A simple question.

pastit

Who do I complain to?

Following the price increases announced by Scottish Power, I was, like most people, dismayed at the scale of the price increases. I understand that prices must rise over time, however, i was not prepared for the ACTUAL price increses when I received an "Important announcement about your energy prices" where the new rates show an increase of 19% on electricity, NOT the 10% announced, and a staggering 53.5% increase on gas on the first 670Kwh used, not quite the 19% announced.

HalloweenJack

OFGEM would be teh answer - but since they are paid for by the companies involved - a wet haddock has more ability.... and given the energy minister said ` complain by walking away` , seems even your MP would be useuless.

change to a better deal tbh , and use the fact that you can move without charge because of the price rises.

eurmalian

Just to say, you haven't mentioned what the increase for the rest of your gas is. The percentages that are announced in the press are always based on average consumtion, with is roughly 4000 kWh over a quarter for gas. With that, if the first 670 kWh have gone up by 53.5%, but the rest has only increased by 10%, or even 15% then the 20% total that's being quoted everywhere is going to be fairly accurate.

Also, in fairness, the main info pack released by Scottish Power will have contained full details of tariff rates and so on for the increases. The press then deciding to simplify it down to a round, average percentage accross all regions and tariffs isn't really anything to do with them. It's also not really the fault of the papers and news sites either. I doubt most people want to read big lists of tariffs with the old and new rates...

pastit

The 'rest' has gone up by 18.5%, so I can't agree that the total increase is anywhere near the 19% quoted, particularly during the summer months when less gas is used, the increase will be greater in proportion; and there is no getting away from the fact that (at least in my case) electricity has increased by 19%.

eurmalian

It still means that a gas bill for average consumption over a year (as that's what it's all based on, a yearly bill) has probably gone up by about 25% in your area. Which, while it still means your tariff has gone up more than average, isn't quite the 50%+ that you were making it sound like.

It just means that you've got unlucky really. Your tariff has gone up by over the average ammount, and there will be another one somewhere which has gone up by less than average, balancing the whole thing out. That's what always happens with these price increases, an average is just an average. It also means that with your tariff, the more you use, the less the price has gone up, due to the Tier 1 and Tier 2 differences.

OnlyTrev

Sorry about the reply to a reply, but 'eurmalian' is being far too understanding of the Scottish Power increases. In my case they are:

Gas: Primary up 42% - Secondary up 61%.

Electricity: Primary up 26% - Secondary up 12 %

It is obvious that no permutation of consumption, summer vs winter or any other scenario could produce bills as low as the 19%/10% published (on their website as well as in the press)

At these rates, and the last 12 months consumption figures, my overall energy bill would rise by over 45% or £500. Gas in isolation would be up 57%.

given_up_2

OnlyTrev wrote: »

Sorry about the reply to a reply, but 'eurmalian' is being far too understanding of the Scottish Power increases. In my case they are:

Gas: Primary up 42% - Secondary up 61%.

Electricity: Primary up 26% - Secondary up 12 %

It is obvious that no permutation of consumption, summer vs winter or any other scenario could produce bills as low as the 19%/10% published (on their website as well as in the press)

At these rates, and the last 12 months consumption figures, my overall energy bill would rise by over 45% or £500. Gas in isolation would be up 57%.

Snap got my email this afternoon and phoned them immediately.

My overall gas increase based on the last bill is 57%

The reason is because they have changed the discount from the standard rate from 28% to the minimum of 2% as in the T & C's

Just spent the afternoon seeing if I can get better. Unfortunately I am struggling although I can get a fixed deal for about the same prices so that it would not go up again till Sept 12

Derek

OnlyTrev

Derek,

I managed to cut the increase in half with npower.

Trevor

MrandMrsB

Wait a mo, I spent less than an hour yesterday looking for a better electricity deal and in the end I fixed until Sept 2012 - EDF fixed saver version 2. It will cost me £76 per month instead of the current £75 per month with EON (version 5 online) for the same amount of electricity, i e approximately 8400 units per annum. Please note that at present we are "all electric"!

The rate is less than 25p per day standing charge, and less than 10p each for all units - this includes VAT and discount for paying by DD and running the account online. Anyway we use a maximum of approximately 8400 units per annum which will now costs £908.

Is that a good deal? Anybody found a better one?

Have you considered a fixed rate deal, Pastit? Hope this is helpful to somebody.

eurmalian

OnlyTrev wrote: »

Sorry about the reply to a reply, but 'eurmalian' is being far too understanding of the Scottish Power increases. In my case they are:

Gas: Primary up 42% - Secondary up 61%.

Electricity: Primary up 26% - Secondary up 12 %

It is obvious that no permutation of consumption, summer vs winter or any other scenario could produce bills as low as the 19%/10% published (on their website as well as in the press)

At these rates, and the last 12 months consumption figures, my overall energy bill would rise by over 45% or £500. Gas in isolation would be up 57%.

Not really, I was pointing out that the OP was selectively quoting information to make it soulnd like their increase was far larger than it actually was, and due to that they lost all potential sympathy from me. I don't like it when big companies do this to make them sound better, but I also don't like it when people do this to make the companies sound worse...

Yours, on the other hand, is genuinely a huge increase. I doubt that complaining to the supplier or Ofgem would get you anywhere, but you have every right to moan about an increase like that

MrandMrsB

given_up wrote: »

Snap got my email this afternoon and phoned them immediately.

My overall gas increase based on the last bill is 57%

The reason is because they have changed the discount from the standard rate from 28% to the minimum of 2% as in the T & C's

Just spent the afternoon seeing if I can get better. Unfortunately I am struggling although I can get a fixed deal for about the same prices so that it would not go up again till Sept 12

Derek

For goodness sake, don't give up! Have you found a better deal with another supplier yet? I found a better deal on Monday before an increase in my electricity is announced. I would rather give the money I save to a charity.......