NPowers' Very Sneaky 58% Increase

sdmitch

NPowers' Very Sneaky 58% Increase Just been looking at switching from Npower because of the underhand way they have passed on their latest increases - switchers beware.

If you use one of the comparison websites (Uswitch.com etc) Npower' Sign on line electric rates currently show 9.96p per Kwh for the first 728Kwh per annum and then 4.94p per Kwh thereafter - looks attractive doesn't it? - No, beware. Their latest price increase that becomes effective on March 31 will increase those rates to 15.77p per Kwh for the first 728Kwh per annum and 7.69p per Kwh thereafter.

That means an increase of 58% on the first 728Kwh &
55% on everything thereafter.

Their advertised increase is shown as 13.4%, but that's for exisitng customers only (I'm one of them who switched last November and got screwed with a 31.6% increase on the 1st of January, now being screwd again with a 13.4% increase again - a total of over 50% in the last 5 months).

It's time for these companies to come clean and for the Energywatchdog to clamp down.


Switchers Beware

bunking_off

You're quite right to highlight that uSwitch is showing erroneous info, and having had a look at the nPower website itself, it seems to propagate from there and they're quoting 2005 prices rather than the currently applicable ones let alone the new ones.

Only thing I'd quibble with you about is the new rates you're qouting. Perhaps it's due to regional variations (I'm in NW, though I didn't know these things varied so much), but my new rates after VAT are 14.43p/8.21p...quite a bit different to yours.

sdmitch

Yes - regional variations can make a difference - my rates quoted are for East Midlands. Npower told me today that they are currently on Sign on line 5 and on March 31, all sign on line rates will be the same - they didn't confirm any regional variations however.

matto

It's a bit more confusing than that but certainly needs highlighting.

The npower rates shown on uswitch are correct and take into account the latest price rise announcement. The fact is npower have not increased these prices and are not due to increase them on March 31.

This is a special online rate only available to new customers (called Sign Online 4). It seems likelyt these rates will increase in line with your experience, although I suspect npower may hold off rises until next autumn.

The main problem for the comparison sites is there's no way to select the correct npower tariff if your on one of their previous Sign Online tariffs, so the comparison is screwed.

sdmitch

I agree 100% - Npower told me today that all the on-line rates will change on March 31 - which is exactly what happened to me 2 months after I switched last November. This whole issue is a minefield - the energy watchdog needs to sort it out.

matto

It is a pity Martin didn't look further into this himself before his latest email advising that now was the time to switch. Played right into npower's and London Energy's pockets.

JohalaReewi

Have just checked with Npower (customer service line) and the prices shown for SOL4 on comparison sites and also Npower's website are the rates from 1st March 2006 and there are no more planned increases even on 31st March. Might be an idea to hold off switching until 1st April to see what happens.

matto

I doubt they'll increase the prices straightaway. Gas wholesale price is likely to reduce once spring/summer is here and usage will be less. They'll most likely increase the prices in the autumn.

The sign-online tariff also comes with a rebate if you stay with them for a year so it seems unlikely that people will desert npower if they put their prices up next autumn as they'll be well on their way to getting the rebate.

I'm actually with Atlantic Electric & Gas and I get a similar (but more generous) rebate from them, so I'm staying put for the next six months.

squiggles

bunking_off wrote:

You're quite right to highlight that uSwitch is showing erroneous info, and having had a look at the nPower website itself, it seems to propagate from there and they're quoting 2005 prices rather than the currently applicable ones let alone the new ones.

Only thing I'd quibble with you about is the new rates you're qouting. Perhaps it's due to regional variations (I'm in NW, though I didn't know these things varied so much), but my new rates after VAT are 14.43p/8.21p...quite a bit different to yours.

My new rates from march 31st are
upto 728kwh 16.02 inc vat
any above 10.62 inc vat

for NE area.

Can anyone help me with npower please.I dont know how to convert my units used into kwh for the price comparison sites.Many thanks if anyone replies

JohalaReewi

For electricity, the units are already in kWh. ie 100 units = 100 kWh. So to find your annual consumption, read your meter(s), find actual (not estimated) readings from a year ago and subtract.

For Gas it is a bit trickier and you should find full instructions on your bill for converting gas units into kWh. Have a calculator handy !!

squiggles

JohalaReewi wrote:

For electricity, the units are already in kWh. ie 100 units = 100 kWh. So to find your annual consumption, read your meter(s), find actual (not estimated) readings from a year ago and subtract.

For Gas it is a bit trickier and you should find full instructions on your bill for converting gas units into kWh. Have a calculator handy !!

doh,no wonder i couldnt find a conversion into kwh,many thanks for the reply:)