EQUIGAS & EQUIPOWER - WORTH SWITCHING?

nicka2

I am currently with npower who have just (from 31 March 06) put their prices up (I'm a Sign On-Line customer) to:

GAS first 4572 kWh = 3.821p and then (over 4572 kWh) to 2.149p and
ELECTRICITY first 726 kWh = 16.74p and then (over 726 kWh) to 8.17p

Just had a look at the Equigas/Equipower site here:

https://www.ebico.co.uk/en/open/pages/tariffsen.php

and it shows 1.94p per kWh for gas and either 8.23 or 8.89p per kWh for electricity (I'm not sure if I'm in their London or Southern region - Twickenham - post code TW2)

I use about 21,000 kWh of gas a year, and with npower that will come to about £527, but with Equigas only about £407, so a switch is the obvious choice. For electricity I use about 10,000 kWh so with npower about £878, but with Equipower it would be either £823 or £889, so not such an obvious saving.

For a dual fuel switch, all the comparison sights recommend Powergen Energy Online, but the horror stories on this site make me reluctant to go down that route.

What I'd like to know is if anyone has switched to Equigas/Equipower without using a pre-paid meter. Did it go smoothly, and why don't Equigas feature in more of the comaprison sites?

Many thanks - nicka2

Nicholas

Well, it's definately worth switching your gas, but may not be worth it for your electric. Perhaps you ought to find out which area you are in.

My switch went without problems last July. I'm not on pre-payment meters, pay by DD at the mo and am saving a packet compared to the SWEB and BG.

The reason why Ebico does not appear on many comparison sites, is because these companies normally charge commission for recommending you. Ebico is a not for profit company trying to keep its prices low for the consumer.

oldwiring

nicka2 wrote:

I am currently with npower who have just (from 31 March 06) put their prices up (I'm a Sign On-Line customer) to:

GAS first 4572 kWh = 3.821p and then (over 4572 kWh) to 2.149p and
ELECTRICITY first 726 kWh = 16.74p and then (over 726 kWh) to 8.17p

Just had a look at the Equigas/Equipower site here:

https://www.ebico.co.uk/en/open/pages/tariffsen.php

and it shows 1.94p per kWh for gas and either 8.23 or 8.89p per kWh for electricity (I'm not sure if I'm in their London or Southern region - Twickenham - post code TW2)

I use about 21,000 kWh of gas a year, and with npower that will come to about £527, but with Equigas only about £407, so a switch is the obvious choice. For electricity I use about 10,000 kWh so with npower about £878, but with Equipower it would be either £823 or £889, so not such an obvious saving.

For a dual fuel switch, all the comparison sights recommend Powergen Energy Online, but the horror stories on this site make me reluctant to go down that route.

What I'd like to know is if anyone has switched to Equigas/Equipower without using a pre-paid meter. Did it go smoothly, and why don't Equigas feature in more of the comaprison sites?

Many thanks - nicka2

Post Code TW2 7JY, that Street Map has as centre of TW2 is shown neither as London Electricity nor Southern Electricity on Uswitch default details. It is shown there as SEEBOARD. Have you put your full post code in to that site www,uswitch.com

alared

nicka2
I would hold fire for now.
I received an email from Ebico saying they would review prices "later in the year".
Since they have not increased since last Sept,it`s an almost certainty they will.

It seems to me we are in a position where the comparison sites are telling Npower customers to switch to Pgen and visa versa, thanks to both companies whacking up prices for their existing customers from 31st March, but equally taking on new ones at lower rates.
The whole things a bloody farce and it`s about time the regulator (if he still exists)stepped in and put an end to it.

shammyjack

nicka2 wrote:

I am currently with npower who have just (from 31 March 06) put their prices up (I'm a Sign On-Line customer) to:

GAS first 4572 kWh = 3.821p and then (over 4572 kWh) to 2.149p and
ELECTRICITY first 726 kWh = 16.74p and then (over 726 kWh) to 8.17p

Just had a look at the Equigas/Equipower site here:

https://www.ebico.co.uk/en/open/pages/tariffsen.php

and it shows 1.94p per kWh for gas and either 8.23 or 8.89p per kWh for electricity (I'm not sure if I'm in their London or Southern region - Twickenham - post code TW2)

I use about 21,000 kWh of gas a year, and with npower that will come to about £527, but with Equigas only about £407, so a switch is the obvious choice. For electricity I use about 10,000 kWh so with npower about £878, but with Equipower it would be either £823 or £889, so not such an obvious saving.

For a dual fuel switch, all the comparison sights recommend Powergen Energy Online, but the horror stories on this site make me reluctant to go down that route.

What I'd like to know is if anyone has switched to Equigas/Equipower without using a pre-paid meter. Did it go smoothly, and why don't Equigas feature in more of the comaprison sites?

Many thanks - nicka2

You will probably find like myself on similar usages that not taking dual fuel will save you money.

I think you will find that BG Click online will be cheapest for Electric and Ebico for Gas.

It is unlikely that Ebico will raise prices before September and because of upcoming stabilisation in the Gas industry it is possible no rise at all or at worst only the lowest possible required to remain viable . They are a none profit making institution after all !

shammy

Voyager2002

I have been with Ebico (both gas and electricity) since 2004. And the switch went smoothly, BTW. However, they have told me that they are increasing gas prices this month, and I suspect that electricity prices already have increased.

The weird thing is, I get a discount for paying by direct debit, although this is something that they say the never do. Perhaps this is because my energy supply and billing are administered by South West Electricity?

shammyjack

Voyager2002 wrote:

I have been with Ebico (both gas and electricity) since 2004. And the switch went smoothly, BTW. However, they have told me that they are increasing gas prices this month, and I suspect that electricity prices already have increased.

The weird thing is, I get a discount for paying by direct debit, although this is something that they say the never do. Perhaps this is because my energy supply and billing are administered by South West Electricity?

I have had no notice of this .

Please copy and paste your email removing private details so we can all view it .

shammy

shammyjack

Current info on site .



[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tariffs[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]EQUIGAS charges 1.94p per kWh (including VAT) regardless of how much you use or how you pay.


And for Electric in my area

[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Yorkshire[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] 0.00[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0.00[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]9.36[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]8.91[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2.80[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2.67[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Price Changes[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For the past 22 months, despite steadily increasing electricity and gas wholesale prices, we’ve managed to keep the price of EQUIGAS and EQUIPOWER constant. Wholesale prices have now risen significantly since we last reviewed our prices in October 2003 and so we, now, have no practical alternative but to increase the price of EQUIGAS and EQUIPOWER. Our prices from 1st September are given on the EQUIGAS and EQUIPOWER tariff web pages. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Wholesale energy prices are still rising and a number of our competitors have warned their customers that their prices will have to rise again this year. I appreciate that the cost of gas and electricity are major items in most household budgets and uncertainty over the size of the gas/electricity bill is a real worry for many of our customers. To address this, I’m giving my personal guarantee that for all existing customers (and for those who apply before the 1st of September 2005), these prices will remain fixed for you for at least the next 12 months. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Even with these price increases, EQUIGAS and EQUIPOWER remain the fairest available electricity and gas tariffs, offering all customers a simple and even-handed price structure. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Yours sincerely[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Phil Levermore
Managing Director[/font]







[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]shammy
[/font]

Xbigman

Isn't this the letter sent out with the last price increase? And doesn't the 'no increase' guarantee take us up to 1st sept this year? There's certainly nothing in my in-box from Ebico about any increases - yet.

As someone else said. Comparison sites like Uswitch only put those companies on who pay them to be there. Some other sites list Ebico but don't let you switch online, again because Ebico won't pay them.

Anyone working out their costs with Ebico, remember there is no standing charge or higher tiers (likewise no discounts) so they work out even cheaper.

Lastly, southern electric handle Ebico's billing and southern automatically gives a 6% DD discount. They get around this by chargeing 6% more to start with, so it works out even.
Regards



X

Discogod

can you give the link for where you found this info please? I'd also like to verify it's talking about this year & not last.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

I have just switched to Equipower and Equigas and it was a very smooth and easy transaction. Well impressed.