Tomato Energy (Electric Only Supplier) - Too Good To Be True ?

coupleuk

there is now a handy fb group to share experiences - Tomato Energy UK - Customer Chat

PennineAcute

coupleuk said:

there is now a handy fb group to share experiences - Tomato Energy UK - Customer Chat

Due to what looks to be a fall out, your link is for a competitive group which was set up after this link.  Bit of a difference in group members.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1320707432667481

Derek_Duval

withaspritz said:

BarelySentientAI said:

withaspritz said:

Following this closely.  We have an EV currently on Eon Next but Tomato is much much cheaper.

I read about an Agreed Usage amount in the fine print for tomato, and that if you exceed that amount they can charge you more. Anyone know how this Agreed Usage amount is decided?

The estimated consumption on the quote.

From their terms:

5.5 In the event that You exceed the Agreed Usage at any Nominated Electricity Supply

Point, You shall pay to Us any costs (including but not limited to additional use of

system charges), losses or expenses incurred by Us for the provision of, and as a

result of, that excess.

So if you use more than the estimated usage, they reserve the right to charge excessive costs on top of the bill

Sounds bonkers. Is it a fixed or variable tariff?

If wholesale rate is say 15p overnight (like last night according to Octopus Agile prices) and I use more than my estimate charging at 5p, will they then apply a 10p expenses incurred charge to each unit over the estimated usage?  What if I get a new EV with a larger battery, or decide to put the dishwasher on overnight too

Can I request to set my estimated usage really high to avoid this?

Seems a bit dodgy to me?

This may be referring to their Solar Panel Tariff. The monthly fixed cost has an inclusive energy amount along with the solar panels, shown below. The other tariffs do not mention any usage on sign up.

coupleuk

PennineAcute said:

coupleuk said:

there is now a handy fb group to share experiences - Tomato Energy UK - Customer Chat

Due to what looks to be a fall out, your link is for a competitive group which was set up after this link.  Bit of a difference in group members.

No "fall out" - I attempted to join the other Group, waited 4 days for approval, messaged the Admin and was told people will have to wait until he gets around to approving them.

There is plenty of room for several FB Groups and the one I linked to has no wait to join.

They are not intended to be "competitive" (your term) but offer a choice - imagine where we'd all be if there was only one energy company to choose from.

Member numbers will grow for both Groups as Tomato gains more notice.

I did find it strange that the Admin of that Group decided to put laughing icons all over the new Group so he was removed.

debitcardmayhem

The tariffs above seem strange, from 24/8/23-23/8/24 I used 3819 kWh and my total cost after export was £188 income. Hardly £80 per month cost. 

Derek_Duval

debitcardmayhem said:

The tariffs above seem strange, from 24/8/23-23/8/24 I used 3819 kWh and my total cost after export was £188 income. Hardly £80 per month cost. 

You pay £80 a month for upto 4000kWh usage, they provide free solar panels and batteries which they own and earn the export. After 10 years the solar panels and batteries become yours. Not something I'd personally go for, as there's too many unknowns, but could possibly work out a decent deal. The batteries would probably be getting near the end of their lifespan, but the panels could still have another 10 years plus lifespan.

coupleuk

Derek_Duval said:

debitcardmayhem said:

The tariffs above seem strange, from 24/8/23-23/8/24 I used 3819 kWh and my total cost after export was £188 income. Hardly £80 per month cost. 

You pay £80 a month for upto 4000kWh usage, they provide free solar panels and batteries which they own and earn the export. After 10 years the solar panels and batteries become yours. Not something I'd personally go for, as there's too many unknowns, but could possibly work out a decent deal. The batteries would probably be getting near the end of their lifespan, but the panels could still have another 10 years plus lifespan.

If we assume energy prices stay the same for the next 10 years (unlikely but they may drop before they rise)

Standard Energy Tariff
4000 x £0.22 = £880 per year at current unit rate
365 x £0.60 = £219 per year standing charge

Tomato Free Panels & Battery
upto 4000kWh = £80 x 12 = £960

So, assuming you max out your 4,000 allowance you'd be £140 per year better off ?

It would be interesting to know the tariff charged if you exceed your annual allowance.

BUT as it's far more likely electric will increase in cost going forward, the savings to be had could be huge.

Derek_Duval

coupleuk said:

Derek_Duval said:

debitcardmayhem said:

The tariffs above seem strange, from 24/8/23-23/8/24 I used 3819 kWh and my total cost after export was £188 income. Hardly £80 per month cost. 

You pay £80 a month for upto 4000kWh usage, they provide free solar panels and batteries which they own and earn the export. After 10 years the solar panels and batteries become yours. Not something I'd personally go for, as there's too many unknowns, but could possibly work out a decent deal. The batteries would probably be getting near the end of their lifespan, but the panels could still have another 10 years plus lifespan.

If we assume energy prices stay the same for the next 10 years (unlikely but they may drop before they rise)

Standard Energy Tariff
4000 x £0.22 = £880 per year at current unit rate
365 x £0.60 = £219 per year standing charge

Tomato Free Panels & Battery
upto 4000kWh = £80 x 12 = £960

So, assuming you max out your 4,000 allowance you'd be £140 per year better off ?

It would be interesting to know the tariff charged if you exceed your annual allowance.

BUT as it's far more likely electric will increase in cost going forward, the savings to be had could be huge.

The two questions that spring to mind in addition to the additional cost if you exceed your allowance,

1) What happens if you move home?
2) What happens if Tomato go bust?

Unfortunately it's not easy to get any answers from them.

ppc1

coupleuk said:

lohr500 said:

Hi @ppc1
Are you any further forward in getting data from the myWatts app following your switch?
I am in a similar situation.

Switch should have happened yesterday.
Nothing on myWatts
SMETS2 meter still shows EDF as supplier.
EDF website now shows minimal info so I suspect switch has occured.
No communication from EDF or TE.
Usage data still available on Bright App so meter is still communicating.

I am going to call TE this afternoon when I get home to ask them if the switch has happened and how I can make sure the agreed you rates are being applied.

Interested to hear how you are getting on.

Cheers

Any update on how your switch went ?

I am in the same situation as everyone else.  I was told by TE that my switch was successful.  When you speak to the team they are quite reassuring but nothing really happens. MyWatts  app is still not updating usage data.

I did email my regional distribution network SP Energy and they confirmed the switch to TE and they also confirmed to me that TE is registered to see my smart meter data and they are receiving it. 

I have added the bright app and and I have selected a  multi rate manual tariff and that is working well.  I can see all my 30 minute data and calculations, not immediately, there is a 3-4 hour lag but that is fine. 

For me I am waiting for the 19th September which is the first billing date so I wait to see if they replicate the bill correctly, and also to find out my exact DD payment date.

My smart meter and my  IHD is still showing Octopus for both electricity & Gas. 

I am quite chilled about it now and if it doesn't work out I will go back to Octopus. 

PennineAcute

Derek_Duval said:

coupleuk said:

Derek_Duval said:

debitcardmayhem said:

The tariffs above seem strange, from 24/8/23-23/8/24 I used 3819 kWh and my total cost after export was £188 income. Hardly £80 per month cost. 

You pay £80 a month for upto 4000kWh usage, they provide free solar panels and batteries which they own and earn the export. After 10 years the solar panels and batteries become yours. Not something I'd personally go for, as there's too many unknowns, but could possibly work out a decent deal. The batteries would probably be getting near the end of their lifespan, but the panels could still have another 10 years plus lifespan.

If we assume energy prices stay the same for the next 10 years (unlikely but they may drop before they rise)

Standard Energy Tariff
4000 x £0.22 = £880 per year at current unit rate
365 x £0.60 = £219 per year standing charge

Tomato Free Panels & Battery
upto 4000kWh = £80 x 12 = £960

So, assuming you max out your 4,000 allowance you'd be £140 per year better off ?

It would be interesting to know the tariff charged if you exceed your annual allowance.

BUT as it's far more likely electric will increase in cost going forward, the savings to be had could be huge.

The two questions that spring to mind in addition to the additional cost if you exceed your allowance,

1) What happens if you move home?
2) What happens if Tomato go bust?

Unfortunately it's not easy to get any answers from them.

This should clear up the what happens if you move home.

You either cough up the remainder of the contract and pay to have it removed, or see if the buyers are willing to take over the remainder of the contract.

https://www.tomato.energy/legal-policies/tomatopia-terms-and-conditions