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

Dave360180

Could anyone explain what the 3 different columns relate to please (see pic)?

Netexporter

They're the half-hourly prices.

Dave360180

Oh sorry! I misread it as three separate columns. Thank you so much!

bob2302

What does seem "too good to be true" is the 9to5 tariff which has it's cheap slots in times when the weekday wholesale rates are at their highest.

tlcgrantham

They give you choices on the lifestyle tariff as to when you prefer your cheaper slots.

Veteransaver

bob2302 said:

What does seem "too good to be true" is the 9to5 tariff which has it's cheap slots in times when the weekday wholesale rates are at their highest.

The tariffs are definitely weird and indicative of a new player that doesn't have a lot of experience around pricing.
Classic example is the EV version of the Lifestyle tariff. You get an hour longer off peak, at 5p instead of 5.5p, the mid peak is lower by about 1p, yet the peak is only more expensive by 0.04p
Even if you don't have an EV then the EV tariff is still the best, unless of course you want an 8.30-10.30pm mid peak instead of a 10-12 one.

bagand96

bob2302 said:

I just signed-up, but there was no mention of a DD. I was wondering how they calculate it, whether they give the customer any control, and how one would switch to variable DD.

Their estimate of the monthly cost came out quite high (probably due to previous use of plunge pricing one Agile). It wouldn't be a problem, I'm mostly just curious.

I believe (from reading the Facebook group) that monthly variable DD is the standard. They will take a DD for the bill amoumt after the bill is issued.

That would tie in with those who haven't had a bill also never having paid anything. 

bob2302

Veteransaver said:

bob2302 said:

What does seem "too good to be true" is the 9to5 tariff which has it's cheap slots in times when the weekday wholesale rates are at their highest.

The tariffs are definitely weird and indicative of a new player that doesn't have a lot of experience around pricing.
Classic example is the EV version of the Lifestyle tariff. You get an hour longer off peak, at 5p instead of 5.5p, the mid peak is lower by about 1p, yet the peak is only more expensive by 0.04p
Even if you don't have an EV then the EV tariff is still the best, unless of course you want an 8.30-10.30pm mid peak instead of a 10-12 one.

It may be regional or an update, but when I signed-up I got the 5p rate on the default tariff. The EV tariff came with a higher peak price. It seemed to me that many EV drivers without storage would be better off on the default in that version of the tariffs - it turns on whether there is a genuine need for the extra hour.

I actually don't have a lot of use for the 5p rate, I switched for the reliable 14p slots, the low SC and the low peak price - below Octopus Flexible. I may go back to Agile in the spring when solar starts to push down the daytime rates.

tlcgrantham

 The rates charged changed a month ago.            The basic lifestyle tariff currently offers 5hrs @ 5p for the low rate, 14p for 4hrs mid peak & 23p for 15hrs @ peak rate. Standing charge is 43p. Mid peak applies from 9:30-11:30& 20:30-22:30& cheap rate 01:00-6:00.
   The EV version offers 6hrs @ 5p, 14p for 4hrs mid peak and 24p for 14hrs @ peak rate with a Standing Charge of 45p. The mid peak rate applies from 9:30-11:30 & 22:00-24:00 & cheap rate 0:00-6:00am.

Veteransaver

tlcgrantham said:

 The rates charged changed a month ago.            The basic lifestyle tariff currently offers 5hrs @ 5p for the low rate, 14p for 4hrs mid peak & 23p for 15hrs @ peak rate. Standing charge is 43p. Mid peak applies from 9:30-11:30& 20:30-22:30& cheap rate 01:00-6:00.
   The EV version offers 6hrs @ 5p, 14p for 4hrs mid peak and 24p for 14hrs @ peak rate with a Standing Charge of 45p. The mid peak rate applies from 9:30-11:30 & 22:00-24:00 & cheap rate 0:00-6:00am.

oh yes I see that they have been tweaked slightly now. It makes a bit more sense I suppose if you have no need for 6 hours off peak, though the differences are still pretty marginal. When I signed up there was absolutely no point not having the EV version of the tariff (and the standing charge was actually lower!)