Switching to Eon Next Drive Tariff

Switcher987

Approximately 3 weeks ago, as I was coming to the end of my current fixed price contract with my previous energy supplier I investigated what other fixed price electricity supply tariffs were around for someone with an EV. Eon Next Drive Smart v6.9 came out on top, so I applied to switch on the 1st August.

It is not 6th August, 6 days after switching. My old energy company has issued me with a final bill and my supply has been switched over to Eon.

This morning, 6th August 2026, Eon sent me an email informing me that they were unable to move me to their Next Drive Smart v6.9 tariff as I did not have a gas supply. This question was never asked when I applied to go onto this tariff and switched from my previous energy supplier. As a result of this Eon have placed me onto the price cap tariff, they call it Next Flex, at roughly 2 times the price I though I was going to pay on the Next Drive Smart v6.9, i.e.~£2800 per annum as opposed to ~£1500 per annum.

They have also informed my that if I am not happy with being on the Next Flex tariff I can switch to one of their other tariffs. So I investigated this. Guess what. The tariff I was offered was the Next Drive Smart v6.9 tariff, the very tariff they say I cannot use.

I am outside the 14 day cool off period as this started the day I initiated the switch, 16 days ago. What are my legal rights. I think I signed up to a tariff when I switched, but Eon are now telling me, after switching me to themselves, that I cannot have this tariff, but they do not offer any other tariffs except the price cap tariff.Caught between a rock and a hard place.

I have sent them a email complaining about the situation and asked that the matter be referred to the ombudsman.

Keep_pedalling

That does not sound right, AFAIK no EV tariffs from any supply are dual fuel. Call them and ask them what is going on.

Woodstok2000

This definitely isn't right. You can get an electric only quote for Next Drive Smart on their site and none of the terms list dual fuel as a requirement. Give them a call.

Reed_Richards

Maybe you encountered some sort of AI gone rogue?

Reed_Richards

Eon have two EV tariffs, "Next Drive" and "Next Drive Smart". Anyone with an EV can be on Next Drive. To be on Next Drive Smart, you need to have a compatible car or a compatible charger.

Switcher987

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82093799#Comment_82093799

Which I have both a compatible car and charger. Their email states:

"We're working hard to get you set up but we've spotted a little problem during your tariff eligibility checks. We're sorry, but this means we can't move your electricity on to Next Drive Smart v6.9 just yet. (If you have gas, it will move over as planned.)"

QrizB

^ Is tha part of t this morning's email, the one you said was:

... informing me that they were unable to move me to their Next Drive Smart v6.9 tariff as I did not have a gas supply.

Or was that an earlier email?

I ask because the section you've quoted:

We're working hard to get you set up but we've spotted a little problem during your tariff eligibility checks. We're sorry, but this means we can't move your electricity on to Next Drive Smart v6.9 just yet. (If you have gas, it will move over as planned.)

... doesn't say that they can't put you on the EV tariff because you don't have gas.

It says they can't put your electricity on the EV tariff yet, but if you've also switched your gas then your gas tariff will switch as requested.

Woodstok2000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82093851#Comment_82093851

That doesn't say the issue is you being electricity only, it doesn't specify what the eligibility issue is. Have you had confirmation from them as to why they can't move you? Do you have a smart meter?

QrizB

OP was your previous supplier Octopus, and if so were you on an Octopus smart tariff, like Go or Intelligent Go?

I'm wondering if this is another of the MHHS-related E.ON switching problems.

Rodders53

Much more likely they are having trouble accessing the 30 minute smart meter reads needed for any of their EV tariffs… The mention of gas is a template letter - cut and paste, generic…

Call and speak (or use WhatsApp to do the same) to get some more accurate facts…

Mind their "smart meter team" aren't very quick to respond to their front-line agents (even those handling complaints)…

If necessary make it a FORMAL COMPLAINT… and if not resolved in 8 weeks you can ask for a deadlock letter to refer the issue to the Ombudsman… there's processes to follow, and they won't refer themselves.

Sometimes the transfer messes up meter read access and that does take time to sort. {I had a similar issue moving from EoN to Octopus and then Trump had a paddy… so I'm on a fixed rate tariff rather than the EV one I was intending on moving to.}

Reed_Richards

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82093886#Comment_82093886

As per this thread . Some peo[le seem to have had their problems resolves, others gave up.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6668181/e-on-cant-access-smart-meter-after-switch-now-overcharging-me