Energy - alternative suppliers

digp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2008/11/energy_alternatives.html (at 01.18)

spark
ebico
utilita
good energy
first utility
ecotricity
green energy
the utility warehouse
utilita

which of these is the least expensive to go with? which switching company compares these providers only/in addition to the big six?

Vestra

I think most comparison sites include them, it's just their tariffs are near the bottom.

digp

Is there a site reviewing them ?

Mum_of_3_3

Good Energy is definately on USwitch.

We've been with Good Energy for about 3-4 years now & I think they're fabulous.

They always pick up the phone within a couple of rings (not that I have to phone them much).
They're always courteous & helpful.
They're estimated billing isn't that far off of what the actual reading is.

I had a notice through the other day to say that they are taking 7.5% off of their prices as off 31st January. I'm not sure if price reductions are instantanious on USwitch or not?

Where I am in mid-Somerset I'll be charged 15.96 p/kWh & a standing charge of 5.57 p/day.

one of the main reasons I went with them (& stay with them) rather than pay for a green-rate from a big provider is that they only buy green energy and they also reinvest a lot of money back into green projects like the Delabole wind farm.

I know that I could save some money by going non-green or by choosing a green-plan with a mixed providor, but it was important to me & my family that we put our money where our mouth was & supported green energy production in this country.

HTH

Sarah
x

Vestra

Mum_of_3 wrote: »

Good Energy is definately on USwitch.

We've been with Good Energy for about 3-4 years now & I think they're fabulous.

They always pick up the phone within a couple of rings (not that I have to phone them much).
They're always courteous & helpful.
They're estimated billing isn't that far off of what the actual reading is.

I had a notice through the other day to say that they are taking 7.5% off of their prices as off 31st January. I'm not sure if price reductions are instantanious on USwitch or not?

Where I am in mid-Somerset I'll be charged 15.96 p/kWh & a standing charge of 5.57 p/day.

one of the main reasons I went with them (& stay with them) rather than pay for a green-rate from a big provider is that they only buy green energy and they also reinvest a lot of money back into green projects like the Delabole wind farm.

I know that I could save some money by going non-green or by choosing a green-plan with a mixed providor, but it was important to me & my family that we put our money where our mouth was & supported green energy production in this country.

HTH

Sarah
x

But paying almost 33% more is quite a lot, but I guess if you have the money.

Plushchris

Must say if I wasnt on a good capped deal I would consider First:Utility now they have dropped the connection charge. Their way of billing is quite impressive and I like the idea of no more estimated bills.

Have a look at the sample bill on their website!

digp

in terms of cost how do ebico and first:utility compare?

digp

Plushchris wrote: »

Have a look at the sample bill on their website!

do you have a link i couldnt find it

Plushchris

http://www.first-utility.com/residential/residential-onlineaccount.htm

Click on the view button where it says "Monitor my energy usage"

Its shows a month by month graph, when you click on a month it breaks it down into days then click again to break it down into half hourly readings.

Could be very useful

Plushchris

digp wrote: »

in terms of cost how do ebico and first:utility compare?

Depends on usage, if you are a low user ebico may be better but I would have thought first utility would be cheaper (than ebico) for medium to higher users (it is for me) although not the out and out cheapest, its probably the cheapest of the smaller companies.

It is still a 24 month contract with First utility though which is a little off-putting but I really like the thought of 100% accurate billing for once.

Cardew

Plushchris wrote: »

.

It is still a 24 month contract with First utility though which is a little off-putting but I really like the thought of 100% accurate billing for once.

I wonder why someone like yourself who understands meter readings and costs etc would be prepared to contemplate paying a penny more a year for accurate accounts.

They jumped the other companies and reduced their electricity prices a little while ago, but they are still far from being the cheapest. I wonder what their policy will be when other companies reduce their prices?