First Utility. Any Good?

ixwood

http://www.first-utility.com/index.htm

Looks interesting. I love all the stats and graphs. BUT, I can't find their prices anywhere?

Anyone with them?

Premier_2

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1138441

pbfhpunk

Looks v good, love the graphs too - good to be able to see what is being used and good idea for the accurate bills.

Looking on the site I found the tariffs here http://www.first-utility.com/residential/residential-products-electricity.htm if you scroll down to the map and click your region it opens a pdf.


H

Premier_2

Be aware that the prices on the website reflect the 20% reduction that started from last Monday - the first company to reduce prices. Other companies are certain to follow with price reductions shortly.

Also be aware with first-utility:

"On registration a connection fee of £49 applies and there is a cancellation fee of £50 if your contract is terminated within the initial contract period of 24 months"




Edit: according to their terms & conditions

15.11 If the contract for energy services ends prior to the initial contract period (if any) we will charge you an early termination fee of £99 including VAT. This fee will not apply where the contract is terminated pursuant to clause 15.1(a) or 15.1(b).

1carminestocky

REALLY like the fact they are the first company to reflect wholesale price reductions in their new prices (the Big 6 are clearly desperately trying to hold on until the Winter is over, what a set of $^&*%!). REALLY hate the connection and exit fees, though. Who in their right mind would sign up to a 24 month contract at the moment?

pbfhpunk

If I've got it right, you have a monitor in the house that shows you how much electricity you're using in real time, this then means I can turn things off and get this figure down, and my bills come down, plus I'm paying based on accurate readings not having estimated bills which I hate and not having to phone Ecotricity up with my new readings and them totally ignoring them.

I know this is a money saving site so I can see why people are a bit negative towards them, but I think theres a lot to be said for making life a little easier for ourselves too - which this seems to be.

Perhaps it's my geekside but I love the idea of being able to use the graphs and see in pence and KW what I'm using at any given time.

Our energy bills at the moment work out about £1800 for the 2 of us living in a bungalow, we have no idea where this is coming from as I'm pretty sure that's not the average! so something like this would help alot!

H

pbfhpunk

1carminestocky wrote: »

REALLY like the fact they are the first company to reflect wholesale price reductions in their new prices (the Big 6 are clearly desperately trying to hold on until the Winter is over, what a set of $^&*%!). REALLY hate the connection and exit fees, though. Who in their right mind would sign up to a 24 month contract at the moment?

I would! for the fact that if I get my bills lower for 2 years, when I swap to a lower priced company at the end of two years, the lessons I've learnt from being with first utility and having the monitor and the accurate bills will mean my bills are even lower than swapping now with the same energy consumption to a lower priced energy firm. and If I did decide to leave earlier it's only £50!

Don't most companies tie you in?

H

Premier_2

pbfhpunk wrote: »

...Don't most companies tie you in?

No, only some capped/fixed rates have tie-in clauses, but generally with most suppliers you can switch without any penalty

Customers of SSE can get a monitor for free, so I'm told, or others can buy one for about £30

Cardew

pbfhpunk wrote: »

I would! for the fact that if I get my bills lower for 2 years, when I swap to a lower priced company at the end of two years, the lessons I've learnt from being with first utility and having the monitor and the accurate bills will mean my bills are even lower than swapping now with the same energy consumption to a lower priced energy firm. and If I did decide to leave earlier it's only £50!

Don't most companies tie you in?

H

The 2 year contract, as I understand it, does not fix any prices.

They could in theory triple their prices and you are still tied in, unless you pay the exit fee, which is for the meter removal.

I cannot think that anyone serious about money saving would pay £50 to be connected to a service that is currently(sorry) more expensive than some of the internet tariffs.

I am as interested as most people in new technology and the smart metering is useful - but pay extra for every kWh for having it fitted? - nah!

Premier_2

If they increase prices, you can get out of the cancellation charge under 15.1(b), (perhaps that's why they appear to have introduced a connection charge instead?) but they could elect to maintain prices whilst everyone else lowers theirs and still lawfully charge the exit fee.

pbfhpunk

But do they do accurate billing from those monitors? and give the online graphs?

To me the big thing with first utility, I like the accurate billing.

I'm totally not in control of my bills and where my usage is going so this - for me - seems like a v good idea.