MSE News: Scottish Power to hike energy prices

cifpower

My tariff has been switched this morning

MissMuppet

I've switched (on Moneysupermarket) to Ovo Energy... cheaper than the best SP tariff and also they use 15% renewable energy... and it's fixed forever, so I am very happy! They won the Which? consumer satisfaction in 2010, and all the reviews look really good. Oh and hopefully I'll get my £30 cashback too!

MissMuppet

Hmmm just tried to do a comparison directly on the Ovo website and it told me they can't supply me... I guess I'll wait and see what happens!!

macman

MissMuppet wrote: »

I've switched (on Moneysupermarket) to Ovo Energy... cheaper than the best SP tariff and also they use 15% renewable energy... and it's fixed forever, so I am very happy! They won the Which? consumer satisfaction in 2010, and all the reviews look really good. Oh and hopefully I'll get my £30 cashback too!

No, both their tariffs are 12 month fixes.
Who is going to offer a lifetime fix?

MissMuppet

Oops... It didn't say that on Moneysupermarket... I did think it a bit odd then!

bendipa

Uswitch didn't mention them when I switched over to Npower in January who offered me a very reasonable deal compared to everyone else, although it wasn't at a fixed price tarriff. I still get regular updates from Uswitch and there's still no mention of Ovo.

Newcroft

This is a perfect example of why Ofgem has warned energy firms they must offer simpler tariffs and contracts to help consumers compare prices. Scottish Power must be laughing up their sleeves; watching customers flapping around in a panic. Manipulation indeed.

mikedej

I am on Online Energy Reward. How do I compare tariffs? The booklet doesn't seem to give any names of tariffs.:question:

macman

mikedej wrote: »

I am on Online Energy Reward. How do I compare tariffs? The booklet doesn't seem to give any names of tariffs.:question:

SP Online Energy Reward is on the comp sites, so just use them as normal.

jingleberry

I'm on Scottish Power on line energy 12 and like others, I have calculated that my price hike will be in the region of 40%, much more than the headline rises quoted in the media. I'm moving to EDF (fixed price until 2014). There are cheaper deals, but frankly I just looked for the longest fix, and anyway it has the added advantage that I'll be able to stop thinking about these blasted energy prices for a few years.

I'm 'locked in' with SP until next year but I've been trying to get a definitive answer on whether there is a way to avoid the early termination fee (about £50 in my case). The standard terms and conditions from SP's website (which I believe apply to all SP contracts, reegardless of tariff) include:

GAS
5.8 If we increase the price or vary other terms of the Agreement to your significant disadvantage we will notify you of that increase or variation by giving you at least 30 calendar days’ notice before the date the increase or variation takes effect. If you do not accept the increase or variation you are entitled to end the Agreement by giving us notice to end the Agreement, at any time prior to that increase or variation taking effect. If you give us that notice, the increase or variation will not take place. However the increase or variation will come into effect if, within 15 Working Days of you giving that notice to us, we do not receive notification through the relevant supply industry processes that another Gas Supplier will begin to supply the Premises within a reasonable period of time after that notice has been given by you.

Electricity
9.8 If we increase the price or vary other terms of the Agreement to your significant disadvantage we will notify you of that increase or variation by giving you at least 30 calendar days’ notice before the date the increase or variation takes effect. If you do not accept the increase or variation you are entitled to end the Agreement by giving us notice to end the Agreement, at any time prior to the increase or variation taking effect. If you give us that notice, the increase or variation will not take place. However the increase or variation will come into effect if, within 15 Working Days of you giving that notice to us, we do not receive notification through the relevant supply industry processes that another Electricity Supplier will begin to supply the Premises within a reasonable period of time after that notice has been given by you.


I doubt if you have to wait until you receive formal notice of the price rise from SP before giving notice to reject. After all, it's all over the news, and SP have published the new prices on their website. However, the way I see it, there is a danger that you give notice to reject the price rise, but your new supplier does not then get in touch with SP to confirm your intention to move during the subsequent 15 working days.

So my plan is to wait until SP have contacted me in connection with the change of supplier, (so I know they have definetly heard from EDF about my intention to move), then give notice that I reject the variation in SP terms. I'll do this by post and email. (Clearly I have to give notice before 1 August at the latest as this is the day the prices go up). I hope that this will mean I can avoid not only the early termination fee, but also the price rise if the move to EDF is not complete by 1 August.

If anyone can see any flaws in my thinking, I'd appreciate your thoughts.