MSE News: Energy blow as Ovo raises prices

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"The hike bucks the trend of recent drops and fuels fears more hard-pressed households may be hit in the pocket again..."

Read the full story:
Energy blow as Ovo raises prices

alinwales

!!!!!!.. was going to switch to OVO tonight as it happens. Back to the spreadsheet

Plushchris

alinwales wrote: »

!!!!!!.. was going to switch to OVO tonight as it happens. Back to the spreadsheet

You probably can still switch to Ovo, this is only affecting the variable rate tariff and last time I looked the variable tariff wasnt available to new customers, only ones that signed up to it originally when it was available.

DigiGuru_2

I've literally just switched, but because all they offer is the fixed tarrif now, it won't affect new customers.

The fixed tarriff is locked for 12 months, so it's worked out the best for me overall, plus I got my free case of wine and 4 wine glasses via the link on MSE!

alinwales

Plushchris wrote: »

You probably can still switch to Ovo, this is only affecting the variable rate tariff and last time I looked the variable tariff wasnt available to new customers, only ones that signed up to it originally when it was available.

There's this:
The jump will see Ovo's 10,000 customers on a variable rate tariff pay a typical 6.2% more for dual fuel from 3 May,

and (more importantly) this:
The price of fixes for new customers and those who renew onto a fix rises today by 7.7% for dual fuel, taking the price for a typical household to £1,140.

So for me the rates will have changed.

p00pieb0tt0m

The article seems a little misleading. When the big six put their prices up last year by upto 19%, Ovo didn't put theirs up by so much. The following is from https://www.ukpower.co.uk

26th Oct 2011-The average price of New Energy Fixed for a dual fuel customer has increased by 6.1%

6th Jan 2011-OVO Energy have launched new, reduced prices by approximately 5%. This is the first supplier to reduce prices

And now this price increase.

The three changes combined work out to less than a 9% increase since 26th October. I would say this compared favourably to a 19% increase and a 5% decrease(in one fuel).

Ovo_Oh_No

DigiGuru wrote: »

I've literally just switched, but because all they offer is the fixed tarrif now, it won't affect new customers.

The fixed tarriff is locked for 12 months, so it's worked out the best for me overall, plus I got my free case of wine and 4 wine glasses via the link on MSE!

I switched to this company about six weeks ago based on good reviews and the low price on a comparison site, but had a long wait for my switchover date, which isn't until tomorrow.

Apparently, I'm now going to be paying the higher rates for 12 months - which are actually higher than my previous supplier, SSE (the "landlord's preferred supplier" on a rented house, so never usually the cheapest!)

Is this par for the course with this firm? Stick a low price on comparison sites, pull in a bunch of suckers like me and then quietly hike the prices after the cooling-off period has ended, but before the contract has begun?

I work full time, so don't have time to keep up with the news - only noticed the price rise on a chance look at their site's blog, when I went on there to enter my first meter readings. Anyone else in this situation?

jalexa

Ovo_Oh_No wrote: »

Is this par for the course with this firm? Stick a low price on comparison sites, pull in a bunch of suckers like me and then quietly hike the prices after the cooling-off period has ended, but before the contract has begun?

I stand to be corrected but I do not believe that "fair contract terms" would allow that.

However, for starters, ask the question of OVO.

Terrylw1

Ovo_Oh_No wrote: »

I work full time, so don't have time to keep up with the news - only noticed the price rise on a chance look at their site's blog, when I went on there to enter my first meter readings. Anyone else in this situation?

There might be a petrol strike soon as well

chanz4

I wonder if it was done to draw customers in, then bang up the prices...

Fairzo

Price should be based on contract date not switchover?