Thumbs up to martins energy club, thumbs down to Npower

cyclonebri1

adaadat wrote: »

Hi, sorry to bust in, but the govt won't force energy companies to give customers their lowest tariff, because the idea was blown out of the water by an 'energy' minister as soon as it was suggested, in a moment of panic by the PM. Simply stated, if energy suppliers are required to give their lowest rates to everyone, it effectively means every tariff, bar the lowest one, is rendered null and void. Rather than a range of tariffs, there will be just one, per energy company. The energy companies will then hoik the tariff up, to compensate for losing the customers at the higher rates. Ironically, we would all be worse off.

Basically, the lower tariffs exist because suppliers can afford them, given many continue to pay the higher ones. We need to let people discover the lowest rates of their own volition. If someone can afford a higher rate: so be it. We get a lower rate, because the higher ones compensate for it.

Absolute common sense that man:T:T:T, apart from the bold bit.
You do have to factor in the differing circumstances and usage of individuals, necessitating some variation in tariffs.

But maybe not the mass of confusion we have today.
When I opted for my own tariff from the option list on Martins site, there must have been 35 or so available or existing, on the Npower list.:eek::eek:

And you're not busting in, ;)

victor2

adaadat wrote: »

Rather than a range of tariffs, there will be just one, per energy company. The energy companies will then hoik the tariff up, to compensate for losing the customers at the higher rates. Ironically, we would all be worse off.

Basically, the lower tariffs exist because suppliers can afford them, given many continue to pay the higher ones. We need to let people discover the lowest rates of their own volition. If someone can afford a higher rate: so be it. We get a lower rate, because the higher ones compensate for it.

This is so true.
I feel sorry for people who, for whatever reason, are unable to "shop around" for the best deal - not least because they don't understand their existing billing - so end up paying a rate higher than they need to, and then scrimping and saving to just be comfortable. Those are the kind of people I, and I suspect many others, will make an effort to help.
Suppliers being forced to put everyone on their lowest tariff will indeed increase the cost for those who have already found the best deal for their circumstances. Those that are not suffering because they can "afford" the higher rates they are paying would find them fall. Don't suppose they'll complain too much though.

At the end of the day, the suppliers are in business to make money. They won't make enough (any?) profit if every customer is on their existing lowest tariff.

cyclonebri1

victor2 wrote: »

At the end of the day, the suppliers are in business to make money. They won't make enough (any?) profit if every customer is on their existing lowest tariff.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Oh you can bet your bottom dollar they will;);)