Npower SOL price hike: across the SOL board, or just for SOL14?

andyfuk

After emailing NPower to find out what the heck is going on, I had this rather interesting, and contradicting and confusing reply. It states that I will be put on a standard tariff, and not the increased standing charge + usage tariff that is in the letter I received. All too confusing, think I'll be using that free phone number to find out exactly what is happening. I'm wondering if I've they've had too much bad publicity/ complaints that they've changed their policy....





Dear Mr X

Thank you for your email received 16th April 2010.

When the price change takes affect you will be automatically be put onto our Standard Tariff, on this tariff there is no standing charge. Unless you decide to go onto a different tariff the gas charges will be as following:

7.499 per kwh (for the first 4572 kwh used per year) then 2.388 per kwh thereafter.

I hope this will be of help to you, however if you require any further assistance then please reply to this email or call and speak to one of our customer relations advisers on telephone 0800 551555, Monday - Friday 8am - 8pm and Saturday 8am - 6pm, who will be happy to deal with your query.

Kind regards
Penni Horner
npower Customer Service

bye_bye_band_G

I've had the letters too.
My plan, I think, is to actually ASK to go on the standard tariff (with no standing charge but higher first tier prices) quoted by andyfuk above.
The logic is this. They don't charge the 4572 kwh at the higher rate evenly over the year. In fact nearly all of it is in the winter months. In May June Jul Aug and Sept they only charge the higher rate for 46 units per month. If I phone up on 1st May and go onto the standard tariff then, and then find something cheaper come September, I think my summer energy will be very cheap (??). Am I right?

ps andyfuk, I am on an IGT too.

meggsy

'Petulant' npower hikes bills by 25%

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-and-rip-offs/household-bills/article.html?in_article_id=503173&in_page_id=510&position=moretopstories

bye_bye_band_G

I've just phoned npower and the email andyfuk received from Penni Horner is incorrect. They are continuing with a daily standing charge, not 4572 kwh over the year at a higher rate. Although both methods work out the same over the course of a full year, the 4572 kwh method is better over the summer months as only 46 per month are charged at the higher rate from May to Sept. I have confirmed that if I ring back on 1st May they will swop me onto that version of the standard tariff with no tie in. By September I will look for npower's best offering at the time, or I'll leave altogether.

P.S. Scrapped that plan!! The comparison sites gave Scottish Power Online Energy Saver 9 as the cheapest for me, I wasn't going to bother as explained above. But I'd entered my details on Scottish Power's website yesterday and today they phoned me and offered £130 cashback to switch - too tempting to turn down. I believe anyone else who asks them for an online quote will get this same cashback offer over the next couple of days.

quackers82

andyfuk wrote: »

7.499 per kwh (for the first 4572 kwh used per year) then 2.388 per kwh thereafter.


Kind regards
Penni Horner
npower Customer Service

What tariff are you on?!?! I have never seen electricity so cheap! I want! 7p a kwh, then 2.3kwh after first 4572kwh used that year. You sure its correct? Most standard tariffs are around 14-16p kwh, and best i could find was SOL at 9p a kwh with Npower.

glider3560

quackers82 wrote: »

What tariff are you on?!?! I have never seen electricity so cheap! I want! 7p a kwh, then 2.3kwh after first 4572kwh used that year. You sure its correct? Most standard tariffs are around 14-16p kwh, and best i could find was SOL at 9p a kwh with Npower.

The tariff also has a daily standing charge.

mdturner81

got the letter today too, gas standing charge for me has gone from 15.100p to 62.895, they have lowered the unit rate but still doesn't balance out, i will still be paying more. They have just offered me the sign online 18 which is cheaper at the moment but for how long, will these prices go up as well, maybe just before winter?? Plus with online 18 there is the charge to change before june 2011

glider3560

Parents have finally received their letter.

Gas standing charge is changing from around £58 per year to £234. Unit price changes from about 3.5p to 2.4p.

Electricity is changing from £58 per year to £4.60. Units are going up from around 10p to 13.21p.

Works out they'll be about £200 per year worse off. We'll be shopping round asap and invoking the 20 day thing.

notbritishgas

quackers82 wrote: »

What tariff are you on?!?! I have never seen electricity so cheap! I want! 7p a kwh, then 2.3kwh after first 4572kwh used that year. You sure its correct? Most standard tariffs are around 14-16p kwh, and best i could find was SOL at 9p a kwh with Npower.

You will not find electricity that cheap. Those were the GAS prices!

notbritishgas

mdturner81 wrote: »

got the letter today too, gas standing charge for me has gone from 15.100p to 62.895, they have lowered the unit rate but still doesn't balance out, i will still be paying more. They have just offered me the sign online 18 which is cheaper at the moment but for how long, will these prices go up as well, maybe just before winter?? Plus with online 18 there is the charge to change before june 2011

Got my letter yesterday as well. I am going to ring them today to check my anniversary date with intention of changing supplier.
Did they offer the SoL18 without any pressure from you in order to keep your custom as it should only be available to new customers.
I suppose I would be tempted to stay as SoL18 comes out top on my comparison sites.
Difficult decision as I am fed up with Npower's tactics.