ive been very strongly advised by local Sparkie to stay well clear of Smart Meters
in any case i submit all meter readings every 4weeks regardless ???
There is an a whole diff agenda at work with smart meters far too long a story too go into on here

 

[wanton dwarf]

Ive been very strongly advised by local Sparkie to stay well clear of Smart Meters
in any case i submit all meter readings every 4weeks regardless ???
There is an a whole diff agenda at work with smart meters far too long a story too go into on here

I've heard the same. From being cut off for no good reason remotely to the ability to charge many different tariffs.

No thanks.