British Gas - Click Energy or Click Energy 2

Erikin_2

According to a brief British Gas advertisement in my Sunday paper, for customers to receive the benefit of the price fall you do nothing – they’ll do it.

And say they are writing to everyone on direct debit or price protection plans with information.

I’ve no doubt current Click Energy rates will fall but whether current Click Energy customers are moved to the Click Energy 2 rate is still unclear.

I would think BG is being inundated with enquiries about what is happening when all they need to do is sent out an explanatory email now not later.

briskly_2

I just 'phoned BG and the person I spoke to hadn't even head of Click 1, let alone have information about new prices. The adverts in the papers about the price reductions seem very cunningly worded, only mentioning reductions on the standard rate. I suspect, on past form, that BG won't reduce the click 1 rate and that it is best to tranfer now to click 2, making another £15-30 from the switch. It is a shame that the new primary click 2 rate represents a big increase from click 1 - it is hardly going to encourage green use and will hit the poor and the elderly.

StuA1964

I have today received an email from BG that states:

If you're a British Gas customers on our standard tariffs you don't need to do a thing, but enjoy our falling prices. We'll automatically update your account for you so there's no need to reply to this email or pick up a phone. We'll handle everything for you.

Probably incorrectly I am assuming that Click Energy counts as a standard tariff. The email goes on to say:

We'll be informing our customers shortly what the decrease to our prices will mean for them. If you are a customer who has protected your prices please visit our Price Protection information page.

I'll let you know as and when I am 'informed' about what the decreases mean to me as a click energy customer.

Erikin_2

BG Click Energy Electric prices.

Where is the price cut? As I see, Click Energy 2 prices in Yorkshire are going to be more expensive, not less, than the current Click Energy prices.

For example using Yorkshire prices, with a specimen usage of 3500kwh (a near average yearly consumption) of electric paying direct debit excluding the discounts:

*= published Click Energy prices.

********************************

Click Energy Pre 8 Jan 07.

*Electricity at 11.42 pence per kWh unit for the first 900 kWh units per annum and 8.18 pence per kWh unit for all units thereafter.

The “standing charge” is 11.42 – 8.18 = 3.24 x 900 = £29.16 per year or £2.43 per month. With all units then priced at 8.18p.

Therefore 3500 kwh for the year would cost: 3500 x 8.18p = £286.30 + £29.16 = £315.46 per year.

**************************
Click Energy 8 Jan to 12 Mar 07.

*Electricity at 12.492p pence per kWh unit for the first 900 kWh units per annum and 8.945p pence per kWh unit for all units thereafter.


The “standing charge” is 12.492 – 8.945 = 3.547 x 900 = £31.92 per year or £2.66 per month. With all units then priced at 8.945p.

Therefore 3500 kwh for the year would cost: 3500 x 8.945p = £313.07 + £31.92 = £344.99 per year.

**************************
Click Energy 2.

*Electricity at 14.703 pence per kWh unit for the first 900 kWh units per annum and 8.207 pence per kWh unit for all units thereafter.


The “standing charge” 14.703 – 8.207 = 6.496 x 900 = £58.46 per year or £4.87 per month. With all units then priced at 8.207p.

Therefore 3500 kwh for the year would cost: 3500 x 8.207p = £287.24 + £58.46 = £345.70 per year.

***************************


On this example Click Energy electricity prices have gone from £315.46 (pre Jan) to £344.99 (currently) to £345.70 (Click Energy 2.

British Gas has just sent me an email promising to cut electric prices 11% on the 12 March. Baffled!!


PS: Appreciate any correction of figures.

peterg1965

Isn't the point that pices are reducing from 12 Mar? The figures you quote above are all pre 12 Mar.

Erikin_2

That’s the puzzle – Energy Click 2, a new product with published prices, actually comes into force on 12 March 07, the date of the price cuts.

I’m trying to understand the logic, because who is going to sign up for Energy Click 2 at these rates – some of which are higher than the current Click Energy. The only explanation is British Gas is not going to use these prices – but cut them before being implemented. Why do that!

And why the need for Click Energy 2. Why not just leave Click Energy as it is and just re-jig the prices on 12 March. By not doing this and introducing Click Energy 2 it appears BG want two Click Energy plans running side by side after 12 March.

The new Click Energy 2 plan, with the new pricing scale, disadvantages the low user – maybe that is the reason.

tripled

They have stopped taking new customers onto Click 'zero'. I think that have rejigged it because you no longer have to pay by direct debit on click 2 and they have got rid of the premium rate number. I am currently trying to get confirmation whether or not click 1 rates will be falling, although it looks unlikely at this stage.

cdsheldon

I've sent three emails to British Gas asking what is to happen to existing Click Energy rates and have not had a reply!

x_Wilco_x

Who knows what logic BG use! I am sure all these tariffs nowdays are there to confuse us (and it's not just BG)!

I have also emailed BG regarding above questions - you never know, one of us may get a reply!

BexTech

The energy price war heated up on Friday as British Gas announced more cuts to home bills, just 24 hours after Powergen guaranteed to beat its prices.

The utility provider -- the largest domestic energy supplier, with 10 million gas customers and almost six million electricity accounts -- said it would trim its online tariff to ensure it remained competitive.

The "Click Energy 2" tariff will cost an average 306 pounds per year for electricity customers, 494 pounds for gas customers and 785 pounds for dual fuel from the second week in March.

The prices are "three or four pounds cheaper" than British Gas previously announced.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlebusiness.aspx?type=businessNews&storyid=2007-02-16T100029Z_01_L16728949_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BRITAIN-ENERGY.xml&src=rss