first:utility - new energy company launches

1carminestocky

CrazyCod wrote: »

Hello folks !

I live in the SWEB area and have noticed that First Utility have just hiked their standing charges dramatically.

Currently the SC for gas is 24.15p per day whereas in January it was 4.96p per day. This equates to an extra £70.04 per year.

In addition, their single rate SC for electricity is now 17.85p per day compared to 1.54p per day. This equates to an extra £59.53 per year.

I was seriously thinking of switching to FU but will stay on the sidelines at present.

CrazyCod

This has always been my worry with a company that ties you in for 24 months. I don't like min. length contracts in any utility, TBH.

NowThenAgain

An update about my 'switch' to First Utility.

It's now 1 week and a day later and I have heard nothing whatsoever. Got the email from uswitch immediately after doing the switch through their site and nothing after that.

Not great!

Plushchris

NowThenAgain wrote: »

An update about my 'switch' to First Utility.

It's now 1 week and a day later and I have heard nothing whatsoever. Got the email from uswitch immediately after doing the switch through their site and nothing after that.

Not great!

You wont hear much until the 7 day cooling off period is up, expect stuff through in the next few days.

Cardew

CrazyCod wrote: »

Hello folks !

I live in the SWEB area and have noticed that First Utility have just hiked their standing charges dramatically.

Currently the SC for gas is 24.15p per day whereas in January it was 4.96p per day. This equates to an extra £70.04 per year.

In addition, their single rate SC for electricity is now 17.85p per day compared to 1.54p per day. This equates to an extra £59.53 per year.

I was seriously thinking of switching to FU but will stay on the sidelines at present.

CrazyCod

Are you sure about this?

On 15 Sep in this thread(page 1) Premier posted:

First Utility: 14.64p per unit plus 12.62p per day standing charge

I can't recall the standing charge figures, but my impression for my area was that they were similar to Premier's.

CrazyCod

Quite sure Cardew.

As part of my research into various utility companies I printed off the then current (January 2009) tariffs from FU. I still have it.

To confirm in January for the SWEB region SC for electricity for single rate was 1.54p per day whilst gas SC was 4.96p per day.

CrazyCod

NowThenAgain

Two weeks after clicking switch on the uSwitch website, I've finally got something through in the post from first:utility.

Not good news folks! The rates quoted in the letter I've received are different/higher than those given on uSwitch.

The tariff I thought I was signing up to (and which is still on the uSwitch site) is:

SC: £0.0688 per day. Units: £0.1225. Termination charge £50.

The actual rates as given in the terms I've been sent are:

SC: £0.1785 per day. Units: £0.1150. Termination charge: £100. Charge for home display unit: £35.

It's irritating that there is some degree of dishonesty in the way this company is operating. The 'new' rates are not actually that much more expensive for my usage (3500KW/Y, £14 per year) but the way that there is no consistency is making me think about taking advantage of my 10 day cancellation rights.

1carminestocky

One of the reasons I would never sign up with an energy company that tie me in to them for a minimum term. To me, that can be tantamount to telling them to take the p***.


This company actually put their prices UP last month!

http://www.energyhelpline.com/xhl/page_a.aspx?ref=fhl_priceincreases_1&p=1

Cardew

NowThenAgain wrote: »

Two weeks after clicking switch on the uSwitch website, I've finally got something through in the post from first:utility.

Not good news folks! The rates quoted in the letter I've received are different/higher than those given on uSwitch.

The tariff I thought I was signing up to (and which is still on the uSwitch site) is:

SC: £0.0688 per day. Units: £0.1225. Termination charge £50.

The actual rates as given in the terms I've been sent are:

SC: £0.1785 per day. Units: £0.1150. Termination charge: £100. Charge for home display unit: £35.

It's irritating that there is some degree of dishonesty in the way this company is operating. The 'new' rates are not actually that much more expensive for my usage (3500KW/Y, £14 per year) but the way that there is no consistency is making me think about taking advantage of my 10 day cancellation rights.

According to energyhelpline FU increased their prices by 5.4% and 7.9% on 10 March 2009.

This at a time when most other companies were reducing their tariffs!



http://www.energyhelpline.com/xhl/page_a.aspx?ref=fhl_priceincreases_1&p=1

penrhyn

Perhaps the clue is in the initials:rotfl:

1carminestocky

Their broadband/phone line/calls rates are highly uncompetitive as well. I think Penrhyn could be onto something, lol.