Airtricity increase electricity discount to 13%

bugfreebob

Airtricity have increased the discount to consumers to 13% vs ESB. This is close the the maximum possible discount available from Bord Gais(14%) if you already have a gas bill, and better than the discount available if you don't have gas(12%).

http://www.airtricity.ie/ireland/for_your_home/our_prices/

I am currently with Airtricity, have gas, and was considering changing to Bord Gais, but it's hardly worth it for 1%, plus I like the idea of supporting renewable energy.

kendragon

Why arent airtricity being as aggressive as bord gais when it comes to telling people about this service. With all the publicity that bord gais is getting in the media i've only ever seen anything about Airtricity on this website.

Prenderb

Yeah it's strange alright, but maybe airtricity don't have as much electricity to sell? Depends on the arrangement. BG may be buying and selling wholesale electrons from ESB, whereas Airtricity might be selling only the electrons they've generated themselves.

pirelli

anyone have a promotional code for airtricity

bugfreebob

kendragon wrote: »

Why arent airtricity being as aggressive as bord gais when it comes to telling people about this service. With all the publicity that bord gais is getting in the media i've only ever seen anything about Airtricity on this website.

I suspect they are mainly interested in Business customers. I have been with Airtricity for 9 years - I think I actually got transferred by accident when they were only supposed to be taking businesses. Until recently there was no price advantage for consumers - in fact for a few months it cost more than ESB. Residential consumers are probably a lot of trouble with very little profit. If they can get enough business customers to sell all their electricity, this probably makes more sense. It may be more logical for Bord Gais since they already handle Gas consumers and can probably re-use a lot of their IT and human resources to handle an extra product.

bobbbb

I think that Airtricity are trying a bit of smoke and mirrors here.

Havent Bord gais said that they will be 14% below the ESBs prices for the whole year and a certain percentage below for the next year and so on.

So if the ESB drop by 10% will Airtricity go to 13% below that new price. If they dont, you are still better off with Bord Gais because they will decrease their prices as the ESB decrease theirs to remain 14% below ESB for the whole year.

Sir Oxman

What happens if the ESB change their prices?

We will guarantee these discounts on ESB electricity costs until 31st of January 2010.


From:

https://www.airtricity.com/ireland/for_your_home/frequently_asked_question/


Hopefully they mean if ESB DECREASE their prices!

Whatwith the easiness of switching if BGE is cheaper than Airtricity after Jan 2010 then switch over to them.

bobbbb

gambiaman wrote: »

What happens if the ESB change their prices?

We will guarantee these discounts on ESB electricity costs until 31st of January 2010.


From:

https://www.airtricity.com/ireland/for_your_home/frequently_asked_question/


Hopefully they mean if ESB DECREASE their prices!

Whatwith the easiness of switching if BGE is cheaper than Airtricity after Jan 2010 then switch over to them.

What about years 2 and 3. Bord Gais will be at least 5% cheaper than ESB in years 2 and 3.

Still seems like a lame effort from Airtricity to me.

MayoForSam

Isn't one significant advantage for Airtricity the fact you don't have to pay a €200 deposit if you're not already a customer (unlike Bord Gais)?

Obviously BG have a higher advertising budget and public profile in general compared to Airtricity, personally I will wait for another month or two until we get some feedback on how smoothly the switching actually works as regards billing accuracy, etc. (especially until we see what happens if the enery regulator tells the ESB to drop the wholesale price).

Another entrant or two would liven things up as well (maybe Viridian?).

Sir Oxman

bobbbb wrote: »

What about years 2 and 3. Bord Gais will be at least 5% cheaper than ESB in years 2 and 3.

Still seems like a lame effort from Airtricity to me.

I don't know but the (apparent) easiness of switching from ESb to Airtricity to BGE and back again in whatever order would indicate you simply shop around in Year 2 and Year 3 and 4 etc

Sir Oxman

MayoForSam wrote: »

Isn't one significant advantage for Airtricity the fact you don't have to pay a €200 deposit if you're not already a customer (unlike Bord Gais)?

Obviously BG have a higher advertising budget and public profile in general compared to Airtricity, personally I will wait for another month or two until we get some feedback on how smoothly the switching actually works as regards billing accuracy, etc. (especially until we see what happens if the enery regulator tells the ESB to drop the wholesale price).

Another entrant or two would liven things up as well (maybe Viridian?).

I'm waiting too till I hear what the experiences are of the '000s that have switched so far

ShaunC

MayoForSam wrote: »

I
Another entrant or two would liven things up as well (maybe Viridian?).

was he not in x factor last year:D

Colonel Sanders

bobbbb wrote: »

What about years 2 and 3. Bord Gais will be at least 5% cheaper than ESB in years 2 and 3.

do the 2 possible 2% discounts (for being a bord gais customer already and for paying by direct debit) apply in years 2 & 3 also? i.e can you get a maximum discount of 9% in years 2 & 3 or is the maximum discount 5%?

I have mailed Bord Gais but no reply yet!!

Winter

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

do the 2 possible 2% discounts (for being a bord gais customer already and for paying by direct debit) apply in years 2 & 3 also? i.e can you get a maximum discount of 9% in years 2 & 3 or is the maximum discount 5%?

I have mailed Bord Gais but no reply yet!!

I don't understand why you would be overly concerned about what is occuring in Years 2 or 3.
Switching electricity is pretty easy, just calling/filling in the form, so why not make a note in your diary for about 11 months time and check out what Bord Gais, Airtricity or any other player are offering for Year 2?

I dont think Bord Gais (or other suppliers for that matter) will be prepared to make any definitive statement about what the discount is going to be in 12 months time, because it will also depend on customers, economic climate, price of wholesale energy etc.
If I was Bord Gais I would imagine, I would always offer a discount for gas customers i.e. easy access to known customer base. Also customers paying by DD lessens the cash required to chase bad debt so again you would think they would want to encourage it.

I dont think you can lose with swapping to either company offering a discount at the moment because there is no contract so if you dont like it, you just ring ESB up and swap it back..

TM

bobbbb wrote: »

I think that Airtricity are trying a bit of smoke and mirrors here.

Havent Bord gais said that they will be 14% below the ESBs prices for the whole year and a certain percentage below for the next year and so on.

14% only if you are a BGE gas customer. 12% if you are not but pay by DD. 10% if you are not and don't pay by DD. But the BGE price/discount guarantees may be relevant alright.