Add your feedback on energy supplier Shell Energy (formerly First Utility)

sssmileymiley

Hi guys, I switched to Shell Energy February 2022 v5 through CEC and it was offered with a credit from CEC, which I received a couple of months ago, also an account credit paid after 3 months, I have asked Shell Energy and they don't know anything about the credit, Anyone else had the same ?

Consumerist

sssmileymiley said:

Hi guys, I switched to Shell Energy February 2022 v5 through CEC and it was offered with a credit from CEC, which I received a couple of months ago, also an account credit paid after 3 months, I have asked Shell Energy and they don't know anything about the credit, Anyone else had the same ?

I assume the credit from CEC was what they call "cashback".

It is unusual for energy suppliers to offer account credits but there were some such offers as part of the MSE Big Switch 17 event back in February. These were associated with switches to Pure Planet Energy and So Energy.

See <MSE newsletter 24/02/21> for more details.

ChrisGarratty

I was moved to Shell Energy after my supplier went bust, I noticed that Shell claim their electricity is "100% renewable, 100% of the time". I thought it was a bit cheeky that their electricity price per unit has gone up the same amount as fossil fuel derived electricity. I asked them why this was and the answer I got back was:

"We have to charge this amount because it is the amount set by the energy cap, and if we don't charge this amount we will lose our license."

I expected to be fed a line of fluff as the real reason is either "Our electricity isn't actually renewable." or "We want to make as much money as possible." but surely they can't expect people to believe that the energy cap is the only price they can charge?

Consumerist

ChrisGarratty said:

I was moved to Shell Energy after my supplier went bust, I noticed that Shell claim their electricity is "100% renewable, 100% of the time". I thought it was a bit cheeky that their electricity price per unit has gone up the same amount as fossil fuel derived electricity. I asked them why this was and the answer I got back was:

"We have to charge this amount because it is the amount set by the energy cap, and if we don't charge this amount we will lose our license."

What a crock of absolute garbage (to put it politely) from Shell. Well, now you know the ethos of this company for when the cap comes down and switching is more generally a viable option.

QrizB

ChrisGarratty said:

I was moved to Shell Energy after my supplier went bust, I noticed that Shell claim their electricity is "100% renewable, 100% of the time". I thought it was a bit cheeky that their electricity price per unit has gone up the same amount as fossil fuel derived electricity. I asked them why this was and the answer I got back was:

"We have to charge this amount because it is the amount set by the energy cap, and if we don't charge this amount we will lose our license."

Shell's answer was poor.

The correct answer, however, is that renewable energy is sold at the market price, and the market price is set by fossil fuels.

Here is an article from The Conversation that explains it in a little more detail.:

https://theconversation.com/renewables-are-cheaper-than-ever-so-why-are-household-energy-bills-only-going-up-174795

ChrisGarratty

@QrizB that is a much better answer. It is of course, deeply frustrating that prices are tied to fossil fuels, but at least your answer makes sense. Thank you.