Eon Heat bills - no tariff options

csq

I own a flat in a New Build Development in London - Renaissance by Barratt Homes - that has a Eon District Heating system - Combined Power and Heat. The development is tied to this system and supplier for 25 years.

I have to pay Service Charge of about £1 per day + usage. I have no choice of tarriffs since I've moved in a year ago.

There is another development in London with same system by Eon and built by the same developer - Dalston Square - which does have a choice of three tariffs. Our standard one, one with lower service charge but higher cost of using heat, and one pay-as-you-go where they don't pay SC but the cost of use is highest. This development is only one year older.

I have called Eon last year and asked why do Dalston Square have a choice of three tariffs, and our doesn't when the system is the same. All I've been given was rebuttal answers like - "we are working on this", "in the next year perhaps", or "the development is not proven enough yet". The last answer is definitely the weirdest one, as since we are tied to a contract for 25 years, how more proven can we be?

Anyway, I called them again last week, that's a year since my last inquiry - and again been told that there won't be tariffs introduced. If I was cynical about this, I could sense that they don't do it on purpose to make money from the SC, which whether we inhabit the flat or not (holidays), we have to pay. Personally, I think it's only fair for users to have a choice of tariffs, especially when they had been introduced to other developments with same heating system.

My question is - is it actually legal to introduce just one energy tariff? Also, to a lesser degree, how fair is it to introduce a choice of tariffs to another development with same system, but not mine? Do I have a case here to show to Energy Regulator etc?

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi csq

Sorry, but I'm not up to speed with our District Heating Schemes. Therefore, I've sent your question to the manager of this area.

I'll come back to you next week with more information.

Thanks

Malc

csq

Thanks Malc, however having called and enquired again, I've been informed that a choice of tariffs will actually be introduced in April 2014.

I also got this confirmed in an email. I am looking forward to this.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Thanks for letting me know csq.

I wasn't in yesterday so not had chance to chase up. Will let you know if I find out anything else which may be of interest.

Malc

vuvuzela

Parafira wrote: »

Hi All,

We all just complain and do nothing, it is time to act.

I found this e-petition which makes a perfect sense, that is what we need. Just sign it and if there will be enough signatures this will be passed on to the Parliament.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56134

Spread the word

Please stop spamming this.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi csq

The manager I mentioned earlier has come back to me with more info about these schemes. You may already be aware of some or all of this but, if not, thought I'd share.

We're currently looking at designing new flexible heat tariffs to offer to all residents at the Renaissance development. We'll be offering to backdate these tariffs to April 2013.

We hope to finalise the new tariffs in the next couple of weeks. Once we have, we'll write to all private residents on site at the Renaissance development to let them know about these additional tariff options.

I'm really sorry for the delay introducing new tariffs for this particular site. As you mentioned, Dalston Square has been running longer than Renaissance, so tariffs were introduced there sooner.

Where possible, we aim to release flexible tariffs across all our District Heating networks in due course.

Many thanks for highlighting this csq. One of the reasons we've developed different tariffs for our District Heating projects is customer feedback, similar to yours, where customers have asked for a wider choice.

Hope this is of interest. Please let me know if you've any other comments/criticisms. Always happy to pass it on.

Malc