Scottish power 71% price rise - don't trust averages!

Imnoexpert_2

I'm checking out my Scottish Power price rises and find that some amazing things have been done to me. I am in the midlands and on an online dual fuel tariff with standing charge.

Elec std charge UP 23.54%
Elec units UP 16.63%

Gas Std charge UP 71%
Gas Units DOWN 10.51%

I am going to have to do some serious spreadsheet work to understand what this means to me but I don't understand the reason for the changes.

It needs looking at. Can anyone else beat the 71% increase?

bye_bye_band_G

Absolutely do not trust AVERAGE price rises.
SP Online saver 9, Norweb region.

Old price ELECTRICITY first 225kw/q 12.39p new price 15.347p (24% increase)
remainder 8.77p new price 10.861p (24% increase)

Old price GAS first 1143kw/q 3.75p new price 4.302p (15% increase)
remainder 2.75p new price 2.651p (3.5% decrease)


And I am on an exit penalty of £50 if I leave before 31 March 2011.

As this deal will run only for a year from start to finish, why don't Scottish Power leave major restructuring out of it so those of us who signed up because it worked well for our particular location/consumption figures can at least have the year's benefit we expected. Just give us the 8.9% elec and 2% gas increases you quoted.

savemoney

I thought you could leave without exit penalty if they put prices up

OP your post is meaningless without prices

bluesky_man

Imnoexpert wrote: »

Can anyone else beat the 71% increase?

Yes, easily.

I'm on the Online Energy Saver 8 tariff (ScottishPower area) and received an email to say that my deal ends on 30/11/10. However, the email also said that my deal would be extended for a further year, but you have to click on a link to find out that the same rates won't apply.

Here's my price increases:

First 225kWh (elec) per quarterly bill = 9.9% increase
Remaining kWh (elec) per quarterly bill = 5.6% increase

First 670kWh (gas) per quarterly bill = 88.4% increase!!
Remaining kWh (gas) per quarterly bill = 31.5% increase

dogshome

Hi imnoexpert - Like you I hate averages

Yes - Scot Power have raised prices and on the back of that I was asked by a friend to look at their Online energy saver 7 tariff which was coming to an end, and give advice on Switching.

But Lo and Behold after weeding out the 'dog' suppliers, it was SP's new higher priced energy saver 11 that not only gave the lowest cost, but for this household was actually cheaper than energy 7.

The reason for this is that whilst they are a Low Elec consumer at 2,300kw, the Gas consumption is 19,000 kwh. So in this case the jump in Elect prices hardly matters, but a huge saving is made because on the 11 tariff the number of Prime Gas units charged has been reduced to 2680, from the 4572 on the 7 tariff.

The lesson for us all: We are all individauls so forget the hype and always run all the numbers

Imnoexpert_2

I thought my post would be of interest (even without the detail) and the replies I think demonstrate that I am not alone.

However for the anoraks out there (and I am one):

I was on SP Premier plus, with dual fuel and online in the Midlands.

I have checked the following figures with SP and on their website. They don't include VAT.

Electric
before 12.74 p per day now 15.74 per day = +23.54%
before unit price 9.33 now 10.88= +16.61%
Gas
before 14.08p per day now 24.08 per day= +71.02%
before unit price 3.290 now 2.944=-10.52%

When I put this into my spreadsheet which includes my actual usage it will result in a rise in electric of 17.2% and a gas fall of 1.67%

I asked SP twice if this was the best tariff to be on and they said it was but that I could keep my old tariff and fix the prices (for an extra £4 a month). Only when I asked if I could go on Online energy 11 which kept coming up high on the comparison websites did they say "That is only meant for new customers, but If you want I can do that for you".

I hope either I or SP have made a mistake. I'd be pleased to hear from an energy consultant, poster or SP of the best deal. I still have to try a few more 'deals' on my spreadsheet model.

By the way SP staff have been helpful,courteous and professional throughout - to their great credit.

I'm no expert

savers_united

My online saver 7 is also coming to an end and been offered an extension but prices at first glance seem alot higher, more than the 2% for gas and 8.9% for elec. However it is worth checking the primary and secondary unit charges.

I now see that SP have dropped the primary units for gas from just over 1000Kwh per quarter to around 600Kwh per quarter so you get onto the lower priced units quicker, over the year this will make a difference, but you are right unit costs have gone up more than stated.

Same applies to elec tariff

Imnoexpert_2

Just to round off the post I should say that I have changed to edf. I calculate that the costs will be similar for me between SP online 11 and EDF but that with the £100 bonus and £80 cashback even if EDF put the price up by a huge amount in March I will still be in pocket

David

Premier_2

Imnoexpert wrote: »

...Gas Std charge UP 71%
Gas Units DOWN 10.51%...

It needs looking at. Can anyone else beat the 71% increase?

You have to consider the total effect of the tariff, not an individual component.

You will only feel the full affect of the 71% increase if you don't use any gas ... and if you don't use any gas, you really shouldn't be on a standing charge tariff

Imnoexpert wrote: »

...When I put this into my spreadsheet which includes my actual usage it will result in ... a gas fall of 1.67%...

Bargain! :T

Imnoexpert wrote: »

Just to round off the post I should say that I have changed to edf. I calculate that the costs will be similar for me between SP online 11 and EDF ...

Makes you wonder why you were with SP in the first place if the EDF are similar now that SP have reduced their prices :huh: