Electricity Providers - Your Thoughts Please?

quantumleap

I'm still with Power NI. Took the view that better the devil you know and have never really been that unhappy with them.

My bill has now gone from £78 per month to £114 per month and its fair to say I'm a bit fed up with it. So I'm considering moving...

Opinions and experiences very welcome!

QL

D.A.

There are plenty of threads already about electricity providers in NI - take a look through the board and you'll find them.

quantumleap

Thanks for the reply. I'm aware of the other threads.

Perhaps this thread might be somewhere where folk can give their views on the point/pointlessness of switching in the current climate.

bigsy

I have been with PowerNI, Airtricity, Budget and, currently, Electric Ireland.

While I could complain about some issues with various companies (poor/slow customer service with Airtricity, Budget's direct debit policy etc.), these have been irritations rather than problems & at no point has my electricity not been provided.

My view is that this is just a utility; it's the same product coming out of the power sockets in your house no matter which company you use. Therefore shop around, go for the cheapest and if the prices change then move to the new cheapest provider (unless tied into a contract).

quantumleap

I agree Bigsy.

I guess I just don't like the idea of being tied into a contract. Whilst most other providers do offer a discounted price, that discounted price typically comes to an end before the end of the contract period. As such, you are tied into a deal for a period of time where you don't know what the costs will be.

I suppose that's just the nature of the beast! Decisions, decisions!

rolo1_2

My main tip would be to switch to a Keypad if you have not already done so. No worries about DD overpayments, incorrect bills etc etc

With Keypad you are in charge.

I am with Budget at minute but considering Electric Ireland as they appear cheapest currently.

Old_Git

quantumleap wrote: »

I'm still with Power NI. Took the view that better the devil you know and have never really been that unhappy with them.

My bill has now gone from £78 per month to £114 per month and its fair to say I'm a bit fed up with it. So I'm considering moving...

Opinions and experiences very welcome!

QL

truthfully there is not a lot off difference in any off them .One might be 1p per unit cheaper than another but the best way to save is use the off switch .Set yourself a chalenge to get your bill below £100 then work on reducing that.Look at every appliance and ask do I need to use it as much as I do .

DaveTheMus

I'm with the Co-op for my gas and electricity....they have one tariff.....they wrote to me in December to say my direct debit will be staying the same for 2014.....I pay £72 per month for gas and electric

Old_Git

DaveTheMus wrote: »

I'm with the Co-op for my gas and electricity....they have one tariff.....they wrote to me in December to say my direct debit will be staying the same for 2014.....I pay £72 per month for gas and electric

not available in Northern ireland

DaveTheMus

Old_Git wrote: »

not available in Northern ireland

Are there any equivalents?!? Maybe electricity provided through a Credit Union or something.

irishjohn

DaveTheMus wrote: »

Are there any equivalents?!? Maybe electricity provided through a Credit Union or something.

No - just 4 main electricity sellers and 2 gas sellers