New Gas & Electric Co. "OVO Energy"

They've cut their prices already - exit fee now £30 per fuel.

Some interesting (and admittedly pedantic) observations from OVO Energy's contract Terms and Conditions. My comments between the ### marks.

4. Billing and payment
4.1. You agree to pay for your energy and other services by monthly direct debit. 5
### Hmm. What other "services"? and what does that stray "5" mean? ###

5. Changes to the agreement
5.1. We may from time to time make changes to the terms of this agreement by notifying you in writing. We will try to always give you 10 days notice.
####They could change from a capped price to another regime under this clause, or any other change they like. Earlier references to the tariff (3.1 and 3.2) don't, in my view, completely lock the current price cap and term currently being offered into this contract, it merely refers to Ovo notifying customers about the price list and tariffs. Picky, I know but it could be better drafted ###

5.2. If we raise your prices or change this agreement in any way that materially
disadvantages you, we will notify you immediately. The price rises will not affect your bill if you:
5.2.a. Notify that you wish to end this agreement within 10 working days of
receiving the price rise notification; and
5.2.b. arrange for another supplier to supply your gas and electricity and we
receive notice of this from your new supplier within 15 working days of the day you gave us notice that you wanted to end your agreement.

###So, they will "try" to give you 10 days notice of contract changes but "immediately" notify you of materially adverse changes. Not bad. The definition of "material disadvantage" could be fun, though. If you don't like it, you can end the agreement and they will stop supplying electricity, but assumes the new supplier will contact them within 15 days. This give a maximum of 25 days to change supplier and most of that period is, of course, completely outside your control.
And what does it mean by "The price rises will not affect your bill if you...[etc].". The bill amount might remain the same, but the total amount you owe changes to whatever they decide, and you always remain liable (clause 4.5). ###

8. Our Liability
8.1. We will not be liable for any loss of income, business or profits, data, use of services, or for any loss or damage that was caused.
###caused by what and by whom?####
8.2. We are not liable for any eventualities that result from your negligence or failure to met (sic) the terms of this agreement
### Here they introduce the notion of negligence - note it is YOUR negligence that is at issue. There is no mention of THEIR negligence, and it is highly unusual they should not be liable even if they or any of their agents/suppliers/contractors is negligent. Suppose their meter reader leaves a burning cigarette in the meter box and your house burns down. That example would be their negligence, but according to 8.1 they are not liable. I suspect 8.1 is intended to deal with just the use of the energy they supply, but even so they should also cover their negligence point as a separate clause, and also mirror 8.2 as a clause in your favour ###

8.4. If you suffer any loss or damage, our responsibility to you will be limited to £10,000 for each event that causes you loss or, if there are a number of connected events
that cause you loss, our responsibility will be limited to £10,000 in total.
###This seems at odds with 8.1 where Ovo accepts no liability at all, so under what circumstances might they accept they had been in breach?.####

9. Use of personal information
9.1 We will never sell any information we hold about you to another person or
organisation.
####Gee thanks, you might not sell it but it's OK to give it away?###

We will only hold and use information about you for legitimate business purposes. These may include:
9.1.1 to confirm your identity when you contact us
9.1.2 offering you new services or products from our group.
###There's no definition of what the "group" comprises, e.g. it could include anyone they like and they don't have to tell you###
9.1.4 analysing our customers behaviour to refine our services or create new
marketing opportunities
###Which could mean sharing your information with third party research companies - see 9.23 below ###
9.1.5 to help prevent fraud or loss.
####ditto###
9.2. We may share information we hold about you with third parties:
9.2.1 to help prevent fraud
...
9.2.3 to supply services you have asked for



Well, for a nw company I guess these T&Cs are not bad compared with other energy companies. At least they are written in reasonably clear English but some tidying up and tighter definitions wouldn't come a miss.

It is worth looking on Google Maps at their office location outside Cirencester.
Their address:
OVO Energy
The OVO Barn
College Farm Buildings
Tetbury Road
Cirencester
Gloucestershire
GL7 6PY

Sweet!!

Rog.

Plus Eon will 'do you over' on the final bill (which in your case could actually be the first bill also).

1carminestocky wrote: »

They seem to only offer fixed prices? Certainly in my (Yorkshire) region. And a min. 12 month contract. Swingeing exit fees as well.



Although I like the non-confusion marketing tariffs and the UK-only call centres but i'm already with a supplier who provides those (and additional) advantages. I wish them well, though.

Hi, do you have the yorkshire prices. I cannot get on their site to compare?