MSE news: Ogfem to be given powers to cut energy prices, under Labour plans

energyworker

joncombe wrote: »

I'm also with First Utility but about to switch. I got an email today about price changes from 11th April 2015. The standing charge has more than trebled. The day unit rate has also increased (Economy 7 tariff). Only the night rate has decreased. And yet the email states "For the majority of our customers this will mean a 3.6% decrease in the amount they pay annually". This is the trouble with standing charges - it seems headline price changes generally only reflect the unit rates - standing charges are often not factored in. OFGEM should have either abolished standing charges or standardised them so there was more clarity on price. Their "simplification" was nothing of the sort.

Headline prices are based on the average user over an average of all region costs. They take in to account unit prices, standing charges and any discounts offered by default.

VT82

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Labour are idiots. God help us all if they ever hold power.

Agreed. Whatever his intentions with this policy - whether it really is to try and help people, or just as an attempted vote-winner, I just couldn't stomach the thought of someone so THICK being my Prime Minister.

mnw1888

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Mnw1888 what an abusive post unless of course .

(

A wise man speaks when he has something useful to say, a fool speaks merely to hear his own words. )

Is a reference to Ed .

Morning to the genuine consumers with complaints against the likes of EON and others. I note the trolls have been at work overnight to remove items that do not suit their paid agenda. Shame on those with nothing to say on the energy debate and have there own hidden agenda!


It reminded me of this snippet from Macbeth.

"a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."


I repeat , devolved power to Welsh and Scottish assemblies does not mean they have control over UK energy. That responsibilities still remains with DECC for the whole of the UK.
So for the last 5 years a Tory lead coalition government has decided policy for the UK market. Not some Welsh MP’s who have devolved power for the local NHS.


So the question is it, the government , Ofgem's or the energy companies fault that complaints are up in the energy sector?
Are Ofgem fit for purpose or just don't give a damn about the consumer? Do Ofgem have their own hidden agenda?
Do energy companies directors give a damn about their customers or are the just a cost to the business?
Why has energy cost not falling in line with world energy prices which are at a 5 year low?
And for all those genuine consumers who come to his site and are not aware of the energy companies favourite stalling move when handling your complaint , beware of the 56 day( 8 weeks) deadlock letter and attempts to drive you to the Energy Ombudsman.
Beware the Ides of March !
Lets have genuine debate only , but lets see how quickly the "Paid trolls" remove the headline agenda.
Tweety Pie

molerat

The_Prowler wrote: »

Energy companies may have slightly reduced their Kw/h charge, but they have INCREASED their standing charges to compensate themselves. I switched to First-Utility on a 1yr fix a year ago, and so am now looking for a new deal. Yes the tariffs they have are about the same, or slightly less, per Kwh this time around, but their daily standing charges have more than DOUBLED. I'm not getting any additional benefits for this doubling of the standing charge. What they give you in one hand they more than take back in the other!

My supplier have halved their standing charge and reduced the unit charge by 10%

mnw1888

molerat wrote: »

My supplier have halved their standing charge and reduced the unit charge by 10%

Why are you bothering to pay standing charges?


Check out standard Licence condition (SLC)
22A.2 In respect of supplying electricity to a Domestic Customer under a Deemed Contract or Domestic Supply Contract, the licensee must ensure that all Charges for Supply Activities are incorporated within:


22A.2(a) where the Domestic Supply Contract or Deemed Contract is for a NonTime of Use Tariff:


(i) a single Standing Charge; and/or


(ii) a single Unit Rate; and


22A.2 (b) where the Domestic Supply Contract or Deemed Contract is for a Time of Use Tariff:


(i) a single Standing Charge; and/or


(ii) Time of Use Rates.


Is this a hidden tax( By Government) or pure greed of the energy companies not to offer this sort of tariff?


Or are Ofgem toothless?

Nada666

The_Prowler wrote: »

Energy companies may have slightly reduced their Kw/h charge, but they have INCREASED their standing charges to compensate themselves. I switched to First-Utility on a 1yr fix a year ago, and so am now looking for a new deal. Yes the tariffs they have are about the same, or slightly less, per Kwh this time around, but their daily standing charges have more than DOUBLED. I'm not getting any additional benefits for this doubling of the standing charge. What they give you in one hand they more than take back in the other!

joncombe wrote: »

I'm also with First Utility but about to switch. I got an email today about price changes from 11th April 2015. The standing charge has more than trebled. The day unit rate has also increased (Economy 7 tariff). Only the night rate has decreased. And yet the email states "For the majority of our customers this will mean a 3.6% decrease in the amount they pay annually". This is the trouble with standing charges - it seems headline price changes generally only reflect the unit rates - standing charges are often not factored in. OFGEM should have either abolished standing charges or standardised them so there was more clarity on price. Their "simplification" was nothing of the sort.

Headline do factor in both items - that is why they are not always helpful.

First Utility offered cheap standing charges. Now they don't - if standing charges were abolished or standardised neither of you would have had the opportunity to have been paying so little.

If there wasn't the variance in the standing charge you would have been paying much more.

First Utility have not increased the standing charge to £185 or £270 per fuel - they have adjusted them up a bit.

Nada666

mnw1888 wrote: »

Why are you bothering to pay standing charges?


Check out standard Licence condition (SLC)
22A.2 In respect of supplying electricity to a Domestic Customer under a Deemed Contract or Domestic Supply Contract,

Why do you bother to troll post irrelevant rubbish? Long shot, but do you actually have a sane alternative?

mnw1888

Nada666 wrote: »

Why do you bother to troll post irrelevant rubbish? Long shot, but do you actually have a sane alternative?

I see you do not like SLC 22A.(b) as a sane alternative i.e. no standing charges, as it does not suit your hidden agenda.


But I think you actually identify the most negative aspect of a troll viz: ‘Anyone who wants to argue with everything you say’. I invariably find they are unable to debate effectively and simply chant their mantra incessantly.

molerat

As far as I can see all suppliers comply with SLC 22A.2 by offering a non time of use tariff (single rate) and time of use tariff (E7, E10 or some such which requires specific metering installed) with or without a standing charge, at their discretion which SC option to offer. The ones that do not use a standing charge tend to have a higher unit rate. Going down this road will probably fit in with Labour's wonderful plan and we all pay the same (higher) prices for our energy. Up to now any meddling by OFGEM has not ended well for the consumer.

mnw1888

molerat wrote: »

As far as I can see all suppliers comply with SLC 22A.2 by offering a non time of use tariff (single rate) and time of use tariff (E7, E10 or some such which requires specific metering installed) with or without a standing charge, at their discretion which SC option to offer. The ones that do not use a standing charge tend to have a higher unit rate. Going down this road will probably fit in with Labour's wonderful plan and we all pay the same (higher) prices for our energy. Up to now any meddling by OFGEM has not ended well for the consumer.

So we have Government (Tory lead coalition) and Ofgem to blame but the energy companies like EON are lets say as pure as mother Theresa and blameless?


Nothing stopping energy companies offering SLC 22A.2(b) i.e. No standing charges tariff except greed and the PR machine that falls to acknowledge the energy companies are also to blame.