New electric provider-budget engery, anyone else signed up?

martin57

Hi,

I left nie to go to airtricity about a year ago and had just signed up to a 2 year contract with them on 8 august 11. I was very surprised to see the news iten on utv about another provider budget engery entering the market,

http://www.budgetenergy.co.uk/

Its a local company with offices in Belfast and Derry, well since I was within my 10 day contract with airtricity I cancelled it and signed up to budget engery today. Its 17% cheaper than nie standard price where airtracity are only 14% for the first year and then drops to 8% but airtricity will only give you discounts if you sign up to a 2 year contract for old customers. No contract with budget engery just 2 tariffs bill and keypad.

Anyone else signed up to budget engery? will see how things go.

martin57

Golden_Anemone

I joined Airtricity last June as soon as they invited interest from NI customers and I did not sign a contract to stay a minimum length of time. Not sure when they introduced the 2 year contracts but it wasn't right from the start so I'm not tied in.

I'll check this out and see if I can save a few more pennies by switching again - every little helps. Thanks for the info. :T

D.A.

I'll be signing up for it as soon as I get home to do the meter reading, as they're (marginally) cheaper than the rate I currently get with Airtricity.

Golden_Anemone

I've looked at their site and now I'm slightly wary again. They are very marginally cheaper - 0.48p per unit - but they work on a monthly direct debit.

When I was with NIE I was always in credit - they always insisted in taking far more than I was actually using for the DD - when I changed to Airtricity it was just 6 months into my annual billing period and they had to refund me £90 so by the end of the year they would have owed me well over £100.

I like the fact that with Airtricity I only pay them for what I've used and I am not lending them my money to earn them interest on.

RTNI

I too have had a look at this new provider. I can;t see anything about fixing the price for x number of months/years so they could pass on the rise to customers from when it comes into effect. At least with airtricity they fix the unit rate for 2 years from sign up.

Also agree with GA - the monthly DD which could be more than you are actually spending could be an issue.

On balance perhaps airtricity is the way to go with the fixed unit prices for 2 years?

martin57

I don't think airtricity offer a fixed unit price for 2 years and will pass on any increase to customers, what they do once your year is up they charge the same standard per unit as NIE (to my knowledge anyways) and if you want to get another discount of 14% in year one and 8% in year 2 then the only option they offered me was to be tied into a further 2 year contract. They have so many tariffs and historical tariffs now that it is actually confussing

martin57

angelaloveschocolate

Gonna keep these guys in mind, but not just yet! For any of you thinking of moving you might wanna take up NIE's offer of free loft insulation first. Once mine is in I'm gonna consider a move and I'll def be taking a look at these guys then

dmxdave

Another thread running here

Golden_Anemone

Maybe Arkonite will merge them.

bribrian

angelaloveschocolate wrote: »

For any of you thinking of moving you might wanna take up NIE's offer of free loft insulation first.

Where do i find info on the free loft insulation..?

sunshine

bribrian wrote: »

Where do i find info on the free loft insulation..?

Here you go - http://www.powerni.co.uk/index.php/saving-energy/saving-energy-in-my-home/insulation-offers/

Just in the process of getting this ourselves.