Npower - standing charge hike as well!

Tom_Bradbury

I've just had my letter from Npower telling me that they are increasing my prices from 4th January 2011. No surprise as I read it in the media. However, on closer inspection of my Daily Standing Charge, they have increased my Gas standing charge by 28% from 34.00p per day to 43.50p per day, and my Electricity standing charge by 60%(!!!!!) from 8.20p per day to 13.10p per day. What on earth is going on????

I'm on Sign Online 17.

I can fully understand (although I don't like) the increase in the supply costs, but why are they increasing my daily standing charge. Is Npower trying to pull a fast one? Have other people had the same increase in their standing charge?

daveyjp

IIRC there's a direct relationship between unit costs on standing charge tarriffs and non standing charge tariffs - these have tiered rates to cover the SC - first tier units are more expensive than the second tier units. To maintain this relationship both elements need to rise, otherwise the cost of the fuel on SC tariff would need to rise so much it would be close to a non standing charge tariff.

Standing charge tariffs are generally for those who spend a lot more than the average on fuel.

Airmike23

has the unit rate been increased too, and if so by how much?

Tom_Bradbury

Gas unit rate has increased by 8.91% from 2.424p to 2.641p. Electricity unit rate has increased by 10.9%, from 8.90p to 9.09p.

I only have one rate for all my gas and electricity. None of this so many units at one rate and the rest at another rate.

KimYeovil

Standing charges (both daily and two tier) are varied constantly. nPower have had tariffs with £170 gas standing charge and £10 electricity standing charge (both per year). Anyone whose tariff is not so structured can look forward to it being changed at any time.

They are not pulling a 'fast' one - this is a well known and continual bugbear with all suppliers. They are, however, pulling a tiresome one. Suppliers should settle down on one service charge and ask their customers to pay it. The continual wild alterations (anything from £3.50 per month to £15 per month) is very annoying - especially if 90-100% of your consumption is tier 1.

If you are hit by such a restructuring I think you should attempt a formal appeal to demand a reimbursement - that is, I am, of course, indifferent to those complaining about a variable tariff suffering a price increase but if there is a restructuring that results in a substantial alteration completely out of line with headline figures then you should appeal. Many people can see a 50% or 70% price increase which is headlined as a 7.9% increase. If you add in nPower's £8.75 per month annual bonus the same people can add another 25 or 50 points to the increase - a 75 to 120%. Plus, of course, early leaving penalty - add another... well, you get the picture.

EricTheRed_2

Tom_Bradbury wrote: »

I've just had my letter from Npower telling me that they are increasing my prices from 4th January 2011. No surprise as I read it in the media. However, on closer inspection of my Daily Standing Charge, they have increased my Gas standing charge by 28% from 34.00p per day to 43.50p per day, and my Electricity standing charge by 60%(!!!!!) from 8.20p per day to 13.10p per day. What on earth is going on????

I'm on Sign Online 17.

I can fully understand (although I don't like) the increase in the supply costs, but why are they increasing my daily standing charge. Is Npower trying to pull a fast one? Have other people had the same increase in their standing charge?

I just had my letter and I'm on Sign Online 17. However, my prices are now:
Electricity - standing charge 6p (Sept 2010) to 22.1p

Gas has gone up slightly but it's the electricity that has increased 400%!?

pyabies

I just had my Sign Online 18 increase letter, (elec only) and my SC is going down from 20.16 inc vat to 19.95 BUT my UNIT charge is goind up massively from 8.22p inc vat to 10.25p WAY OVER their advertised 5% (on average) increase!!

Anyone have recomendation on who to change to for ELEC only ? thanks

blackfritz

SOL 18 has a fee if you leave before a certain date. If yo do change, make sure that the new tariff is cheaper, taking the fee into account too!

JulieGeorgiana

SOL 18 is a 24% increase (both standing charge and unit charge for Gas and electric combined!)

I thought I had locked myself into a 'no price hikes until June 2011' if I moved before then I would get charged £20 per account!

I am calling them tomorrow, getting my law book off the shelf too....!

backfoot

KimYeovil wrote: »

If you are hit by such a restructuring I think you should attempt a formal appeal to demand a reimbursement - that is, I am, of course, indifferent to those complaining about a variable tariff suffering a price increase but if there is a restructuring that results in a substantial alteration completely out of line with headline figures then you should appeal.

So when it's something that affects you,it is fair game for a complaint. When it's someone else's complaint, we should give it one of your dismissive 'your an idiot' post.

Instead, why not look at it in the whole and agree that the growth of termination fees are anti competitive. Following any price increase,you should have a right to free movement of your supply.

We have unbalanced Contracts, where they can do all manner of changes which affect customers in different ways.It shouldn't be allowed by the Regulatory Authorities, that you are then tied into the terms and conditions, which have materially changed to your disadvantage.

MillicentBystander

backfoot wrote: »

So when it's something that affects you,it is fair game for a complaint. When it's someone else's complaint, we should give it one of your dismissive 'your an idiot' post.

Instead, why not look at it in the whole and agree that the growth of termination fees are anti competitive. Following any price increase,you should have a right to free movement of your supply.

We have an unbalanced Contracts, where they can do all manner of changes which affect customers in different ways.It shouldn't be allowed by the Regulatory Authorities, that you are then tied into the terms and conditions, which have materially changed to your disadvantage.

100% agree with ALL of the points you make here :beer: