Engie threatens to isolate my service

Mr_Senor

Hi, I live in a development where we don't have the right to choose our own heating and cooling supplier (I believe due to the lease), so in the past EON was the one to provide us with this service. A few months ago, without our approval (leaseholder) Management replace EON with a new company called Engie.

Right from the beginning we realised that the new company was worse than EON in terms of prices and compensation rights (in case of prolonged service failure). Some neighbors also complained that they were charged (apparently by mistake) large amounts by direct debit  from their bank accounts (Understand Direct Debit in the only payment method that this company accepts)  

This company charged an exorbitant amount for their service, just one example only the Standing charge is £27 per month for heating and £15 for cooling. They also charge each KWh of Heating at 27p and Each KWh of Cooling at 7p

At this time I have not established a contract with this new company and I understand some other neighbours have not either.

Engie doesn't know who I am. But I received a letter in the mail addressing the occupant of the property. informing that if I don't set up an account by April 7th my service will be isolated.

it's possible? can they really do that? I am really trying to buy time and see if we (the lease holders)  together manage to agree on a better deal where we receive a fairer service and prices.

Thanks

Ultrasonic

What is the 'cooling' you're paying for every month? The numbers you're quoting in your third paragraph make me think that your 'heating' may be electricity and your 'cooling' may be gas?

GingerTim

It sounds like you have a district heating system, like on the development I live. We don't have any say in the contract, which is arranged by the management company - do residents have any voting rights on the estate's management company? If not, I'm not sure what you can do about changing the terms of the contract until that happens. It's something residents at my place are currently setting in train.

The 'cooling' element is not something we have.

Tariffs on these heating systems are commercial rather than residential rates, so not governed by the price cap - our existing contract expired last December and rose from 3p to 9p/kwh, and the standing charge sits at £1.40 per day. On the other hand, the building is so well insulated that heating isn't really needed that often.

This article might be of interest too:
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/nov/07/residents-fears-grow-over-risks-from-district-heating-networks

MWT

This sounds like a district heating scheme, which can offer both heating and cooling.

If it is then the obligation to use and pay for the services will be contained in the lease and control of supplier is in the hands of the Management Company and how that is controlled will also be in the lease.

In short though, if this is a district heating scheme then yes, they need to be paid or they can cut off services.

The quoted rates are actually not really bad when compared to other similar schemes, but it is worth checking if those rates are due to go up shortly?