Collective Energy Switch - BULB

System

Will_at_Bulb wrote: »

The one off fee that you highlighted in 3.26 is in our terms to cover any additional charges that may or may not arise from managing an IGT. It doesn't relate to anything that we plan to charge anyone, but it is there just in case. We're not in the business of trying to squeeze every penny out of our members. If we ever did use this clause we'd be in full communication with the member every step of the way I'm sure.

Your current supplier is likely able to offer IGT management for less due to economies of scale. IGT management is pretty manual and takes quite a bit of our time. Bigger businesses are able to have dedicated teams for IGTs which is efficient when you have a lot of them. We only have a small number of IGTs so proportionally each IGT we manage costs us more. Hence £100. If and when IGT management becomes proportionally less expensive for us we'll definitely reevaluate the IGT charges. We're dedicated to dropping our prices in line with wholesale prices (we've dropped them 3 times so far this winter), so this won't be any different. If it's costing us less then we'll be able to charge less.


All the best,

Will

I am customer 9063 with another of the newer/smaller suppliers. They don't charge an IGT premium and they managed an IGT switch on the 21st day after application - and this included Christmas Week.

A quick look at MSE CEC shows that I would pay £125 a year more for gas and electricity with Bulb plus the £100 per year IGT charge.

I like to think that I am a 'green' supporter. We have PV Solar and I drive an EV but I am afraid that my support doesn't run to a 33% premium on my annual energy bill.

Will_at_Bulb

Fair enough, it sounds like you've got a very good handle on everything, so I hope you find what you need from your energy company.

I can't comment too much on your current supplier's IGT management. All I know is what it costs us in time and admin costs. Maybe they're just folding in the costs elsewhere. Who knows.

MSE_Dan_L

Hengus wrote: »

Thanks.

Dan - this information needs to be included on the MSE CEC site. This additional cost would add over 25% to my annual gas bill.

Hi Hengus - it is included in our review of the tariff, both on collective information page and our results page.
https://cheapenergyclub.moneysavingexpert.com/collectiveswitch

System

Will_at_Bulb wrote: »

Fair enough, it sounds like you've got a very good handle on everything, so I hope you find what you need from your energy company.

I can't comment too much on your current supplier's IGT management. All I know is what it costs us in time and admin costs. Maybe they're just folding in the costs elsewhere. Who knows.

Fair comment - life is all about choices.

footyguy

To clarify, the £35 per year charge I referred to regarding Independent Pipelines/GTC is the charge I understand they make to the supplier.

I'm not actually aware of any supplier (other than Bulb) that does now charge the consumer any extra for IGT.
None of the Big 6 do.
Ebico never has (although they are a whitelable SSE tariff)

Of the smaller suppliers, I think they either have followed the stance of the big suppliers and do not apply any surcharge, or alternatively simply refuse to accept IGT customers.

My current gas supplier, Zog, had less than 5000 customers when I first joined them as an IGT served customer. That's not 5000 IGT served customers, but 5000 total customers (and that number would include those who earlier had joined, but had since switched away). I think I was one of the first IGT served customers to join them as previously they refused to accept such customers.

Edit: Just looking as some historical records (from April 2012, so may now have changed). There may be a couple of small suppliers that still do charge a surplus.
i.e. Better Energy (but they didn't specify what the actual surcharge was) and the "supplier that we cannot mention here" (regular readers will know who and why) who charged £34.20 p.a..

I could name at least 5 small suppliers (excluding white labels) that accept IGT served customers that make no surcharge to the consumer.

Will_at_Bulb

So I've just chatted with one of our founders, Amit, about this and got him to write up a quick thing about Project Nexus for you, which will have a big impact on everything IGT. He know's this much better than I do so I let him have the honours of writing it.

Amit_at_Bulb wrote:

Thanks Footyguy. There is a big industry change due to happen in October 2016 called Project Nexus (it has already been delayed 18 months but this appears to be pretty firm now). This will change a number of industry processes, and make it much easier for us to register members that are with IGTs. If this goes ahead as expected and isn't delayed any further, we will be able to remove our admin fee.

System

Will_at_Bulb wrote: »

So I've just chatted with one of our founders, Amit, about this and got him to write up a quick thing about Project Nexus for you, which will have a big impact on everything IGT. He know's this much better than I do so I let him have the honours of writing it.

Will - I know that you are already regretting being a rep on these forums but Project Nexus has already been discussed at length. It was due to go live last year (October - I think) and it appears to be moving right at a faster pace than the roll-out of smart meters. The point that Footyboy and I are making is that the the majority of energy companies - large and small - are spreading IGT costs amongst all their customers and, at the same time, are managing to come up with some very competitive tariffs. This after all is a money saving forum.

Project Nexus

It is proposed that the Project Nexus Implementation and Go Live Date be changed such that it shall be no earlier than 1st April 2016 or such other later date as may be determined by the Uniform Network Code Committee

Will_at_Bulb

Ha, no worries. I know you guys are keen to be in the know about everything and I'm used to talking to passionate people online so don't worry about me regretting anything

I take your point about other businesses and I understand it completely. I just want you guys to have all the info you need about Bulb.

Merry_Mawkin

I wish I had know as I am only receiving £30 from money saving expert site