Can I make a profit from Npower if usage is less than discounts offered?

Edgey77

I'm a low energy user and estimate my annual gas and electric consumption to be less than the annual discount offered to me.

E.g. I pay £15 pm by DD or £180 per year for both fuels

This entitles me to a Direct Debit and Online discount of £110 per year

I predict my combined electric and Gas consumption to be £90 per year

In this scenario does this leave my account £200 in credit (£180 from DD already paid and £20 in unused discounts)?

Will I be able to withdraw the full £200?

If this is the case then Npower are effectively paying me to be supplied by them? Am I missing something?

Many thanks in advance

MattLFC

You used to be able to, but with their sly change to adding standing charges, I doubt you will be able to in the future... I know for my gas, the standing charge alone in this area for Go Save (cheapest tariff for low users) is 45.3p per day incl VAT, or £165.35 per year, plus another £34 a year standing charge for electric lol.

I use zero gas (it's capped off at the mains) as I live in a modern eco-flat, with solar power heating, hot water and electric, and I was effectively offsetting my electric bill by receiving discounts on for being on dual-fuel with the gas supply as well lol.

They never batted an eyelid as to why I never used gas, though I did receive £50 compensation (which I didn't ask for) when I telephoned to query a bill whereby they'd estimated my gas usage to be £12, even though I didn't actually make a complaint!!!

But overall, I guess the standing charge protects them from people like you and myself, and basically, rips low-users off. If a user can't work out 15p per kWh, and they use 2kWh's, which equals 30p charge, then that's their problem IMHO. Despite what Npower, OFGEM, the Government and 50% of consumers say, it's not rocket science. It's this basic lack of mathematical skill (or willpower to take a few minutes/responsibility to work things out) across the nation, that's partly to blame for the economical crisis the country currently finds itself in.