First Utility - Any users or reviews

Gambler

NonGeographicalMan wrote: »

This will presumably be their new non smart meter based tariff that uses traditional meters and is simply meant to be competitive with the big boys.

First Utility are keen to expand quickly in the gas and electricity sector and they seem to think that the various technical obstacles associated with smart meter rollout may mean that not also having a cheap conventional energy tariff may put them at a serious disadvantage.

Well at a further £100 saving it's certainly got me thinking. :T

NonGeographicalMan

Gambler wrote: »

Well at a further £100 saving it's certainly got me thinking. :T

Make sure to check whether the price quoted is dependent on a discount only applied after 12 months with them and/or if there are specific penalties for leaving them before 12 months or longer are up.

KimYeovil

And it is dependent on you using a decent amount of power. If it's a warm winter you'll be hit with standing charges of £240-odd before you've used a single therm!

NonGeographicalMan

KimYeovil wrote: »

And it is dependent on you using a decent amount of power. If it's a warm winter you'll be hit with standing charges of £240-odd before you've used a single therm!

The more usual trick is to pretend there is no standing charge but to charge over double the standard unit price for the first 900 Kw hours per annum. So 900Kw hours at a surcharge of 11p per Kw = £108 standing charge per annum for instance.

If you can name me a utility that really does have a fixed standing charge as high as £240 then I will certain be happy to make a note of it but I think that £100 per annum is nearer the mark for most electricity and gas suppliers whether it is the up front variety of standing charge or the stealth variety that hides it in the form of higher charges for the first 900 Kw hours.

KimYeovil

NonGeographicalMan wrote: »

The more usual trick is to pretend there is no standing charge but to charge over double the standard unit price for the first 900 Kw hours per annum. So 900Kw hours at a surcharge of 11p per Kw = £108 standing charge per annum for instance.

If you can name me a utility that really does have a fixed standing charge as high as £240 then I will certain be happy to make a note of it but I think that £100 per annum is nearer the mark for most electricity and gas suppliers whether it is the up front variety of standing charge or the stealth variety that hides it in the form of higher charges for the first 900 Kw hours.

I am well aware of the two types of standing charge. By standing charges I always mean both daily standing charges and the equivalent no [daily] standing charge component of the two tier tariffs. Other companies charges can be as low as £75 for two fuels (£3 each per month.)

As to which utility company has standing charges of £240, well, the clue is the thread I chose to post the note in. (31.5p + 33.6p x 365 = £238. £208 after annual discount)

kingkano

YEs the discounts are applied after 12mths Major disincentive for me.

The savings quoted include any discounts associated with this tariff. The discounts will be paid to you annually after 12 consecutive direct debit payments. To qualify, you must take your supply from first:utility and pay by the same payment method for a full 12 month period – this period does not have to be a Jan-Dec calendar year.

Also as pointed out their standing charge really is near £240. For me it quotes standing charges £122.64 for gas and £114.98 for electric. But the remaining unit prices are very very cheap. so high users (like myself lol) do benefit overall price wise.

BusinessEnergyBroker

If anyone decides to change to First Utility be very wary. Everything with their billing isn't all that it is promoted to be.

As an example you will not see meter readings for the transfer of the supply appear on the invoices. You will not see the exchange meter readings (for when the smart meter is installed) appear on the invoices either.

It is all done based on "usage reversal" and this leaves people guessing what the reads may have been without actually knowing. In addition the meter agents frequently forget to leave a meter exchange card (it details the meter reads from the time the exchange takes place) so its impossible to verify.

This is based on my experiance dealing with the Business Team rather than residential although I believe that he same billing system is used.

In theory they should be the best in the industry (service wise) however the reality at the moment is much different.

NonGeographicalMan

BusinessEnergyBroker wrote: »

In theory they should be the best in the industry (service wise) however the reality at the moment is much different.

Why do you say they "should" be the best in the industry, even though they are not? Do you base these comments purely on their comparatively small size?

yourcalls.net (formerly part of OneBill and now part of something else) is small but leaves everything to be desired in terms of customer service.............

kevcoo

BusinessEnergyBroker wrote: »

If anyone decides to change to First Utility be very wary. Everything with their billing isn't all that it is promoted to be.

As an example you will not see meter readings for the transfer of the supply appear on the invoices. You will not see the exchange meter readings (for when the smart meter is installed) appear on the invoices either.

It is all done based on "usage reversal" and this leaves people guessing what the reads may have been without actually knowing. In addition the meter agents frequently forget to leave a meter exchange card (it details the meter reads from the time the exchange takes place) so its impossible to verify.

This is based on my experiance dealing with the Business Team rather than residential although I believe that he same billing system is used.

In theory they should be the best in the industry (service wise) however the reality at the moment is much different.

Same billing used on first bill second bill has all old meter readings and all invoice was adjusted so it is 100% correct,checked mine when smart meters were installed got it bang on,great metering and i dont pay more than i need to i got in on day one so only pay standing charge of 60.00 per year for both,those that had no nerve lost out,gone 5 months already so all ok Kev

digp

EDF online v5 seems to be good, no?