Who else feels they're being stitched up!?

scatz

JJ_Egan wrote: »

OP what is the difference in your current unit rates and standing charges .

It's in my original post which I had edited prior to your reply.

26% increase in unit price for Gas, 33% increase in unit price for electricity and 229% increase in standing charge (both gas and electricity).

However, the increase in standing charge, although huge only equates to an extra £66 a year which leaves the increase for gas and electricity still at a massive 45%.

Onwards from this, I was looking at the PowerUp option that Scottish Power provide. Getting answer from them regarding unit rates for that was a task in itself :mad: Somehow they deem it appropriate to point out that this would be my cheapest option, however, when I did the math, it's no different from the other cheapest deal they are offering me and not knowing whether the unit price will fall/rise it's too much of a gamble I would say.

PixelPound

Prices go down and prices go up. if you compare when prices dropped to after prices have shot up, it will seem large, but that does not mean it represents overall trends.

When I bought my house in 2015 it was on EDF SVR, I went on their fix offering and have since moved suppliers, but often check their rates in the comparison. Their current Nov18 fix works out slightly more expensive than I was in 2015 (talking low percentage), though the current fix has an exit fee that my original didn't have. Their Oct18 fix was dearer, for me, than the Nov18 offering but the CEC collective fix was cheaper than my original 2015 fix. I know this is purely based on my use and my geographical area, but it's as valid as your individual experience.

ASavvyBuyer

Just renewed our fixed rate electric contract with Iresa for December onwards and the increase, from last year, in unit charge is just under 9% and the standing charge, just under 6% extra; so nothing like some of the % increases mentioned above.
And, if I compare them with the electric fixed rate from a couple of years ago, when we were with E-on the overall % increase is about the same:
2006 E-on 10.91 p/kWh 16.409p/Day
2007 Iresa 10.815p/kWh 16.6845p/Day
2008 Iresa 11.779p/kWh 17.682p/Day

Unlike some others on here, we have not had any problems with Iresa and renewing the contract was very easy on-line. Also, there isn't another supplier cheaper for our consumption in our area.

scatz

nic_c wrote: »

Prices go down and prices go up. if you compare when prices dropped to after prices have shot up, it will seem large, but that does not mean it represents overall trends.

Either way, it's a massive increase from what I have been paying. However, the big increases mentioned by the press, OFGEm etc etc were regarding some customers on fixed price tariffs (me) that were due to end, those quoted rises of up to 28%, no mention of 53%.

I may, however, of committed a cardinal sin by opting for this PowerUp malarkey. I figured, as we are quite prudent when it comes to power usage, it might actually be worth a punt. The benefit of this gamble is that if I notice it isn't paying dividends for me I can swap to any other deal they have or, indeed, leave them for another supplier without exit fees at ANY time.

Early signs are not looking good mind as the app won't allow me to purchase my first package :rotfl:

PixelPound

But it's all relative, I've had an increase from the BG collective, but my looking at one single supplier was because it's easy to make stats look good or bad. It's good that you have no exit fees, I don't either, and maybe I will monitor the market. After all if a lot of people switch in the autumn then its likely that prices are higher then, due to demand they don't have to be as competitive.

What can be shocking is the use of standing charges to allow manipulation of the unit prices.

WhereHasTheWorldGoneWrong

I'm kind of on the same theme - current deal imminently expiring - significant proposed increases etc. BUT my main issue is with my current provider - Extra Energy - and they're the reason I'm posting here, the first time I have ever posted anywhere. In short, they're either at best incompetent or at worst being obstructive in not providing me with (prompt and accurate) gas and electricity consumption information to enable me to make an informed decision on future supply. I have been on to them several times and have been provided with conflicting consumption figures to a point that my head is spinning. To make matters worse, from the info I do have, it is very clear to me that I am being charged incorrectly and that the charges bear NO relation to my meter readings - 11 readings provided between Dec 2016 and Oct 2017. Interesting though, I joined the MSE Energy Club and noted the following - "WARNING: Extra Energy's customer service, billing processes and complaints handling are currently being probed by Ofgem."

Has anyone had similar issues with Extra Energy? Any tips?

*****I will resolve it myself but I would love someone like Money Saving Expert to take an interest and use my situation as a live case study. It is just appalling and, I suspect, widespread