Bulb Energy Reviews: Give your feedback on the energy supplier

Layne

I want to switch to bulb but slight concern/query on FIT payments. I am currently with npower. Can I get my FIT payments from bulb or not? If not, do I just leave it with npower. Just read an article from uswitch that suggests I can only switch to a supplier that does FIT. The bulb FAQ isn't clear if they do or not. Anyone recent experience of this?

System

Layne wrote: »

I want to switch to bulb but slight concern/query on FIT payments. I am currently with npower. Can I get my FIT payments from bulb or not? If not, do I just leave it with npower. Just read an article from uswitch that suggests I can only switch to a supplier that does FIT. The bulb FAQ isn't clear if they do or not. Anyone recent experience of this?

Your supply and generation contracts are separate from each other. You can switch your supply contract as many times as you like, and NPower will continue to pay your FIT/Export payment. It is possible to change your FIT payer but there is no financial advantage in doing so.

FWiW, my FIT payer is EDF. I have had my electricity supply from EDF, OVO, Iresa, Powershop, Bulb, and now Octopus.

tomthegreek

not impressed with the way they bill me,, they sent me an estimated bill within 2 days i sent them my readings which were less than the estimated readings... yet they will not refund me the difference back into my bulb account... they say it will be reflected in next months bill!!! why should i be giving them money for energy not used........ any other energy supplier (big 6) i have been with have refunded me straight away into account.... is anyone else having this problem with bulb?

Allanr

Please see the message right at the top of the page, which says:

Please don't post Bulb referral links here.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

vintagebrighton

Everything's gone well with my switch to Bulb. TBF, after the debacle of being stuck with SP any energy company would've been an improvement! I've entered readings online and received my £30 credit for switching, DD's being taken at the correct rate. Hopefully all will stay well

VB x

ade2j

Unless you're part of the big 6, most companies will do this. You pay a month in advance each time and if you're due a refund they will reduce the future payment/s to suit. @tomthegreek

jhiker

I am happy to say I've switched using the Finch7 referral and she's forwarded the £35 as promised.

ed1178

Have been with bulb for around a year now, and hands down they are the best provider I have ever been with. Switching to them was faultless and the service since has been the same.

They have an excellent forum on their own website and a good prescience elsewhere- I have seen some people asking some very silly questions but they always respond promptly and go to great lengths to sort out any problems people seem to be having.

The prices are reasonable. When I switched, they were the cheapest for me. This is no longer the case, but the difference is insignificant. I have no objection anyway, for me the fact that their electricity is 100% renewable is the main attraction but of course price is also a consideration.

They very graciously refund any early exit fees from other suppliers and although I did not require this the general consensus online is that this happens very promptly. The fact that the same few bulb employee names pop up time and again posting on forums leads me to think these are well trained and passionate individuals with a good deal more common sense than some energy company customer service staff! They clearly know their stuff as it is not uncommon to see them posting on topics such as the wholesale energy market - their knowledge seems to go far beyond what might be required to manage a basic account!

They seem to pride themselves on their ethical practices. A recent price rise notification was very clearly explained and came with a personalised estimate of what it would cost me, not just a typical average user. It also promised to lower prices if wholesale costs fall- I have no reason to doubt this as they have lowered prices previously.

It is wonderful to deal with a company that only have one tariff, don't charge exit fees, are clear and transparent.

The app is good too- easy to send reading and I can see my balance at a glance. They always email a few days before my direct debit is taken, and I can easily adjust it up or down if I think I am accumulating too much credit. If your credit balance exceeds one months typical usage you can request an almost immediate refund.

On top of all this, you can earn £50 every time you successfully refer a friend, who will also get £50 credit on their bill. If you were proactive you could quite easily pay for a year's worth of energy in this way. Of course, this means nothing if the product is overpriced and the service lacking, but fortunately bulb seem to have nailed everything. A great product, a fair price and excellent service.

Oh- and they don't constantly try to see you unnecessary extras like boiler cover, home insurance and the like. Or pass details to anyone else who might like to try.

I love bulb and it would take a lot to make me switch away from them. I genuinely wish more companies were run like this.

SpanishBlue

Just a heads up for anyone thinking of switching to Bulb who has a two rate (eg economy 7) electricity meter but is currently charged at a single rate.


Bulb have recently changed their policy and you can only switch to them if you agree to be billed for day/night electricity at 2 separate rates, which will be more expensive for many people, unless you use a lot of your electricity at night.


One way round this might be to get your meter upgraded to a smart meter. It will probably become a dumb meter after you switch but at least you won't have to pay to upgrade your meter. Bulb charge £120 if you ask them according to their own forum...."We are no longer able to bill you on a single rate tariff if you have a 2 rate meter. If you want to move to a 1 rate tariff then you would have to ask for us to replace the meter and this would be a cost of £120."

Raxiel

SpanishBlue wrote: »

Just a heads up for anyone thinking of switching to Bulb who has a two rate (eg economy 7) electricity meter but is currently charged at a single rate.


Bulb have recently changed their policy and you can only switch to them if you agree to be billed for day/night electricity at 2 separate rates, which will be more expensive for many people, unless you use a lot of your electricity at night.


One way round this might be to get your meter upgraded to a smart meter. It will probably become a dumb meter after you switch but at least you won't have to pay to upgrade your meter. Bulb charge £120 if you ask them according to their own forum...."We are no longer able to bill you on a single rate tariff if you have a 2 rate meter. If you want to move to a 1 rate tariff then you would have to ask for us to replace the meter and this would be a cost of £120."

Thanks for the heads up, this was something I was planning on doing, so the fact they stopped is a bit of a bummer. Adds about £1-2 a month for me so not the end of the world.


They're still top 3 on my comparison (once the referral is added) so not counted out yet, but between this and the warnings of a possible rise in November I'm a lot less enthusiastic.