Possible price increase for airtricity customers

7sr2z3fely84g5

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0816/airtricity-business.html

Energy company Airtricity is to increase its gas and electricity prices over the next couple of months, blaming a significant increase in the cost of wholesale energy, particularly gas.
Airtricity said electricity prices would rise by 12.3% from September 1, while gas prices go up by 21.2% from October 1.
Standing charges for electricity will also rise by 12.3%, but gas standing charges will be unchanged. Standing charges are fees paid to other companies for use of their network.
Airtricity said it regretted the increases. Chief executive Kevin Greenhorn said the company had done its best to absorb the increased costs of energy, but could no longer do so.
Last month, the energy regulator gave Bord Gáis permission for a 22% increase in gas prices from October 1. Bord Gáis has also raised its electricity prices by 12%.
Airtricity said that, as a result of the rises, a typical electricity customer would pay an extra €2.53 a week, while those using both gas and electricity would pay an extra €5.45 a week.

Will there be a sudden jump to another provider all sudden,or will the new provider welcome aboard the new customers and raise their own prices ?.

TheZohanS

Bord Gais are raising their prices too, they're all at it.

blaze1

It must be to cover their outstanding customer service centre :pac:

Samich

Airtricity make you think they make all their electricity from the wind, they make the same amount of electricity from wind as every other company.

FetchTheGin

F**k sake, I only moved to these pricks when bord gais upped their prices.

Shower of bastards.

7sr2z3fely84g5

scandalous joe

*minister appears on tv to appeal to the providers


*providers don't listen,free to go ahead..

Ghandee

What's ESB like now for pricing?
Also, am I right in thinking I've read somewhere that they offered gas now too?

Never trusted airtricity anyway, I think my bills went up:eek: after switching to the fcukpots!

kinaldo

I'm a bit vexed by this having just switched over both gas and electricity from ESB on the promise from Airtricity that I would be making a saving of somewhere in the region of 10%. Is this saving guaranteed or should I now switch back?

happytramp

kinaldo wrote: »

I'm a bit vexed by this having just switched over both gas and electricity from ESB on the promise from Airtricity that I would be making a saving of somewhere in the region of 10%. Is this saving guaranteed or should I now switch back?

I'm in the same boat. The shower of B****rds did a door to door marketing push a couple of months ago in order to get as many new accounts open before the price increase. They made all sorts of promises about not increasing their rates like Board Gais. However I 100% percent believe they knew full well they would increase the price and flat out lied.

Big Lar

FetchTheGin wrote: »

F**k sake, I only moved to these pricks when bord gais upped their prices.

Shower of bastards.

I moved on sunday and the salesman said that the prices were fixed for a year

msg11

Who would trust a salemans at your door, I for sure would not.

What's even more exciting is the government are going to be upping the carbon tax in the next budget, so I can easily see Petrol rising to over 2.00euro a litre over the course of next year.

I dunno, I can see alot of people dropping the gas in there homes and wrapping up this winter. Would it be cheaper to heat a room with one of them superser things ? Either that or going back to the coal.

djrichard

Ghandee wrote: »

What's ESB like now for pricing?
Also, am I right in thinking I've read somewhere that they offered gas now too?

Never trusted airtricity anyway, I think my bills went up:eek: after switching to the fcukpots!

What makes you think it went up? If you have a look at your standing charge and your unit rates, which make-up your bill, you will be able to calculate that Airtricity are cheaper.

Airtricity offer 15% off the gas unit rates. As Bord Gais are increasing their gas rates by 22% on 1st October, then its obvious that the competition are going to react to this. If Airtricity didnt increase their prices to reflect current market conditions, then they would be offering 37% off the gas unit rates! Hardly likely is it. So despite Airtricity increasing their prices, the actual difference between Bord Gais rates and Airtricity rates has increased from 15% to 15.7%. So there you go folks, EVEN BIGGER savings from Airtricity!

For those mentioning the wind, all the electric that Airtricity produce isnt enough to power all of their 482,000 households in Ireland, therefore they purchase electric from the grid. So what you get to your home is a mix of electric from all over. The power they produce themselves uses absolutely zero fossil fuels. No coal, gas or oil.

The reality is that Ireland is a tiny little country in the Atlantic, its in no position to control global gas market rates. Unfortunately the problems in Libya, the earthquake in Japan and the massively increasing demand for gas in Asia, has dramatically increased the wholesale cost for gas. While everyone moans about these things, the stark reality is that fuel is expensive. Also, on another note, the welfare allowance for fuel is also being reduced. Instead of 2400 units of free electric, it will only be 1800 from now on. The gas payments are being reduced by around 20euros each month also. I cant remember the exact amount. I feel sorry for the people who need these allowances, but I have no pity for the freeloaders who exploit these allowances.

In the UK, all the companies have increased their prices. Its just what happens. Bord Gais announced their rises first, Airtricity have reacted. Next will be Electric Ireland. I predict that they will increase their standard rate for electric more than 12% because they still have a large percentage of the market who have proved that despite EI not automatically giving them discounts after they were allowed to, they didnt apply. If you have customers who keep feeding you their wages despite better offers out there, why would you give bigger discounts?

In the UK, in the past 12 years of deregulation, all ther big companies follow each other every time there is a price increase. Its a game of cat and mouse who will make the announcement first, as the first to rise usually gets the brunt of the bad publicity.

The best thing I can advise, is for anyone concerned about prices, is to wait a couple of weeks and we will get the announcement from Electric Ireland about their prices. Then you can make an informed decision about what is best for you.

Its easy to get angry and start cursing and accussing companies of conning customers and ripping them off, but it wont save you anything. Changing at the moment is a mistake as all the players have not yet dealt their hand.

To end on a positive note.....the PSO levy is being reduced slightly for all suppliers!

Ally Dick

It's all a cartel. Absolutely sickening. The government "invite" competition into the market so the punter can pick and choose the best price. Then the regulator comes along and gives each company whatever increase they ask for. This is a wonderful country !

kinaldo

@ djrichard,

You mention Board Gais prices compared to Airtricity, but what about ESB who now do both gas and electricity. I was happy enough with ESB for both until that Airtricity saleswoman came around and assured me I would be making a huge saving by switching to them.

Ally Dick

Are these energy companies INDEMNIFIED from loss by the regulator ? Surely if you are a competitive company offering gas and electricity, should YOU not be the one taking the hit if the price of world gas prices continues to go up ? Ok you are entitled to pass it on to your consumer, but surely it is ILLEGAL for the regulator to grant increases across the board to ALL available energy suppliers ? If the price of paper shot up, and the Evening Herald put their price up to €1.20, I could switch to the Daily Star for €1. I don't have that choice when it comes to energy....

stovelid

Any Airtricity chuggers reading this:

If your beat is in the Square or near the Jervis Centre and you keep doorstepping me, I'm going to stab you in the eye socket with a pen.

Even that cute one.

Thx.

starbelgrade

You can compare gas & electricity prices here.. https://www.bonkers.ie/compare-gas-electricity-prices/

If your current supplier isn't the cheapest, just switch providers.

djrichard

kinaldo wrote: »

@ djrichard,

You mention Board Gais prices compared to Airtricity, but what about ESB who now do both gas and electricity. I was happy enough with ESB for both until that Airtricity saleswoman came around and assured me I would be making a huge saving by switching to them.

If you were paying by direct debit and getting your bills online, ESB gave you 17% off their own standard electric rates and 6% off the Bord Gais regulated gas rates. Airtricity increased your gas savings to 15%, which is a 9% saving. As Airtricity offer 5% off the electric prices, you would have increased your electric prices by 12% compared to ESBs reduced prices. Although, there are several products Airtricity offer. I based that comparison on the assumption you opted for 15% off gas and 5% off electric. You could have went for 15% off electric and 5% off gas, or, even 10% off gas and 10% off electric. If you switched over before 1st June 2011, then Airtricity offered 20% off gas and 6% off electric.

When you compare all the companies, and actually break down each component of the bill, including standing charges, there actually isnt all that much in it. Certainly not hundreds of euros savings. A simple way to check is to look at Bonkers.ie, just make sure that they are displaying current pricing information.

Changing supply now is poiontless, Id advise waiting and seeing what ESB announce, which will surely be very soon. It might even be in the next few days. Price announcements are kept very close to their chests as you can imagine.

djrichard

stovelid wrote: »

Any Airtricity chuggers reading this:

If your beat is in the Square or near the Jervis Centre and you keep doorstepping me, I'm going to stab you in the eye socket with a pen.

Even that cute one.

Thx.

A sure way to get your account banned. Go away and have a board meeting with yourself.

starbelgrade

djrichard wrote: »

Changing supply now is poiontless,

Not exactly pointless. The savings aren't huge, but better off in your pocket than theirs.

You can also change providers online, so it's not exactly much hassle either.

djrichard

Ally Dick wrote: »

Are these energy companies INDEMNIFIED from loss by the regulator ? Surely if you are a competitive company offering gas and electricity, should YOU not be the one taking the hit if the price of world gas prices continues to go up ? Ok you are entitled to pass it on to your consumer, but surely it is ILLEGAL for the regulator to grant increases across the board to ALL available energy suppliers ? If the price of paper shot up, and the Evening Herald put their price up to €1.20, I could switch to the Daily Star for €1. I don't have that choice when it comes to energy....

Bord Gais have no regulated electric rates. Airtricity have no regulated rates for gas and electric. They can alter those prices at any time they chose. They do not have to apply to alter pricing. If you dont like the prices they charge, then you are able to change at any given time, without penalty. Unless of course you entered into a 12 month contract, in which case there may be a fee for breaking that contract before the stated period has been reached.

What you must remember, is that if a company such as Airtricity were to increase their prices to a level where they were no longer competative, they would lose their customers rapidly. People still attach huge amounts of emotion to these decisions, instead of just basing it on logic. Consumers have an emotional attachment to what they see as "the gas board and the electric board" who they have been with all their lives. As these people get older and pass away, you will find they are replaced by a generation who are familiar with the concept of change and who will seek out the best deals. This has been proven in the UK over the last decade, and possibly even here in Ireland with the car insurance market. The amount of people who shop around for car insurance now, compared to even 5 years ago, is very high.

Petrol prices are rising steadily, but because they go up frequently and by small increments, people are not up in arms as much, they have almost come to accept it.

djrichard

starbelgrade wrote: »

Not exactly pointless. The savings aren't huge, but better off in your pocket than theirs.

You can also change providers online, so it's not exactly much hassle either.

Well, by the time you have changed, ESB would have made their announcement, so you would be as well to wait a week or so and see what happens. Despite being able to change relatively easily, there are still many ways in which these companies, including Airtricity, find to mess it up.

Most people cant be bothered to change at all, thats why 80-85% of all Airtricity sales come from door to door sales. If it wasnt for that direct contact face to face, the consumers just put it off. There are always a million and one other things to do before most people actually get actively involved in seeking cheaper bills themselves. Many people even visit online comparison sites and do a comparison, and then when they decide to switch, they are asked for their MPRN, GPRN, meter readings, bank account details etc. Because they often dont know how to find this info, or perhaps they dont have a meter key to open the box, they just end up putting it off. That is why there will alwasy be people knocking at everyones door.

If ESB offer a better saving on my bills, I will change from Airtricity myself, I honestly couldnt care less who I pay the bill to. I believe the customer service in every company Ive ever dealt with is poor. I dont just mean energy suppliers, I mean every company. Ive changed my supplier about 15 times in the last 12 years.

MagicSean

I blame the shell to sea ****.

Dudess

Ghandee wrote: »

What's ESB like now for pricing?
Also, am I right in thinking I've read somewhere that they offered gas now too?

Yeah they do - and they've been offering discounts for the past few months since deregulation.

On topic: I don't get why people just assume a utility company decides "MWAHAHAHAHAAAAA, let's up our rates - the fools!" It doesn't work like that, and that's a very lazy, simplistic way of looking at things.

djrichard wrote: »

A sure way to get your account banned.

Er... no it isn't.

7sr2z3fely84g5

Doesn't matter who you switch they all rise in prices,isn't there a clause now in contracts when leaving suppliers?.

starbelgrade

Lexi Wet Court wrote: »

isn't there a clause now in contracts when leaving suppliers?.

No. Customers have a general contract with their supplier, but there is no "minimum" contract.

Basically, you're free to switch suppliers as and when you so choose.

FetchTheGin

Dudess wrote: »

On topic: I don't get why people just assume a utility company decides "MWAHAHAHAHAAAAA, let's up our rates - the fools!" It doesn't work like that, and that's a very lazy, simplistic way of looking at things.

Go on then, give us your amazingly complex view of it.

djrichard

Lexi Wet Court wrote: »

Doesn't matter who you switch they all rise in prices,isn't there a clause now in contracts when leaving suppliers?.

I believe, and I could be wrong here, that the only company who can charge you if you decide to leave is Airtricity. Bord Gais have no fees. With the new ESB discounts Im not sure, but I have seen absolutely no information to say there is any charge, so I wouldnt think there was.

You would only have a fee from Airtricity if you entered a 12 month contract with them. If you are saving 10% or 9% off gas and electric with Airtricity, you are in no contract and are free to leave whenever you want without penalty. If you have 20% off gas and 6% off electric (19%+5% postal billing) or 15% and 5% (14%+4% postal billing) then you have entered a 12 month contract with Airtricity. This contract states that you will receive your discounted rates for the remainder of the calendar month that you signed up in, or applied online or by telephone, and the following 11 consecutive months. If you breach that contract by changing supplier before that period has expired, you may be subject to a cancelattion of contract fee which would be between 50 to 70 euros, depending on which product you applied for.

ALL the discounts are based on Airtricitys standard rates, which are subject to change at any given time.

Dudess

FetchTheGin wrote: »

Go on then, give us your amazingly complex view of it.

Don't have one. And it's not required simply because I state utility companies don't have the power/privilege to just randomly up rates.

FetchTheGin

Dudess wrote: »

Don't have one. And it's not required simply because I state utility companies don't have the power/privilege to just randomly up rates.

Yes they do.

Sonnenblumen

Lexi Wet Court wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0816/airtricity-business.html


Will there be a sudden jump to another provider all sudden,or will the new provider welcome aboard the new customers and raise their own prices ?.

Should have gone to specsavers. Churn baby, churn.

OneArt

I remember I did door to door sales for Airtricity for a whole week. Made a lot of money but f*cking HATED it with a passion. Got so jealous of people in their nice, warm houses and me traipsing around the estate earning ma bread... But besides the point HA! They're getting rid of their deal completely, it was 13 percent off electricity and 20 percent of gas.

Gunna be a nightmare for those poor sales people to pitch it now...

ferretone

Not changing from ESB Extortion Ireland, nor even going to direct debit. Mother-in-law curses the day she let them near her bank account, as they kept doing estimates when she wasn't in, then when they got a real reading, would just leave the credit on her bill, as it was always over, rather than debiting from the excess. They were always recommending she buy their stuff, but she didn't want to.

The main reason tho, is that there is no going back from dd, ever. I hate being forced into things, and as our heating is all solid fuel - don't even have an immersion - I don't use enough electricity to let 'em do it.

stovelid

djrichard wrote: »

A sure way to get your account banned.

My Airtricity account?