Switched, Saved and Got a Refund

The_Only_Girl

Hi all,

Just wanted to share our excitement. We switched energy providers from First Utility to Green Star via MSE Energy Club in On 28 July 2015. We used to pay £105 monthly for the dual energy tariff and now it's down to £47.12 for both electricity and gas. We received £30 from MSE Energy Club for using their site and today, we received £289 from First Utility as a refund. :j:j:j:j

Our family of 4 DH and I and DS1 and DS2 are now extra conscious about out energy consumption so we don't have to pay more than £47. Can't wait to have our Smart Metre installed. We're waiting to Green Star to tell us when.

Nada666

Say that was based over twelve months - 12 x £105 - £289 = £971.

I do not believe that Green Star tariffs are £407 cheaper than First Utility's.

Good luck, but do be sure you are not being unrealistic - check your meters. Remember that an underpayment of £y per month has to be repaid with a not just £y but two times £y added to new instalments.

Nada666

(Plus, of course, a £289 refund in July or August is meaningless and is not a refund or an indication that you were paying too much.)

Nada666

(And, thirdly, I am pretty sure First Utility would themselves have had a new tariff that was as cheap as Green Star. Make sure you weren't confusing an extrapolated saving on First Utility's standard tariff.)

(And, fourthly, I am not saying it was a bad choice - it was just, probably, unnecessary. Green Star do have a reasonable, cheap tariff for your sort of usage. But so do several others (including First Utility.))

matelodave

Less than £600 a year is unfeasibly low - make sure you put some money away for the £300 underpayment that you'll end up with next year

footyguy

Have to say, I too fear you've probably done something wrong here OP.

Care to explain in more detail please?
1. What is your supply region (or first part of your postcode)
2. What exact tariff were you on with FU, and what tariff did you move to with Green Star
3. What is your anticipated annual consumption figures of electricity (and gas if applicable) in kWh?
4. If on E7, what is the split between low and normal rate?

Would love to take a deeper look at this for you.

The_Only_Girl

I am aware that the lower monthly tariff set by Green Star can be just a lure to get us in. That's what Happened when we first signed on to FU. But hopefully with the help of our solar panel, we will be able to keep our electricity usage down.

Nada666

It's not a lure - YOU set the initial amount when you apply when you supply them with your annual usage. If you allowed First Utility or Green Star to set the sum to something else then you are doing something wrong. I have never not had a supplier accept my given consumption on application.

System

Nada666 wrote: »

It's not a lure - YOU set the initial amount when you apply when you supply them with your annual usage. If you allowed First Utility or Green Star to set the sum to something else then you are doing something wrong. I have never not had a supplier accept my given consumption on application.

Agree - 100%. Problems arise when the gaining company gets the EAC and AQ for the property which often leads to increased DD amounts going forward, as do late Autumn transfers (i.e.; no credit to cover winter usage).

FWiW, and I know two properties/usage are never the same, but if I moved to FU I would have an annual cost of £694 which would rise to £711 with Greenstar. The OP needs to review what the annual cost will be rather than base any savings on a monthly DD.

Furthermore, before getting too excited about the smart meter the OP also needs to bear in mind that if she switches again the meter may well become dumb again.

poppellerant

I can't help but wonder if the smart meter will show up any discrepancies when the old ones are read before being removed.