Newish build fixed supplier - SSE

Stillunsure

Hi all,
I am nearing completion (finally!) on the purchase of a 3 year old flat.
I've just discovered that the entire development is tied in to using SSE on a communal kind of set up, with their tariffs an average of all the major brands.

Has anyone experience SSE ( couldn't find a full thread) / heard of anything like this before? / is this a bit crap?

G

molerat

Is this just for the heating / hot water as in district heating scheme or is there some kind of tie in for electricity as well ?

footyguy

Stillunsure wrote: »

Hi all,
I am nearing completion (finally!) on the purchase of a 3 year old flat.
I've just discovered that the entire development is tied in to using SSE on a communal kind of set up, with their tariffs an average of all the major brands.

Has anyone experience SSE ( couldn't find a full thread) / heard of anything like this before? / is this a bit crap?

G

You've only just dicovered this???:eek:
You are nearing completion??? :eek:


Seek legal advice NOW!
You need independent legal advice over the conveyancing services you have received to date ... and presumably are paying a small fortune for.


As to searching for posts/threads on this site, the forum search function is here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/search.php

Stillunsure

We are hoping to exchange and complete on the same day, likely in the next two weeks.

Please can you give me further insight to your horror @footyguy ?

I've only just been sent the management pack... thanks re search, I tried it but the letters SSE come up so many times in random threads.

Stillunsure

Hi Molerat,

It is a tie in for heating and electric. Super long document so unable to copy and paste here.

Not sure really what to do about this.

spiro

Stillunsure wrote: »

Hi Molerat,

It is a tie in for heating and electric. Super long document so unable to copy and paste here.

Not sure really what to do about this.

I can understand a tie for the heating if you have a communual boiler for heating and hot water. I don't see why electricity is included so I would query this.

molerat

Some time ago I remember a similar thread here where the supplier owns the infrastructure, a private wire arrangement, and probably generates much of its own electricity.

Stillunsure

They are called heat networks, the building produces all of its own heat etc- they are called Community heating projects.

*cannot post link* but you can search SSE community heating projects

Also I did see this that the prices are being cut for heat network customers so might not be all bad -* cannot post link* sse-reduces-prices-for-heat-network-customers

Stillunsure

re electric ''This includes a Combined Heat and Power engine (CHP) – a modern and efficient way of producing energy that helps to reduce carbon emissions.''

macman

It doesn't really matter who the supplier is. The point is that you will be locked into a tariff that you cannot choose. This kind of deal is understandable with a CHP communal heating system-but to lock you into a leccy tariff as well makes no sense from the occupier's point of view.
The basic assumption here is that the developers get a sizeable commission from SSE, which is then recouped at the expense of the owners for as long as they live there by means of an expensive tariff.

Stillunsure

Thanks Macman, yes I was a little confused about it but from what I have read online the Ombudsman has appointed a new consumer body called the Heat Trust to deal with these new kind of mini networks so hopefully this protection useful.

I am just hoping we will hardly use any heat / power with it having an awesome energy rating and being in the middle of other flats - dare to dream hey.