Add your feedback on energy supplier Powershop

Tafrock

Not only has August 2018 discount significantly reduced from that of August 2017 (10.8% as opposed to 12.8%) but the amount of electricity you get in the pack has also decreased by quite some quantity

In 2017 I could purchase 5 packs at 10 pounds each giving me £57.35 worth of electricity. This year I can only purchase 4 packs at £3.57 each giving me £16 worth of electricity. That's quite a shocking drop. Fortunately I stockpiled all future packs until the February future pack so I'm still 25 weeks in credit (£178).

If the powerpack prices do not improve or the reduced value of these packs continues after October I can't see powershop being a viable option for me past that point.

Don't get me wrong I've been very happy until now and am definately on the cheapest rate available. I only buy packs with discounts in excess of 20% ie a unit rate of 10.8p or better.

We can but hope this downward trend of powerpack values will be reversed come autumn.

Powershops gas is far from competitive. But their electricity has always worked for me. Let's hope it continues to do so

griffb

Out of interest I have just run a comparison. Surprisingly it suggested a £94 saving by switching to Powershop!. I know the comparison sites work off the "price guarantees" rather than the savings achievable via powerpack purchasing, so it would seem that the latest plan, the "April 2018 Tariff" has a much more competitive price guarantee than the "August 2017 Tariff" I signed up to. So I am wondering if the low (and reducing) powerpack discounts we are currently seeing are a direct result of the lower guaranteed cost. Should we all be switching to the April 2018 tariff? Is that allowed? How would it work with the credit balances we have built up (in my case to mid September)?
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dave_dph

Hi griffb

Try https://www.energyhelpline.com they show the price available using powerpacks. For me it quoted the same price as that given on powershop site comparison.

griffb

Hi dave_dph

You're right (I think). https://www.energyhelpline.com seems to have managed to factor in powerpack purchases. At least it gives me the same result looking forward as my "current" plan did when I joined PS.

So please ignore my previous post - it is probably gibberish.

And beware the price comparison sites; check that they have factored in powershop purchases. Some of them give the right result, but show unit costs before powerpacks, others do show the effective unit cost after powerpacks

Tafrock

Went on powershops site today to discover big changes
They have launched powershop lite. Which is a basic fixed tariff without the option to buy powerpacks. However its ludicrously expensive. Standing charge is 34.22p. Ouch!!! Unit cost 14.763.

Please everyone. Don't choose that option. Its way too expensive

The other choice is powershop Pro. Which is what we have had up to now. Where you buy powerpacks. However the unit cost there is quoted as 11.508 p whereas my unit cost is 10.8p with powerpack purchases

Also it says that existing customers will be switched from current variable tariff to a new fixed tariff after 12 months. Powerpacks will then be discounted against this new fixed tariff

I'm keeping a close eye on my prices come June when my 12 months with powershop comes around

I advise everyone else to do the same

Tafrock

Had another look this morning and noticed this paragraph on powershops website

'Please note
In April 2018, the name of our Standard Rate was changed to our Baseline Rate. As of April 2018, all references to our Standard Rate should be read as our Baseline Rate.'

Does this mean our discounts are now calculated against this baseline rate. The baseline rate is showing as 16.212p per unit. However its standing charge is showing as 36.162p per day

If this is the tariff powershop will be using as my new fixed rate come my twelve month anniversary I won't be staying around. That's an increase of 2.712p on my unit charge (was 13.5p) and an incredible increase of 19.562p per day standing charge.

Z0rba-cheeks

I asked PS about the unused power pack that I had purchased in October 2017 and the way they allocated usage of purchased power packs.

here is their answer:

To put it simply purchasing any Powerpacks that have a discount are worth grabbing as they never expire and will roll over month to month until they are used.

To ensure that you are always provided the best discount against each billing we allocate your purchased Powerpacks based upon the largest Discount first, then if there are two that have the same discount we will allocate the one that was purchased first.

By purchasing all the Specials and Future-packs you will place yourself in the best possible position and achieve the best rate you can with us.

So now we know!

Z0rba-cheeks

Went on powershops site today to discover big changes
They have launched powershop lite. Which is a basic fixed tariff without the option to buy powerpacks. However its ludicrously expensive. Standing charge is 34.22p. Ouch!!! Unit cost 14.763.

Tafrock, are you looking at the UK website or the NZ website?

I searched the UK website for "Lite" and found no reference to "Lite", however the term is used on the Powershop NZ website....

On the Uk website it states:

"Do you have different pricing plans?
Powershop has no plans for different pricing. Our prices suit the type of meter you have, where you live, and when you use energy. It’s the fairest way possible."

See: https://help.powershop.co.uk/category/pricing-rates/

Can you post a link to the "Lite" tariff?

Tafrock

No definately uk website

It's mentioned from the homepage but here's the link
https://www.powershop.co.uk/powershop-lite/

Alternatively go to the app

Click help

And choose the find more faqs on our website option

It's all there

Tells you all about standard bring replaced by baseline and what happens after you've been with powershop twelve months

Unsure how you can't see it

Tafrock

Here's another link

https://www.powershop.co.uk/questions/powershop-the-company/pricing-and-fees/

Choose the 'I joined Powershop before April 2018 what is my pricing model?' tab and give it a read.