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

Bendo

The difference is, Octopus never on-board directly on to a TOU tariff before they know they can read a meter and also Octopus have no problems reading an adopted SMETS1 meter.

Newbie_John

Well that's the lesson TE learnt, and if they ever reopen to new customers I'm sure they will follow this practice.

But if supplier is unable to read the HH meter for whatever reason - offering cap price seems like a standard start long point. 

The only real issue here seems to be people not getting compensation on time from TE - I waited 4-5 months from Octopus to get mine which was put to their balance account which I couldn't touch - then another few months until I could withdraw it.

So we need to differentiate TE issue (like 30 mins billing - fixed) vs all other issues common among other suppliers.

lohr500

Newbie_John said:

So we need to differentiate TE issue (like 30 mins billing - fixed) vs all other issues common among other suppliers.

Agree, but unless I am mistaken none of the other suppliers have an Ofgem  Confirmed Provisional Order or an Elexon Further Notice of Default hanging over their heads.

I would imagine that if neither of these matters are resolved then it will be game over, even for those TE customers who have been receiving regular and correct billing.
TE could sort out 100% of the customer facing issues but if they don't meet the industry liquidity and settlement requirements then their customer service becomes irrelevant.

Bendo

Newbie_John said:

Well that's the lesson TE learnt, and if they ever reopen to new customers I'm sure they will follow this practice.

But if supplier is unable to read the HH meter for whatever reason - offering cap price seems like a standard start long point. 

The only real issue here seems to be people not getting compensation on time from TE - I waited 4-5 months from Octopus to get mine which was put to their balance account which I couldn't touch - then another few months until I could withdraw it.

So we need to differentiate TE issue (like 30 mins billing - fixed) vs all other issues common among other suppliers.

I think the real issue is the incompetence of onboarding people onto a TOU tariff on meters they couldn't read due to their own incompetence.  Further compounded by giving those people the option to stay on that tarrif and be billed when they fix their broken systems, but almost a year on still have not fixed those broken systems so issue bills based on fantasy made up reads.

Newbie_John

From other news, TE is to build a solar panels car park with 80+ charging stations:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce832yn2w7no

QrizB

Newbie_John said:

From other news, TE is to build a solar panels car park with 80+ charging stations:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce832yn2w7no

700 kW of solar PV (1400 500-watt panels) is quite decent size for an urban area. Hope it gets built, and we could do with a few more of those!

Bendo

In other news, only 8 months late, Senapt have finally submitted their accounts.  Not had a chance to look at them but I'm sure there will be some interesting snippits in there.

A quick glance though and they have covered the provisional order etc. Their accounts and the questions over whether they remain able to continue as a going concern would have looked a bit better if they posted them on time....

Newbie_John

QrizB said:

Newbie_John said:

From other news, TE is to build a solar panels car park with 80+ charging stations:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce832yn2w7no

700 kW of solar PV (1400 500-watt panels) is quite decent size for an urban area. Hope it gets built, and we could do with a few more of those!

Yep, I'm surprised it's not more popular - a swimming pool near me has a similar (much smaller) set up and for parking it's great - stops rain, stops sun.. and they can heat water "free". 

masonic

Bendo said:

In other news, only 8 months late, Senapt have finally submitted their accounts.  Not had a chance to look at them but I'm sure there will be some interesting snippits in there.

A quick glance though and they have covered the provisional order etc. Their accounts and the questions over whether they remain able to continue as a going concern would have looked a bit better if they posted them on time....

I'm surprised there is so much discussion around events that have taken place since the accounting period. But they couldn't be clearer about the desperate need for a cash injection, and that even now, discussions are still at a preliminary stage. Deloitte had some quite interesting things to say.

Best outcome, it would appear, is if a bigger player came along and bought them. Perhaps then they could get the needed expertise to navigate the regulatory requirements, as well as the money.

Bendo

Yep. Had a bit more of a read, without a decent cash injection pretty much from this month, they are unlikely to meet their liabilities which will almost certainly result in further action from Ofgem.

I suppose that explains the made up estimates for the meters they can't read such is the dire need to get some money in. 

Well be an interesting few months ahead for them, it would probably have been a much easier sell to potential investors if they had sorted the SMETS1 issues...