Martin's on Talkback re Airtricity

EnergyBurner

I converted to Airtricity in ROI last year.

Definitely 14% cheaper - had to sign up to a monthly direct debit, take an email bill and read and upload a meter reading.

No bother and well worth it.

Can also do some nifty analysis of my usage on the website.

Of course, I need to monitor price once the year is up but I do that with car insurance, etc. etc, anyway. If they put the price up, I will move back to ESB. No loyality where my money is concerned.

NIE_Energy_Kerstie

Hi all,

First time on here so go easy with me! I’ll be upfront and tell you… I work for NIE Energy. I thought I’d try and answer some of the questions you have posed.

Re next pricing announcement…we cut prices by 15% last year and will be making another announcement in a few months. Too early to know for sure what it’ll be, but the signs are hopeful.

A few things to consider if you’re comparing…our discount doesn’t reduce after an introductory period…our bills or direct debit amounts are based on actual readings most of the time, not estimates.

One of you was asking about switching restrictions. Just to put the record straight..NIE Energy does not have any switching restrictions.

Hope this helps.

D.A.

NIE person, your bills for us are almost *always* based on estimates, since you apparently haven't cottoned on to the fact yet that most people are out at work during the day when your meter readers call...

Honkycat

NIE_Energy_Kerstie wrote: »

Hi all,

First time on here so go easy with me! I’ll be upfront and tell you… I work for NIE Energy. I thought I’d try and answer some of the questions you have posed.

Re next pricing announcement…we cut prices by 15% last year and will be making another announcement in a few months. Too early to know for sure what it’ll be, but the signs are hopeful.

A few things to consider if you’re comparing…our discount doesn’t reduce after an introductory period…our bills or direct debit amounts are based on actual readings most of the time, not estimates.

One of you was asking about switching restrictions. Just to put the record straight..NIE Energy does not have any switching restrictions.

Hope this helps.

Well, I got a letter yesterday saying that my monthly payments are going up by £13. How does that work?

Golden_Anemone

EnergyBurner wrote: »

Of course, I need to monitor price once the year is up but I do that with car insurance, etc. etc, anyway. If they put the price up, I will move back to ESB. No loyality where my money is concerned.

I will be quite happy to be an electricity "tart" too if they're no longer better value after a year.

I signed up to switch over today :j a couple of bits of advice if you're ringing them.

1. They're really, really, really busy - I rang yesterday evening and my number was taken for a call back. I rang again late morning today and was told they're struggling to cope with the volume of calls and would definitely ring me. Finally got a call back around 3 this afternoon. Staff are all lovely though - they seem to have had great customer service training.

2. It doesn't mention on the website that you will be asked for your meter number. I had my bank details, an old bill with my customer number and a meter reading as instructed but needed to ring my son at home to read me off the meter number for them when she asked.

3. The messages you hear on the phone when you're waiting [I wasn't kept waiting that long though] suggest that you can make the switch online - you can't. The website just asks you to ring the number.

Hope thats helpful.

seatzie

to NIE Energy Kerstie

Nice move coming on here, pity you couldn't do it before competition happened? No?
Energy here will finally come into line with other utilities, i.e. we can change after any contract period, so why wouldn't we switch to somewhere else to save money? Fair enough some of your cost is thanks to the agreement Mrs Thatcher put in place back in the 80s which I believe runs out in September, but come on, even in the commercial side you aren't the cheapest for many customers, my own company included, and thats without any discount gimmicks, we have had 2 seperate suppliers cheaper than you and one is owned by the same parent company!

Also - your future announcement, I was at an Energia (who are owned by Viridian like yourselves) market update seminar yesterday, and the only way is up for energy prices as far as they're concerned, so does that mean you've been overcharging us lately if you reckon "it looks hopeful" i.e. prices will drop?

I hope you will come back and answer customer questions, I hope you aren't just on here to advertise! And you may also wish to get Martin and his team to authorise you rather than just join up as a possible marketing ploy

caz2703

D.A. wrote: »

NIE person, your bills for us are almost *always* based on estimates, since you apparently haven't cottoned on to the fact yet that most people are out at work during the day when your meter readers call...

To be fair to NIE on this one, they *should* leave a blue card at your house if you're not in. This blue card can then either be filled in with your meter reading and left say in your front window (if it's visible for the leccy man) or do as we do and follow the instructions on the card to fill in your reading on their website or *I think* you can email them. This should cover bases for most people on here as if you can post on here you have internet access and/or email access.

To not be fair to NIE, please explain why the SEM hasn't reduced prices to the consumer. We've seen nothing but price hikes although I can't quote figures as I don't look after the bills. I will be glad to see competition in the electricty market as we all know that is what will finally reduce prices, regulator or not.

NAR

Currently I pay NIE by quarterly DD (total bill). Do Airtricity offer this facility and what is discount compared to NIE?

Golden_Anemone

Their website says customers are billed every 2 months rather than every 3 NAR. It suggests a saving of 12% on NIE prices for customers who do not opt for monthly direct debits and a saving of 14% for those that do. I don't think those percentages take account of the 4% discount some NIE customers get for paying by monthly DD.

NIE_Energy_Kerstie

Hi again all,

It's good to hear your thoughts...just picking up on a few things you ask about...re meter reading..I understand from NIE that they get in to 99.5% of homes to read the meter at least once each year. I'm like you though and at work so when the card is left just email or call as per the details on the card. That'll help keep your bills accurate.

Re direct debit increasing by £13 a month. This is most likely down to an increase in consumption...say you were paying £25 a month but the usage has actually increased to say £30 worth, then there is a balance on the account owed. We offer to spread what is owed over the coming 12 months.

NIE Energy is very separate to any other of the companies in the Group so we will have different offers and deals. Re prices...all I can say is that the signs are good..I'll have to look into what is said about me getting 'authorised'..sounds painful!