Changing electricity supplier - cost of electricity

Vole12

I quote from a recent article in the Telegraph (Business section): "Under OFGEM rules, customers have a 30 day period to decide to switch to rival suppliers after a price rise is announced......... IF A CUSTOMER ANNOUNCES THEIR INTENTION TO SWITCH SUPPLIER DURING THAT PERIOD, THEY SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED THE HIGHER RATE, EVEN IF THE PRICE RISE IS IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE SWITCH IS COMPLETED" (my caps).

I signed up with a new supplier at the end of October, N-Power put their prices in late November, and the effective date of the switch will be 11 December. Does this mean that N-Power should not charge me the higher rate for their electricity from late Nov till 11 Dec?

Wolf3

i believe as long as you have stated you wished to change suppliers because of the price rise you should not be charged the higher rates. This should automatically apply if your new supplier sent the request for transfer before the price rises came into affect.
As your registration date is the 11 Dec i would expect that request was sent around the last week of November so you could be fine. this is why energy suppliers have to give notice about any price increases, to allow customers to have a look at alternative tariffs/suppliers.
This is how Eon were in the news recently giving compensation, as they had charged the increased prices to customers who were leaving after giving notification.
It only took them 4 years in some cases but they did pay interest!!!

macman

Only if you actually rejected the increase in writing within the 30 day period. Simply commencing a switch does not do that.
You woud need to write to them and say 'I am rejecting the price increase blah blah blah and shall be commencing a switch to another supplier with 15 days'.
Even then, you can expect them to bill you with the increase added initially. I had the same battle with SP a couple of years back.

Wywth

Vole12 wrote: »

I quote from a recent article in the Telegraph (Business section): "Under OFGEM rules, customers have a 30 day period to decide to switch to rival suppliers after a price rise is announced......... IF A CUSTOMER ANNOUNCES THEIR INTENTION TO SWITCH SUPPLIER DURING THAT PERIOD, THEY SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED THE HIGHER RATE, EVEN IF THE PRICE RISE IS IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE SWITCH IS COMPLETED" (my caps).

I signed up with a new supplier at the end of October, N-Power put their prices in late November, and the effective date of the switch will be 11 December. Does this mean that N-Power should not charge me the higher rate for their electricity from late Nov till 11 Dec?

Why has it taken 2 months to switch your supply?

Check with Ofgem, I think they say it should only be about 5 weeks.

Wywth

Vole12 wrote: »

I quote from a recent article in the Telegraph (Business section): "Under OFGEM rules, customers have a 30 day period to decide to switch to rival suppliers after a price rise is announced......... IF A CUSTOMER ANNOUNCES THEIR INTENTION TO SWITCH SUPPLIER DURING THAT PERIOD, THEY SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED THE HIGHER RATE, EVEN IF THE PRICE RISE IS IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE SWITCH IS COMPLETED" (my caps).

I signed up with a new supplier at the end of October, N-Power put their prices in late November, and the effective date of the switch will be 11 December. Does this mean that N-Power should not charge me the higher rate for their electricity from late Nov till 11 Dec?

Why has it taken 2 months to switch your supply?

Check with Ofgem, I think they say it should only be about 5 weeks.

macman

5 weeks is an average.

plane_boy2000

Wywth wrote: »

Why has it taken 2 months to switch your supply?

Check with Ofgem, I think they say it should only be about 5 weeks.

Op states end of October and completed by 11th December - depending when in October that's about 6 or so weeks. Not to far off 5 weeks

Wywth

plane_boy2000 wrote: »

Op states end of October and completed by 11th December - depending when in October that's about 6 or so weeks. Not to far off 5 weeks

nPower announced it's price rise 12th October (effective from 26th November).

So in accordance with the Ofgem ruling
IF A CUSTOMER ANNOUNCES THEIR INTENTION TO SWITCH SUPPLIER DURING THAT PERIOD, (and the supplier then receives a valid application from another supplier within 15 working days to take over that supply and actually does take it over in a reasonable period) THEY SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED THE HIGHER RATE, EVEN IF THE PRICE RISE IS IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE SWITCH IS COMPLETED

This is all explained on the reverse of the letter from nPower advising of the proposed price increase