Add your feedback on energy supplier Powershop

fewkeste

grumpycrab wrote: »

I don't suppose there's a "powershop app" manager app that does all the hard work for you :-)

As neilsedaka has indicated there is a very good app. A combination of your online account accessed via your computer/tablet AND the app is a powerful aid in keeping on top of things.

You can run your account entirely on the app or entirely on your computer/tablet but the app gives you something that the online account doesn't - it shows you what the future bills are likely to be in £s and shows your expected consumption.

Tafrock

So latest powerpack is out. And it's indeed a biggie. I bought £13.44 power for £8.44. A discount of 38% and appears to be a recurring pack as it says you can buy again in 30 days. Simple saver also slightly improved up from 18.2% to 19.4%. Sadly the April future powerpack should be called the April fool as I can't see any point in purchasing packs with only 5.4%. That said I'm generally quite pleased with this months efforts by powershop. My credit now rising again. Up to £94

grumpycrab

grumpycrab wrote: »

I don't suppose there's a "powershop app" manager app

I'm still interested (current fix ends end Jan)... what I was thinking here was more along the lines of a "helper app" e.g. feature#1 autobuy future powerpack if discount > X% ? Or is this not in the spirit of intended use?

Equites

In my case the savings were

• Little Extra Pack (LEP) = 41%
• Winter Shaker = 38%
• Simple Saver (SS) = 19.4%

However, in total this is only for c.14 days of energy - last months combination of Jumbo, LEP and SS came to 20 days in my case so they've increased the overall amount of discount slightly but reduced the amount of energy available significantly.
There is a trend here which will see me looking around to switch in the spring - the shortfall in days were made up with the future packs with the 41.5% discount.
Those end in February to be replaced with the 5.4% future packs which I refuse to buy as using them increases the unit cost to above that of the competition.
I do struggle to understand why Powershop are going down the road of offering these derisory discount future packs. What is the point of doubling the number of packs you can buy when the discount is so low - no sane person is going to double their energy consumption just because their utility company decided to allow them access to more "discounted" energy!
That leaves the special event special packs to fill the void and who knows what is happening there - do you take the gamble and hope the needed high discount packs appear or do you go down the road of certainty with a fixed rate deal with another supplier?
In short term, Powershop keep my trade but that will change once the March future packs come into play.

fewkeste

@Equites I feel the same as you - how on earth can we expect to achieve the Top Shopper rate (approx. 29% discount off Baseline for me in the East Midlands) when Future Packs for March and April are offered with such derisory discounts.

Special Packs with higher discounts may come along in March and April to cover consumption in those billing periods with a supply of discounted credit, but it's a big risk.

With a Future Pack or Packs with a decent discount in the bag, one could hope to buy higher discount Special Packs to cover the remainder of the consumption in those billing periods, but this way it's a big risk.

I think if Future Pack discounts continue to be so derisory it will be time to move before the March/April billing period is upon us.

Here's the thing - when you do a whole market search for an energy supplier, Powershop comes top with the Top Shopper rate but, as existing experienced customers, we ask ourselves "are we going to actually be able to achieve the Top Shopper rate?" - I am having serious doubts about whether we can.

I can't help feeling we're seeing the influence of NPower in this behaviour.

grumpycrab

Bit surprised the TopShopper rate appears on price comparison websites; I assume that it is achievable albeit with lots of legwork from punters. Come to think of it, I must have got here because powershop appeared on some portal - perhaps that was the Topshopper rate - I cannot remember.

fewkeste

grumpycrab wrote: »

I'm still interested (current fix ends end Jan)... what I was thinking here was more along the lines of a "helper app" e.g. feature#1 autobuy future powerpack if discount > X% ? Or is this not in the spirit of intended use?

Interesting idea but unfortunately nothing so sophisticated exists as an app - only the processing power in your brain.

It really takes very little effort to keep on top of things once you have an online account up and running.

However, joining in January means you will miss out on buying the heavily discounted packs as by then Powershop will be offering the spring and summer packs and, if current patterns are anything to go by, they will be relatively low discount.

Powershop is only competitive if you can achieve the discounts claimed to be able to let you achieve the Top Shopper rate.

A number of more experienced customers (myself included) are now starting to wonder if Top Shopper rate can actually be achieved in reality, given that recent Future Packs have been offering such poor discounts.

If you join in January, you are joining after 'peak discount' and may be disappointed with the actual discount you achieve.

I'm sorry to say this but if you were my friend or a relative, I would probably say look elsewhere - it saddens me to say that but there you go - I can only advise based on what I see coming in the future months.

grumpycrab

fewkeste wrote: »

If you join in January, you are joining after 'peak discount' and may be disappointed with the actual discount you achieve.

So no "new joiner" powerpacks tailored to joining month- then? I'll ask them.

Umiamz

It's beginning to look like I'll be better staying with Pure Planet. Top Shopper (if it can be achieved) is only £60 p.a. less.

fewkeste

Umiamz wrote: »

It's beginning to look like I'll be better staying with Pure Planet. Top Shopper (if it can be achieved) is only £60 p.a. less.

This may be a wise decision. Your Pure Planet quote is £60 less than a theoretical Powershop Top Shopper rate that you may struggle to achieve in reality.

It seems counter intuitive but one has to remember the Top Shopper rate is touted as a discount off the Baseline Tariff that you might be able to achieve by buying Powerpacks.

I am becoming increasingly concerned that the Top Shopper rate may not actually be achievable in practice, so it's possibly an unrealistic/false figure to compare other tariffs to.

A harsh comment I know but one I am increasingly beginning to think might be true.