EBICO Zero Variable Tariff To Be Withdrawn

alanq

The above tariff with a zero standing charge is to be replaced by Ebico Standard which will have a standing charge. This is said to be a consequence of the government's energy price capping policy. (The Zero tariff has high charges per unit of energy.)

There is however a 1-year fixed tariff with no exit fee and with no standing charge. Customers must request a switch to this tariff if they want it.

https://ebico.org.uk/ebico-news/changes-to-ebicos-zero-standing-charge-energy-plan/

EachPenny

It was only a metter of time thanks to the Government's ill thought out meddling. :mad:

The replacement tariff looks like it could provide the same benefits (Zero SC, no tie-in), but I've just done a quick quote and found the electricity unit prices are 20-25% higher than I'm currently paying, and something similar for gas. And that's after the new higher 4.5% discount for DD payment.

Will need to do some shopping around.

Graywisdom

Re the mandatory Standing Charge by the Government. I cannot see how this makes energy more economical?

wavelets

alanq wrote: »

The above tariff with a zero standing charge is to be replaced by Ebico Standard which will have a standing charge. This is said to be a consequence of the government's energy price capping policy. (The Zero tariff has high charges per unit of energy.)

There is however a 1-year fixed tariff with no exit fee and with no standing charge. Customers must request a switch to this tariff if they want it.

https://ebico.org.uk/ebico-news/changes-to-ebicos-zero-standing-charge-energy-plan/

I see they hiked their prices before they announced this.

We have a few different properties under our control with Ebico, and switched some previously. Mainly we switched accounts where there was some usage (to lock in prices for 12 months). We got the same price as Ebico Zero on Ebico Zero Green Fixed (not V2)

Am just trying to change to the fixed tariff for other properties.

Can't do it online, had this issue previously with a zero usage - says there are no other options available. Their online accounts can't seem to handle zero usage (which is odd for a tariff obviously aimed at low or zero usage)

Now on hold, and I'm getting that same awlful music Iresa used to use :eek:

wavelets

Managed to get one changed. More total nonsense from the call handler ... as I have unfortunately come to expect from RHE.

1. "You cannot transfer tariffs using your online account."
- of course you can, or should be able to do. [I've done it before, but they cannot handle accounts with zero usage - had the same issue before with an account with zero usage, but it works ok if you have some usage.]

2. "Here's your quote for electricity - £600 per year"
- how did you arrive at that price??? :eek:

3. "You can get a 4.5% discount if you agree to monthly direct debit, representing an estimated saving of £27 per year"
- We don't want to pay by DD, we are happy to pay on receipt of bill like today.

4. "We have to assume average usage when you transfer tariffs"
- no you don't, you can use a reasonable estimate based on previous consumption history you have for this property.
"But you don't appear to have any usage"
- correct, that's why we are on a zero standing charge tariff!
"Ok, then your estimated annual cost will be zero"
- Thank you. Please transfer out tariff.

Edit: We were promised the tariff was now switched over, but looking at our online account, it seems they may be holding off until the end of the month. Oh well...

EachPenny

wavelets wrote: »

Am just trying to change to the fixed tariff for other properties.

Just to clarify... this is to the v2 tariff, you've not found a back-door way to get the pre-price rise version?

wavelets

Well done to this Government :cool:

It seems Ebico Standard is the same unit prices as Ebico Zero are, BUT now you will pay about an additional 16p per day for gas and about 17.5p per day for electricity (or about 25p per day for E7)
:mad:

BTW, Ebico can supply a single rate tariff even if you have E7 meter
(Well they have done for us, despite that not being what we requested - they'll probably tell you that's not possible if you request it :cool:.
If anyone requests a single rate with an E7 meter, and gets it from Ebico, please advise. )

wavelets

EachPenny wrote: »

Just to clarify... this is to the v2 tariff, you've not found a back-door way to get the pre-price rise version?

No, no back door mechanism.

I'm not sure when they changed to V2, but the original tariff was available from about August. We got in early on some accounts. But I know the original fixed version was still on offer at the beginning of this month. You should have seen a big red indicator about fixing your zero tariff for 12 months whenever you logged on.
It's still there, but now you get v2 (if you are offered anything at all)

We didn't tend to attempt to switch properties with zero usage, as, well, with zero standing charge, we didn't care if they did hike the unit rates. And we thought it would act as an early warning if they dropped the rates to review the properties we had decided to fix.
So, yes, today it was V2 we applied for - it doesn't matter to us the unit rates are higher as this is for a zero usage account. But it will now affect low users who didn't fix earlier.,

If it says there is no other tariffs available to you, just log out and request a quotes as a brand new customer. If you then want anything offered, you'll need to call or email them.

It may be low users are better off now going to Standard and paying the 16-17p daily charge. With unit rates being hiked by about 5p per unit for electric, that means anyone using about 3kWh per day or more ... or a comparison site may find an even better deal elsewhere entirely for that level of usage.

Just beware you don't switch to another zero standing charge, variable tariff elsewhere. If Ebico can't offer it any longer, another supplier would be affected likewise very soon.

Edit: It appears V2 replaced the original cheaper version the day the above notice was dated, i.e. 16 October 2018

Stompa

There used to be some other companies that offered a zero standing charge, I don't know if that's still the case. They can be found on comparison sites by entering a very low annual usage. Ideally 0kWh, or if that doesn't work 1kWh.

EachPenny

wavelets wrote: »

No, no back door mechanism.

Thanks for confirming.

I'd been considering switching away from Ebico for the Winter as the bulk of my gas consumption is in only 5 months of the year. I think I might do that, and consider coming back to Ebico or another zero sc tariff (if any exist) in the Spring.

Sending some very negative thoughts towards HM Government this evening.

squiggles

Stompa wrote: »

There used to be some other companies that offered a zero standing charge, I don't know if that's still the case. They can be found on comparison sites by entering a very low annual usage. Ideally 0kWh, or if that doesn't work 1kWh.

I think it was simplicity but not 100% sure and haven't searched.