Scottish Power or Iresa?

Gold123

On Eon V19 (online only) at the moment which runs out on 28th Jan.

Quite a heavy user of both gas and electricity.

While Iresa is coming up cheaper for me I am entitled to Warm Home Discount so with this and £30 Energy Club cashback the second cheapest Scottish Power Online Fixed Saver March 2018 v2 (Fixed till 31 Mar 2018) works out the same. Third is Co-Op.

Having read reviews of all three which are not the best ( especially Iresa with switching problems and having to pay upfront) am in two minds which to go for or stay on Eon with their expensive Variable in the hope they offer a sensible Fixed over the coming month.

Asking for some third party views from your goodselves on what you would do.

Thanking you in advance for any advice.

Rubidium

Do not stay with eon on their standard tariff hoping for a new deal to magically appear. A very high percentage of eon's customers are on their standard variable tariff and this is where eon make their profit. A decision has been made that they don't want money savers as customers and they are quite happy to lose those that have been tempted to switch to them - there is no such thing as loyal customers.

Switch to Scottish Power and get your Warm Home discount and some cashback. You will see problems from unhappy customers with most suppliers but the problems with the new Scottish Power billing system computer have passed and as a new customer you would not suffer any transfer problems from the old to the new system. There are many MSE'ers who have had no problems with Scottish Power and if the price is right for you, then go for it.

Gold123

Thank you so much for the very helpful advice Rubidium, I'll take it on board, anyone else have an opinion to make up my mind between Scottish Power and Iresa.

System

From The EnergyShop website ( I believe the same criteria apply to Iresa Flex 3)

This is a fixed price tariff from Iresa Energy. This means that your energy prices will be fixed at the rates you signed up to until the tariff ends.

Key features of the IRESA Flex2 12month Fixed tariff include:

- Prices fixed for 12 months from your supply start date.
- This is a paperless online billing tariff only. You can not opt for paper bills with this tariff.
- The tariff is available for customers taking either electricity only or dual fuel. It is not available as a gas only option.
- Payment must be by Monthly Direct Debit only.
- Be aware that your first direct debit payment will usually be taken before you are on supply with Iresa Energy.
- This tariff is not available to customers with prepayment meters
- There are no early termination fees with this tariff

- Iresa Energy is not signed up to the Warm Home Discount Scheme and so will not make these payments. If receiving the Warm Home Discount payment is important to you then you should not sign up for this tariff.

IN ADDITION - Iresa is not signed up to 17 day switching.

Rubidium

You will not get any cashback switching to new supplier Iresa but you could easily get more than the CEC £30 by switching via Topcashback e.g. £42.72 using Simply Switch here.

Gold123

As I said Iresa is cheaper than the Scottish Power Tariff by roughly the same amount the Warm Home Discount and cashback taken into account so its more a case which is the safer option. Any thoughts.

D_M_E

Another thing to consider is - are you in the Core Group for the Warm Home Discount, or the Broader Group?

The Broader Group have to apply for the discount every year and some suppliers, Iresa among them don't take part in this.

I believe that the Core Group arer paid by the Government but I am not sure on this, this needs checking - perhaps a more knowledgeable forumite can confirm or correct this.

Gold123

Broader group, next level down from oap's which is the core group I believe. always make sure I apply as early as possible before the fund is run dry. One thing that concerns me with the Scottish Power tariff (beside the poor reviews) is the high standing charges so if I try and decrease my usage in the near future it may become a factor.

fredandwilma

Gold123 wrote: »

One thing that concerns me with the Scottish Power tariff (beside the poor reviews) is the high standing charges so if I try and decrease my usage in the near future it may become a factor.

Gold123 wrote: »

On Eon V19 (online only) at the moment which runs out on 28th Jan.

Quite a heavy user of both gas and electricity.

While Iresa is coming up cheaper for me I am entitled to Warm Home Discount so with this and £30 Energy Club cashback the second cheapest Scottish Power Online Fixed Saver March 2018 v2 (Fixed till 31 Mar 2018) works out the same. Third is Co-Op.

Having read reviews of all three which are not the best ( especially Iresa with switching problems and having to pay upfront) am in two minds which to go for or stay on Eon with their expensive Variable in the hope they offer a sensible Fixed over the coming month.

Asking for some third party views from your goodselves on what you would do.

Thanking you in advance for any advice.

The Scottish Power tariff which is showing for me via the Cheap Energy Club is the Online Fixed Price Energy June 2018 v2, which has very low standing charges of 8.222p per day, (in my area.)

I think it is highly unlikely you will see the competitive tariffs from E.on, which people are waiting for? Their last tariff change from v20 to v21 was exactly the same tariff minus rewards and price alerts. V22 could well be v21 revamped, i.e. plus the rewards and price alerts again and / or a slight increase in price? E.on's standard tariffs and prices have remained consistent throughout the last year, (aside from the amazing deals offered through collectives.)

Quote from the Cheap Energy Club

EDF has announced that its standard dual fuel customers face a 1.2% hike from March - and others may follow suit.

Various forecasts suggest prices will rise again next winter, and energy prices are expected to rise 5% in 2017. It looks likely that energy prices will continue to increase over the next few years, (especially the cost of electricity.) It's all supposition and no one can definitively predict the future?

All established energy companies are increasing their prices, (not just E.on,) so if you are asking which is a safer company to choose, (in relation to what?) then i would choose Scottish Power.

If you can get a reasonable price on a longer fix, then that's the way i would go at the moment, especially if you are looking for security / no hassle.

Gold123

Fredandwilma, can't see the Scottish Power tariff you mention for my area (London) but the one I can see which is listed as cheapest on Energy Club is:

Online Fixed Saver March 2018 v2

and the standing / kwh charges are as follows:

Gas: Unit Rate: 2.575p Standing charge: 32.876p
Elec: Unit Rate: 11.232p Standing charge: 32.876p

As you can see quite alot more than the 8.222p you mention for your tariff. Maybe its because I am quite a high user. What are the unit rates for that tariff.

punto123

Thats because the Fixed Price Energy June 2018 v2 is an economy 7 tariff

Unit rate 15.428p per kWh
Economy 7 unit rate 8.083p per kWh
Standing charge 8.222p per day