British Gas Major Price Rise Special Email Discussion

penrhyn

Its all very well saying don't switch, especially as I am three weeks into switching to Ebico from Scottish Power.
I keep telling myself that when Ebico increase their prices it will be a fair rise, and that I'm a fairly low user, 10,000 Kwh/annum gas, and 2000Kwh/annum electric.
I worked out that they need to increase Electricity by 35%, and gas by 50% to get to Scottish Powers current prices, so I'll just have to wait and see.

lennyboybruce

Hi all

I complete on my new home today and have just informed my previous gas\elec supplier that it is doubtful that I will choose them in my new place due to their outrageous price increases this week. Now that British gas is upping their prices as well I am a little stuck. I have yet to pick the keys up to my new home (this afternoon sometime) and as yet have no idea who supplies the property. When i do find out, should I stay with them for the time being or do you think it is worth shopping around seeing as it takes 14 days to transfer?

Happy weekend to all (mines unboxing) :rolleyes:

Discogod

it takes nearer 6-8 weeks to transfer actually.

First step, find out who you're with & what tarrif it is. Put it into a comparison website & find out how competitive it is.

If it really is bad then change, if not, then stay still until the Autumn.

harriet123k

I find this all very confusing and frustrating. I waited til MSE told me to change last time and the checker picked out British Gas - so I switched - and now all I hear is "don't do it" and "British Gas are the devil in disguise".

So did I do the rigtht thing to switch when I did or not?

I think the best thing I can do is stick with British Gas for the full year to get my free months worth of Electricity and then look at changing....
I just feel that this topic is instilling a panic/fear reaction by the way it is being handled...

IvanOpinion

costconcious1 wrote:

Do any of the comparison sites cater for those of us that are fed by an "Independant Gas Transporter" (IGT)?

My current providor charges an additional levy because my home is not fed by a Transco pipeline

They all will (if they currently don't). IGT is a premium added by an independent company and passed on to the end user. To me it does seem a bit of a rip-off though

Ivan

lisyloo

They all will (if they currently don't).

What does this mean? (which question were you answering)
All comparison sites will include it?
or all billing companies will charge it?

I don't think you are right on either count.
In general I don't think the comparison sites include it.
You basically have to call the comanny to find out what it is and add it on yourself.

Not all companies charge it.
Until 1st May 2006 Utility warehouse did not charge for it.
I have heard (I think) that southern electric and possibily other companies in that group are waiving the charge.

I don't have a link right now, but it was from these boards so if you use the search facility you should be able to find the post from the person that posted the information.

lisyloo

I don't think the following companies charge for a independent gas transporter.
However please check for yourself before switching as this comes from other posts so I can't guarantee the accuracy or subsequent changes - still it's somewhere to start.

British gas
EDF
Ebico
Companies in the scottish and southern group e.g. southern electric.

Utility warehouse DO now charge since 1st May 2006.
It's in very tiny print on the May price list.

Ela1

It makes me seethe at the profit being made at or expense. Its about time we the paying public started to use gas and specifically electric to our benefit. Start switching everything off when not in use - not standby, use CFL's everywhere you can, the money is better in our pockets than those of vast robbing conglomerates, who are only interested in lining their own pockets. Come on the British public hit them where it hurts!!!!!!!!!!

Capyboppy

harriet123k wrote:

I just feel that this topic is instilling a panic/fear reaction by the way it is being handled...

Yes, it has certainly started to do that with me, expecially after reading al_yrpal's post as is consumption/payments is very similar to mine. He/she estimates that there cheapest option will go up from 51 to 92 pounds per month. Me and my family are struggling now with being on benefit with the rise from £25 to £50 a month and I am trying to pay another £10 a month on top to clear the arrears. There is no way I can afford to pay more than £60 a month without health suffering, and I am sure there are many more in the same boat as us, or even worse off who have been reading all these threads and are feeling the same sort of fear and terror of how they are going to manage.
I know it is meant well, but sometimes I get so sick of people saying, "Just use less gas and electric" when we have already cut down and down until our health starts to suffer. People in our position usually already know about the tips to keep warm/cut back etc, so we don't need telling again and again. I also include those who are working too, but are on such low income they might as well be on benefit. If we cut down any more in the winter with our health problems I can see one or more of us will be in and out of hospital. If only people and the watchdogs would make more of a stand.
Just to finish, I seem to recall reading in the paper something about the companies being forced to build more piping for transporting gas, as this is one of the problem of the high cost, that there are not enough transporter pipes in line with European legislation. Also it said once this was enforced and done the gas at least should come down considerably. Maybe someone else can clarify the details of that story and if there has been any progress.

IvanOpinion

lisyloo wrote:

What does this mean? (which question were you answering)
All comparison sites will include it?
or all billing companies will charge it?

I don't think you are right on either count.
In general I don't think the comparison sites include it.
You basically have to call the comanny to find out what it is and add it on yourself.

Not all companies charge it.
Until 1st May 2006 Utility warehouse did not charge for it.
I have heard (I think) that southern electric and possibily other companies in that group are waiving the charge.

I don't have a link right now, but it was from these boards so if you use the search facility you should be able to find the post from the person that posted the information.

I think you will find that all companies will eventually charge the IGT premium .. possibly some don;t at the minute because their systems do not support it. Many companies have been selling gas at a loss and using the electricity to subsidise the gas .. that can not go on for ever.

Ivan