Unfair Price Calculations from Power Companies

billfish

When will the industry regulator stop the power companies for setting monthly direct debit payments based on their estimation of future usage when they already have the full annual figures for a customers actual usage.


I have this argument every year with my supplier EDF when I find I can save money by switching to a new EDF tariff.


After getting the service agent to understand my point and asking them to check my request for monthly charges to be based on actual annual consumption with a manager they always come back and agree to do it.


Its time the regulator got his act together and only allowed the power companies to use estimates for new customers, customers moving house or for situations where it is not possible to obtain actual annual usage.


It drives me crazy that I have to jump through this loop every time I want to move top a better tariff.


In EDF's defence they are not alone in this tactic, all the big six power companies do it.


I SAY ITS UNFAIR TO CUSTOMERS

matelodave

Last years consumption is only a guide as to what you might use this year or next year and will also be based on the weather.

This year has been remarkably mild and any estimates based on what you've used this year could well be miles out if we get a hard winter like we had a couple of years ago.

It's up to you to tell the energy company how much you think you are going to use and any sensible person would take into account the previous years weather and either add or subtract a bit of contingiency to try and anticipate any variations.

I have no trouble in working out what I think I'll use, telling my supplier and then ensuring that my dd reflects my estimate. Although, because of this mild year, my estimate, based on the previous three years consumption, is working out to be about 1500kwh too high. Hopefully i'll get a nice bonus at the end of my contract in April (unless it gets everso cold between now and then)

SoletraderSteve

As above, past usage is only a guide, adjusted for typical weather patters, takes into account any debit or credit between now and the end of your billng period and also any price changes (eg fixed tariff ending before next billing period).