Phoenix gas increases

bigsy

Today's Belfast Telegraph has some graphs comparing Phoenix with firmus prices:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/huge-391-price-rise-rocks-phoenix-gas-users-15145353.html

I'm surprised by how few people have yet to make the switch. According to the above link:

• Phoenix Gas customers = 135,000
• Customers registered to switch to Firmus = 2,400
• Number of customers who could switch = 65,000
• Number of customers who can’t (pre-payment) = 55,000

belfastgirl23

I just switched. Saw on the BBC that Phoenix weren't worried about customers moving to Firmus. I was incensed!!! And i have to say so far so good, I just needed my gas bill and my latest reading. Will keep you updated if it gets awkward

And thanks bigsy for saying it was painless - it was because of you I started investigating it...

Honkycat

Oil has gone up the same way... I'm sure it's at least 40%.... I paid £700 for 1200 Litres not long ago. It's just the way of the world and we all have to suck it up.

bigsy

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I just switched.

Good luck with the move. I did the whole process on-line; I think it took 30 days to effect the switch over.

If you were in GB, under Ofgem rules you could reject the Phoenix price increase pending your switching supplier (see http://www.uswitch.com/news/utilities/customers-can-reject-gas-and-electricity-price-rise-under-ofgem-rule-867384/). I'm not sure if such an arrangement exists here with the NI Utility Regulator (http://www.uregni.gov.uk/). Does anyone know if it does?

warmhands.coldheart

NAR wrote: »

It will be interesting to see their profits the next time they are published. :mad:

Phoenix, I believe from what I have heard and read, is made up of 2 companies, the Gas Supply business & the Infrastructure business. The Gas supply part of the business falls under the regulator as the gas market in Norn Iron is regulated and Phoenix Gas only make a 1.5% Profit on their Gas Sales (this is a fact stated by the regulator) Tell me any other normal business who'd survive on a 1.5% Profit Margin??? You really can't blame them for putting up the prices. People, we're living in the real world here.... and it's a competitive world. Apparently a lot of the Gas improted into Ireland comes to us liquified in great big super tankers from the middle east. As Japan are now a number of Nuclear Reactors short die to the Tsunami, it has now entered the Gas Import market to make up the shortfall in it's energy supply. It's all about supply & demand I'm afraid!

Oil Customers have been putting up with higher prices for some time now and even with the 40% hike it will still be cheaper than using Oil so in some ways I'd say dry your eyes, I'd kill to get the chance to have Mains gas in my house!

Keithys_2

Can anyone confirm that topping up the pay-as-you-go card before the price increase would mean that you would be able to "stock up" on gas units at the cheaper rate?

Thanks

flyer64

Keithys, yes, I do this every year - I buy all through the summer so if there is a hike in the winter I don't have to buy it. But it looks like the 40% isn't going to go away, eventually we're all going to suffer it.

tara747

When does the increase come into effect?

Chickabee

Keithys wrote: »

Can anyone confirm that topping up the pay-as-you-go card before the price increase would mean that you would be able to "stock up" on gas units at the cheaper rate?

Thanks

My thinking exactly Keith- I'm going to add a few top-ups between now and 1 May when the increase comes in.

NAR

Firmus have been very quick to take advantage - did people see their ads on UTV last night? On face value it is a no-brainer, people should move to Firmus.