Can Martin write an article on Social Tariffs please

Chuffy

I am looking into Social Tariffs for those on low income and am finding it extremely difficult to find any information on them. The energy companies appear to hiding them to prevent people from applying.
I've tried three of the big six (BG, EDF and Scottish & Southern) and only one of them actually has information that is useful and a contact number on their website. One of the other companies just says how smashing they are by providing the service (but no details on how to actually get the tariff or the qualifying conditions) and the other has no reference at all on their site.

I think it would be useful for Martin to write an article to explain criteria for qualifying for each of the schemes, how they work and how people can get actually get on them given the barriers put up by the energy companies. If he has already written one, can someone point a link out for me please. Ta...

Poppycat

Yes SP social tariff is only open to people on quarterly bills and pension age. Something there web site doesn't mention

http://www.scottishpower.com/PressReleases_1622.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/7288241.stm

I am also not sure whether some of these social tariffs are any cheaper. It depends on who you are with and what traffic you are on. I mean internet tariffs tend to be cheaper as there is less admin costs for example

Chuffy

I work for a social housing provider with around 21,000 tenants and I want to provide the information to our customers. About a third of our customers are on pre-payment meters and over 80% are in receipt of Housing Benefit. Many will not have the resources to manage an online tariff so I'm looking at helping those who are likely to be unable to do things like this without help.
I consider myself to be fairly capable and I'm struggling to find the information!

Poppycat

Oh I see what you mean I am being to think social tariff is more about looking like the companies have a social responsibility rather than actually doing anything meaningful.

I think a social tariff should be at least one of the best deals in terms of cost at least

I wondered if some customers could at least get to there online accounts via library or perhaps a local charity or age concern, I am sure most large towns have all of these facilities in place I know it wont help everyone

I know energy watch have a pdf file on social tariffs

http://www.energywatch.org.uk/index.asp

energywatch has published its full consultation report on social tariffs (PDF file) showing how discounted tariffs could help lift millions of consumers out of fuel poverty. Other responses to the consultation and our Executive Summary can be found under our Publications/Consultations section.

Ken68

Energywatch are the people to ask....lots in Google under 'social energy tariffs' including this and there is a PDF also.
http://www.energywatch.org.uk/media/news/show_release.asp?article_id=1019

Ebico seem the best likely candidate,

Smiley_Mum

Many thanks for the information provided on this thread. I just contacted my energy provider and am entitled to a discount. This is great news as I've already cut things right back but being entitled to the discount helps us out a lot. Thanks. :j

Chuffy

Glad you've benefited from this discussion smiley_mum .
Ken68 and Poppycat, I'm fine with the principle and where their aimed, the thing I am struggling with is how to actually find out what each company's qualifying conditions are, the level of discount applied and how the hell do you get on the tariff.
Try looking for it on EDF's site - there is no mention at all on the customer site.
BG have put something saying 'we're super as we provide a social tariff', but don't explain how to get it.
S&S have a page, with the discount you will get, a bit of an explanation of how to apply and a telephone number to contact them.
All I want is the same across the board.

SwanJon

There is a logic behind this. These tariffs are limited (at some point) so they want to target them properly.
If the website said you must have x, y & z to get the tariff, they would get loads of calls saying 'I have x, y & z' and would then probably need to start asking for proof which makes it more hassle for both and more expensive to run.
Call the suppliers with a customer in mind and see what they can offer.
I know that BG's essentials tariff gives all customers the DD discount, no matter how they pay.
If you are dealing with that many properties, can you deal on their behalf? Again, BG have a team that may be able to offer more.
Look for the Priority Services register with each supplier, call them and ask.
If you make 6 calls and help thousands, that's got to be worth it.

Chuffy

I understand the logic of stopping the system being abused, but it's estimated that 400,000 are on these tariffs, and another 500,000 should be.
Surely this implies that the tariffs are so secret that half a million people don't know about them.

SwanJon

The tariffs aren't secret - we all know about them, and they've been all over the news.
All suppliers have to offer a Priority Services Register, and this would be the starting point. They can advise on what is available to help custoemrs from Braille bills to local government grants. They should also be able to determine if the customer is eligable for their social tariff. All they need to do is phone and ask.
Quick googling
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4371186.stm
(Ok, it's a few years old, but the numbers will probably still be the same)

msaquib

Hi,

Currently I have Gas and Electric in my name. My dad is a pensioner/disability and mum has a disability to.

My Gas is with Atlantic - credit metre
Electric - British Gas - Prepayment Metre

Is it possible to change the above to my mum and dad's name.

Also I am interested to register my parents onto the priority service register. The main reason is that the electric metre is currently in the celler and it is hard to get. I wanted to move it another reachable place.

I am under 60 and living my parents. Will my parents still be entitled to the PRS and social tariff?

Thank you
MS