MSE News: Npower cuts gas prices by 7% 9 March 2010 at 1:15PM in Energy 25 replies 2.8K views

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"The drop in typical costs follows cuts announced by British Gas and Scottish & Southern Energy and Eon this year ..."

Read the full story:
Npower cuts gas prices by 7%

notbritishgas

When Npower last reduced their prices, I think about last March or April they did not reduce my tariff (SoL 10). Now it looks as if they have done the same again and excluded all of the online tariffs.
So thats two reductions getting headline news with a lot of their customers not benefitting.
Looks like my ID will be changing to "notbritishgas or npower"!!

kindofagilr

Guessing thats not me either, I just changed to a online tarriff!

oakhouse13

All consumers need to join together and cut out all the churning and commission being paid out by energy compnanies to middlemen playing games and campaign with Ofgem for a few transparent tariffs that benefit all consumers with simple accurate bills.

davidgmmafan

I recall reading an article a few weeks (maybe even months ago) saying online tariffs are £2-£300 cheaper than the standard prices for the average customer. I'm on SOL17 so I won't get a reduction, but then I'm already saving a fortune by being on this tariff so I can't really grumble.

Also if I leave before March 2011 I'd have to pay £20 per fuel cancellation fee. Again not a feature I'm mad on but this was my choice. If there is some amazing unforseen reduction then I would take the hit and change.

I don't understand people moaning about fixed prices, unless they were forced into them, its like mortgage its a chance you take.

Oakhouse register for some cashback website and you can get the commission

Plushchris

I am in no way defending Npower or British gas here but my thoughts are that by going onto an online tariff you are saving quite a lot of money in the first place, those of you that have signed up to Npower in the last six months have effectively got this drop in prices early so you have been on lower rates from the time you switched.

Now they have lowered the unit rates on standard tariffs the "Really great cheap rates" you were getting are now just "Cheap rates" but they are still significantly lower than the standard rates even after the drop in prices.

PNPSUKNET

Think the reason why companys charge so much to those that pay, is for the ones that refuse to pay and just raise disputes just to avaid payment and comit fraud giving false details . Companys after all have targets to meet finance wise. Anyone work in the industry confirm this?

Viper_7

What about the Electricity prices?
When are these being lowered.

As Npower state when there is a rise in wholesale gas prices, it impacts electricity cost as a large percentage of Electric comes from gas powered generation. So this should drop accordingly. Ohhh a flying pig...

As per usual, this delay in reducing prices is "due to still supplying customer with gas bought when prices were high) sure..6 months later...
When the wholesale price goes up, consumer prices rises follow in a flash, when naturally they are still supplying customers with gas purchased when prices were low.

Viper_7

PNPSUKNET wrote: »

Think the reason why companys charge so much to those that pay, is for the ones that refuse to pay and just raise disputes just to avaid payment and comit fraud giving false details . Companys after all have targets to meet finance wise. Anyone work in the industry confirm this?

Yes this is true, but true across most industries.

Car insurance for example, it's also covering all the victims of the uninsured etc.

magyar

Viper_7 wrote: »

As per usual, this delay in reducing prices is "due to still supplying customer with gas bought when prices were high) sure..6 months later...

The market for gas is actually about three years out.

davidgmmafan

Plushchris wrote: »

I am in no way defending Npower or British gas here but my thoughts are that by going onto an online tariff you are saving quite a lot of money in the first place, those of you that have signed up to Npower in the last six months have effectively got this drop in prices early so you have been on lower rates from the time you switched.

Now they have lowered the unit rates on standard tariffs the "Really great cheap rates" you were getting are now just "Cheap rates" but they are still significantly lower than the standard rates even after the drop in prices.

I totally agree, as above £2-£300 for an average user saving online. This reduction works out about £50 over the year so you'd be mad to be on the standard tariff but 95 % of people are. I know its not easy or straigh forward, and not everyone has the internet, but the majority of people are missing out on a massive saving.