Why is OVO overcharging me?

NDav

We are on a fixed rate Economy 7 energy scheme for gas and electricity with OVO. Our latest bill (15 Oct-14 Nov) is charging us 19.09p per kWh for gas and 42.82 (night)/68.41 (day) per kWh for electricity, but these rates are way above the government EPG caps which for the Eastern region which I believe are ~10p for gas and ~33p for electricity. According to Martin Lewis and OVO themselves, anyone on a fixed rate tariff which is above the EPG cap should automatically be moved down to a standard tariff at the EPG level and this clearly hasn't happened. Cannot get hold of OVO to get an answer.

MattMattMattUK

NDav said:

We are on a fixed rate Economy 7 energy scheme for gas and electricity with OVO. Our latest bill (15 Oct-14 Nov) is charging us 19.09p per kWh for gas and 42.82 (night)/68.41 (day) per kWh for electricity, but these rates are way above the government EPG caps which for the Eastern region which I believe are ~10p for gas and ~33p for electricity. According to Martin Lewis and OVO themselves, anyone on a fixed rate tariff which is above the EPG cap should automatically be moved down to a standard tariff at the EPG level and this clearly hasn't happened. Cannot get hold of OVO to get an answer.

When did you take out the fix, what is the name of the fixed tariff? Also, are you sure that those are not the headline rates, with the EPG discount applied on a different part of the bill?

NDav

Thanks MattMattMattUK. The fixed tariff started 13 Oct 22 and is called 2 Year Fix and Protect Economy 7. There are no discounts applied to the bill, other than the £66 Energy Bill support Scheme rebate.

[Deleted User]

Haven’t I seen this question already today? Or am I going mad?

EssexHebridean

You took the fixed tariff after the EPG kicked in, so my understanding is that it falls outside the EPG protection? 

MikeJXE

[Deleted User] said:

Haven’t I seen this question already today? Or am I going mad?

Lol yeah same here

MWT

EssexHebridean said:

You took the fixed tariff after the EPG kicked in, so my understanding is that it falls outside the EPG protection? 

Spot on, any fixed contract entered into after 1st October is not entitled to protection or discount unfortunately...

EssexHebridean

What was your reason for taking the fix at that point OP?  And what has changed now to make you feel that it’s not right for you, if indeed that is how you feel? 

NDav

Thanks all. Yes, I had to repeat this post because for some unknown reason I wasn't able to respond to my first post! OK, I think I understand now. Even though I agreed to the fixed deal before 1st Oct, it became effective after the 1st Oct so we've suffered. I thought that whenever you took out your fixed deal you'd automatically be switched to the EPG. Seems unfair that this isn't the case. Very annoying!

ariarnia

even if the fix isnt covered i beleve the op can drop to the variable rate with no exit fees if they want to. 

i'm guessing the automatic sweep moving people over missed the op because of when the fix started but should be easy enough to arrange. 

i had to phone ovo late last week to check something and was on hold for less than 20 mins in total (inc being transferred) (but i phoned absolutely first thing in the morning so that might have helped) 

[Deleted User]

I didn't think many suppliers were offering a fix starting after 1 Oct, to avoid people ending up in precisely this situation.

Do you want to be on the EPG, and hence follow the price cap wherever it may go, or do you want to stay on this fix for 2 years?  You might not be able to have both.