MSE News: Co-operative Energy to supply the Which? 'Big Switch'

Former_MSE_Guy · 11 May 2012 at 5:10PM

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Co-operative Energy has won the Big Switch auction, but it's not offering the cheapest deal on the market ..."

Read the full story:
Co-operative Energy to supply the Which? 'Big Switch'

alanq · 11 May 2012 at 5:29PM

Already being discussed in an existing thread.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3844041

Ken68 · 11 May 2012 at 6:11PM

If it works, I suppose this deal will eventually be offered to all Co-operative members, millions of them.

Terrylw1 · 12 May 2012 at 12:12AM

Doesn't seem to live up to the hype with EDF Blue almost the same and the FU deal.

Mind you, consumption of 30k customers...grab a few business site contracts and recoup any loss if they all left one supplier...

Big hoohar over nothing.

Anon · 12 May 2012 at 11:44AM

Not really a Big Switch if many will still be able to get cheaper by using the price comparison (and limited to 30,000). I thought the idea was that this collective bargaining would secure a much better deal than currently available on the open market? Disappointing - headline grabbing idea when launched, lots of hype, a non-story in the end?

Anon

callum9999 · 12 May 2012 at 2:05PM

Like anon above, I also thought the idea was to switch a large block of people for a decent, if not significant, discount. Block switching to a provider who isn't the cheapest, albeit by £1, seems completely useless.

But then this is "Which?" we are talking about - they seem to be rather inept given their size and sway with the public anyway. Their card surcharge campaign being a good one - what exactly has changed now? The only difference I've seen is now I am forced to pay £9 per flight with Easyjet (per booking I know - but I buy 1 flight at a time) instead of the previous zero admin fee because so many people were either too inept or too lazy to get their hands on a Visa Electron. Great...

Consumerist · 12 May 2012 at 10:30PM

Anon wrote: »

Not really a Big Switch if many will still be able to get cheaper by using the price comparison (and limited to 30,000). I thought the idea was that this collective bargaining would secure a much better deal than currently available on the open market? Disappointing - headline grabbing idea when launched, lots of hype, a non-story in the end?

If, however, it starts to eat into BG's huge number of "sticky" customers, who are on their standard tariff, then it will serve its purpose. No wonder BG didn't want anything to do with it - but it might have to entertain the Big Switch idea in the future or face the prospect of losing its most lucrative income stream.

30,000 today but who knows how many in the future.

Terrylw1 · 12 May 2012 at 11:01PM

I don't think the 30k is exactly what they state.

There are enforced daily limits on data transfer which would prevent larger switches unless it was well in the future but even then it can't be more than 28 days per the Master Registration Agreement (MRA) and if they were for the same day, all the data going back and forth would compromise the industry comms system and internal systems of the parties involved.

I think they new this, oversold it so loads joined and then lied their way out if with their imposed cap.

Consumerist · 12 May 2012 at 11:59PM

Terrylw1 wrote: »

I don't think the 30k is exactly what they state.
There are enforced daily limits on data transfer which would prevent larger switches unless it was well in the future but even then it can't be more than 28 days per the Master Registration Agreement (MRA) and if they were for the same day, all the data going back and forth would compromise the industry comms system and internal systems of the parties involved.
I think they new this, oversold it so loads joined and then lied their way out if with their imposed cap.

30k, 20k, whatever. If the Big Switch catches on, and that's a big if, then systems will change to accommodate. I accept that things won't happen overnight but if the demand is there then change will certainly come whether BG likes it not.

Terrylw1 · 13 May 2012 at 12:39AM

Yes, and it should. However, my issue with is that Which are just chasing a sale. What we really need is some form of SLC setting out how it can be used to open the broker market up.

Given Which haven't achieved much, if Ofgem resolve the industry barriers, perhaps collective bargaining could advance to what the 250k thought they were getting.

Consumerist · 13 May 2012 at 12:11PM

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Given Which haven't achieved much, if Ofgem resolve the industry barriers, perhaps collective bargaining could advance to what the 250k thought they were getting.

I wasn't thinking specifically about the Which? Big Switch but more generally. There is also Energy Helpline's Huge Switch under way.

From the MSE News article <Group switching 'could transform utilities'>

Energy Secretary Ed Davey says: "Collective purchasing could be a powerful way of rebalancing the relationship between consumers and suppliers in a range of different markets.
"We are working to remove barriers to getting new collective purchasing schemes up and running, and I want to see suppliers engaging positively with these initiatives."

Over the longer term, there seem to be some noises about getting the general concept moving. As you say, there are practicalities to be considered but if the idea is popular, there is motivation for change.

MSE News: Co-operative Energy to supply the Which? 'Big Switch'

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