MSE News: Warning over energy prices as Npower pulls cheap deal

Premier_2

Max_Dread wrote: »

Premier, I don't suppose you have (or can remember) the unit prices for SOL19?

Yes I've got the electric ones for my area.

However, just go to a comparison site (like energyhelpline) - put your current supplier tariff as nPower SOL19, do a comparison, and check the details of your current tariff by clicking on it (at the top of the page in the case of energyhelpline).

That's how I just compared the gas prices.

meggsy

My prices for Sol 19

Gas - 4.361 incl vat and 2.775 incl vat

Elec - 17.04 incl vat and 9.16 incl vat

Tunstallstoven

Thanks Premier - good thinking!!!

And thanks meggsy for putting up your prices....

I've done as suggested and found the following prices:

15.918p for the first 182 kWh per quarter, and 8.117p thereafter

As the SOL20 is:

12.613p for the first 182 kWh per quarter, and 9.112p thereafter

....it will actually work out cheaper per annum for my usage. That's good news!!!

So, any thoughts or comments on the second part of my post, namely:

"I can't find confirmation, but I'm thinking this is NOT a caped/fixed tariff. Can anyone confirm? If it isn't, is there any limit to how much they can hike the prices? Seeing as it takes a month or two for the switch over to take place, is there even any guarantee that by the time supply starts the prices will still be the same?"

And I know it's the 60 trillion dollar question, but any thoughts on whether I should snap up the SOL20 or go for a fixed price deal would be great as well.

Huge thanks for the replies!

Premier_2

Max_Dread wrote: »

..."I can't find confirmation, but I'm thinking this is NOT a caped/fixed tariff. Can anyone confirm?...

It isn't a fixed or capped rate tariff.

Just like SOL19 did, it guarantees only to be cheaper than nPower's standard rate.

You'll need to check if it's still just 2% like SOL19 was.
SOL19 is in reality currently much less than 2% cheaper than the standard rates - so they could actually move those prices without changing the standard. But if the standard prices change, expect SOL19 & SOL20 prices to change.

Max_Dread wrote: »

And I know it's the 60 trillion dollar question, but any thoughts on whether I should snap up the SOL20 or go for a fixed price deal would be great as well.

That really is only a question you can decide upon.
If, like MSE Guy suggests, this is the start of all prices going up, then you should consider fixing the tariff - Go Fix 3 wasn't much difference in price to the new SOL20 based on my comparison (so possibly suggesting nPower don't think prices are going to rise). This assumes SOL20/Go Fix 3 are competitively priced compared to the rest - for me they were.
If, like me, you think this is simply a restructuring of a tariff that was otherwise significantly out of kilter with the best of the rest of the competition (particularly for gas), then I wouldn't bother fixing at this time.

darkblue_2

I switched just in time. I switched to nPower's deal last week. They don't have a great reputation for customer service, but I can't remember ever having to phone my gas & electric provider in the last 6 years, so as long as it's cheap...

newsmonkey

darkblue wrote: »

I switched just in time. I switched to nPower's deal last week...

Me too (I hope). Signed up for SOL19 on Saturday afternoon. Hopefully that counts..

horngkai

I'm currently on sol16 which will be 1 year by end of this month. The new sol20 is more expensive than my current tariff and I was wondering if I dun switch, could I continue on my current tariff until npower decided to increase the price or I will get switchedto the standard tariff after one year?

darkblue_2

horngkai wrote: »

I'm currently on sol16 which will be 1 year by end of this month. The new sol20 is more expensive than my current tariff and I was wondering if I dun switch, could I continue on my current tariff until npower decided to increase the price or I will get switchedto the standard tariff after one year?

You'll be switched to standard

scotslad1983

Hi guys, bit of advice required here.. I switched to SOL19 on the 17th.. well I initiated the switch anyway. What will happen with my plan? Will I be on SOL19? Or will I be on the more expensive SOL20, or even worse Standard?

Will they even still switch me?

davidgmmafan

The new tariff came out on the 18th I believe so you'll be on SOL 19. Just keep an eye on the confirmations that come through to make sure the computer hasn't done anything silly.

Its not fixed, if some unexpected price rise happens its guaranteed to be at least 2% cheaper than the standard rates. This was the case with Sol 17-19 (not sure on sol16) but this clause has never been invoked. I just hope the prices don't go up much more online before March when my SOL17 ends