British Gas - Free Electricity

ollski

2010 wrote: »

You won`t be saying that once they`ve gathered all the info about your usage and start charging you more for your peak times.
Which is the other side of the coin to "free" electricity on Saturdays.

Surely this would involve a different tariff which means you could switch suppliers without penalty and your smart meter would simply act as a dumb meter for another supplier.
I don't really understand the problem with knowing my usage, they know it now just in quarters. That hasn't led to higher prices in the winter than the summer yet.....just sky high all year long!

LeafGreen

sounds like a big gimmick to me, but it does get the mind wondering whether you could rig up some system whereby you have a big rechargeable battery that you charge up during the free period, then use that as your electricity source for the rest of the week.... (yes, I know that wouldn't be cost effective in practice!)

jessmist

I received a letter yesterday asking me to go back to British Gas.
The offer was they would upgrade my meters to smart meters and i would get free electric on a saturday between 9am to 5pm.
The tariff is clear and simple.
The contract is until the 31st Dec 2014

jessmist

mum2kathryn wrote: »

The free electricity is only from 9am to 5pm on a Saturday an only until the end of December 2014. I haven't been able to find any info on the tariffs yet though.

It's British gas clear and simple tariff

2010

jessmist wrote: »

It's British gas clear and simple tariff

No such thing as a free lunch.

I amazed that people actually fall for these gimmicks.
Don`t tell me, you also got the back of your house double glazed for free and only paid for the front. :rotfl:

DragonQ

It'd be very difficult to compare tariffs with "gimmicks" like these. I know my energy usage is pretty evenly spaced but I guess if I didn't work from home so often my usage would go up on the weekends.

Are the prices on this tariff high to begin with?

MillicentBystander

AFAIK it's basically their standard tariff with a trendy new name.

ollski

Bg cut their tariffs down to four due to people whining about choice, so there are now 4. pay as you go, a fixed, a tracker and the variable clear and simple tariff. It's not a dirt cheap tariff because bg now have nobody subsidising cheaper ones. However if you can do all your washing, cooking and ironing on a free saturday it may well make it a good deal for you. I don't understand how it's a gimmick when it is exactly the same tariff and price as it was before the free saturday was offered.

welshee

Unsure as to the ins and outs as yet but i would have thought more electricity was used in many households on a weekend as most people work midweek.
If you are not on a cheaper fixed tariff at the moment and are paying about the same to another supplier i am sure with careful usage and planning it could be used to save money....stews/ roasts/baking for freezing or next days use all done a saturday and other chores such as laundry, cleaning and maybe getting the house boiling hot ready for a saturday night.

just a thought.

I am on a fixed tariff with EDF so it will not affect me for at least 8 months if ever.

but i am going to take a look into it.

jessmist

2010 wrote: »

No such thing as a free lunch.

I amazed that people actually fall for these gimmicks.
Don`t tell me, you also got the back of your house double glazed for free and only paid for the front. :rotfl:

No i missed out on that offer