Best Electricity Unit Rates

SD_DRACULA

Not sure if this is feasible to keep updated but it would be nice if we can get a spreadsheet going with the best unit rates (like the PV one we have)

When you try to look at all the individual unit rates on Bonkers it's not easy.

Ideally by someone with proper Excel skills, something like this maybe?

irishchris

Great idea and to maybe add in the rural and urban standing charges with each as this appears to be the new covert way of putting prices up by the utilities at the minute

SD_DRACULA

For sure and maybe also "low usage" standing charges which are higher again which can impact us solar fanboys.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058242193/best-electricity-unit-rates

It would be very difficult to keep it up to date. It changes all the time, you just wouldn’t be able to trust it.

This is exactly why the price comparison sites exist. A spreadsheet is just going to be replicating what they have but less sophisticated.

When you try to look at all the individual unit rates on Bonkers it's not easy.

i find it easy enough. It breaks the prices down, sorts them and even accounts for upcoming price changes and cash back etc and you can enter your exact kWh figures and tells you cheapest for you.

A spreadsheet won’t beat that without ALOT of effort to keep it up to date.

irishchris

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118942458#Comment_118942458

I still think it would be a good help. Might not have all latest offers but would be of higher benefit to many coming here that have solar. Take the energia day/night ev plan for example that is probably the best out there for those with solar can't be found on bonkers and wouldn't have known it existed only for reading some people posting about it on here. It's plans like this that would be beneficial to have listed here

Open to correction though and I may have missed it on bonkers if you could link it

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118942543#Comment_118942543

To my knowledge it's not on bonkers.

I have a sheet done too but I only go through it and update it when I need to switch.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118942543#Comment_118942543

Thats somewhat different though.

A spreadsheet of plans with rates that are out of date isnt going to solve that problem.

A thread titled "Plans not available on price comparison sites" would have merit, if there are some missing.

I just cant see how a spreadsheet providing plans/rates is going to be useful considering how often they change. If you were in the market right now to switch would you trust a "random" spreadsheet on the internet to make your mind up? I wouldnt. The price comparison sites are regulated and checked for accuracy and, of course, you can check the individual providers sites for any other plans they might provide.

Each to their own but a spreadsheet will only be of any use if it is CONSTANTLY updated for every plan (urban, rural, smart, day/night, usage caps, price changes etc... the combinations are massive).... the price comparison sites have a team of developers dedicated to just that exact problem.... why reinvent the wheel?

Jonathan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118943296#Comment_118943296

I don't think anyone is trying to recreate bonkers.ie here. Reality is that there is only going to be a handful of plans of interest to people here, probably less than five.

Lowest off peak rate, highest FIT payment etc.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118943368#Comment_118943368

Right, so how does a spreadsheet give you that unless its constantly updated to show the cheapest.... Electric Ireland might be the cheapest today and way down the table tomorrow. Unless the spreadsheet is kept up to date constantly it doesnt serve any real purpose relative to just going to the price comparison sites and entering your details and getting a tailored made response that meets your individual needs (rural vs urban, smart vs d/n, Solar or not etc etc).

I guess there is one way to tell.... put up the spreadsheet and see if people keep it up to date! ;)

I wouldnt trust it anyway when it comes time to change, but have at it. I'm just pointing out the pitfall.

yankinlk

Rather than relying on a ss. If we try and popularise a thread where we can post our current provider and rate and why we picked it... it might help others.

You can only really switch once or twice per year.... if you are willing to eat the 50 euro penalty. Based on reading here I already know where I'm switching next year... but that is based on rates today... if there was a thread I might have a different option next year.

Bobeagleburger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118943424#Comment_118943424

This is a good suggestion

bullit_dodger

eeepaulo

I've done a spreadsheet that takes into account the peak, off peak, day and EV hours, lets you put in the kwh usage for each of those (or if you have a smart meter/usage meter you can just copy the data into the sheet)

There's not a chance in hell i'm keeping it up to date (and im rural so i didnt put in any urban standing charges) but it only takes 5 minutes to put in the kwh rates, cashback and standing charge of the top offers when you want to switch. The switching sites offer a % on the day night usage but just use national averages for the other smart tariffs so its not remotely close to accurate. I'm surprised they dont allow people to put in more detailed figures already.

If anyone wants it i'll post it up

SD_DRACULA

I was thinking about this and we only need the best current prices in each category broken down by unit rate and standing charges (urban and rural) and then split by electricity only and electricity & gas

This will keep it simple to update and to find the info quickly

And yes it will only be as good if kept updated, but hoping that people who do the yearly hunt can point out when they find better deals.

Could be expanded in the future to something you can drop your usage into like @eeepaulo has done above

Does bonkers expose an api for their rates?

harderthanf

Have been looking at this to integrate into the www.pvstats.eu site but while there are some api's available nothing useful is free. I could scrap Bonkers but not too sure the time that would take would be useful!

cavan_man2021

It's great having all these charts but energy providers promise the moon and stars, lock you into a 12 month contract then double the price of original deal. This puts me off changing, I just ring the buggers up and get a cheaper price.

yankinlk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118945511#Comment_118945511

and this is another valid strategy worthy of the thread. I prefer to change - and NEVER want to ring any company. Competiton drives prices down - Innovation improves self-service. I chaged to EI recently and there website is atrocious. wont be staying there if i can find a better rate via this thread next year. :)

TLDR Side story. EI have sent me no less than 5 requests for a suvey "how is you experience as a new customer?" - NONE of the links work.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118945349#Comment_118945349

You’ll need to add cashback offers as that can make a big difference depending on your usage.

and something added to show that the price is increasing in say 4 weeks time because it would be very annoying to see electric Ireland as the cheapest in this excel but then find they are way down the list in a few weeks time and you are locked into a 1yr contract. The price comparison sites do this, so you would need to at least do that to ensure you aren’t misleading people.

SD_DRACULA

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118945729#Comment_118945729

To be fair the first thing I do is ask when I call them is: "Are these current rates for about 2 days and then you scalp me or what" but different verbiage ofc 😄

Ubbquittious

These companies will all roll out another wooden price-increase cart to the public. When they'll do it and the contents of said price increase cart are kept well under wraps

CHorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118944776#Comment_118944776

Actually yes, if possible. I could use as a start. What with EVs, PVs, batteries it's all getting more and more complex. I tried PMing but you're private but if you need an email addy for me should be in my profile or PM me. Thanks.