Alternative Energy Suppliers

Kotek Besar · 20-02-2009 11:01pm

jaffa20 wrote: »

I'm talking about renters though. They have to pay a connection fee when the landlord already paid it to have it transferred into your name. This is charged everytime you change address! :mad:

News to me, I've been renting for the past 3+ years, in 3 different properties..

jaffa20 wrote: »

And a 200euro deposit when paying by direct debit is ridiculous. They have the account details. What more do they want? ESB are a lot more reasonable in this regard.

Never had to pay a deposit either. I pay by DD.

jaffa20 · 20-02-2009 11:10pm

benifa wrote: »

News to me, I've been renting for the past 3+ years, in 3 different properties..

Never had to pay a deposit either. I pay by DD.

http://www.bordgaisenergy.ie/htm/residential/2_become_customer/index.htm

luckat · 21-02-2009 8:19am

Thinking of changing to Airtricity today, because of green reasons, and because they're cheaper too.

Kotek Besar · 21-02-2009 10:52am

jaffa20 wrote: »

http://www.bordgaisenergy.ie/htm/residential/2_become_customer/index.htm

Link says "If your meter is locked please call 1850 632 632 and we will make an appointment with you to unlock your meter. You will be charged a connection fee of €115, this will be applied to your first bill."

So, only if the meter is locked do you have to pay the €115 connection charge.

Regarding the €200 deposit, even if you elect to pay by DD, yeah, that's certainly news to me alright. I've personally never had to pay it. Maybe I was just lucky.

D'Peoples Voice · 21-02-2009 12:22pm

luckat wrote: »

Thinking of changing to Airtricity today, because of green reasons, and because they're cheaper too.

the only problem with Airtricity is that they are part of the 2nd biggest energy company(SSE) in the whole of the UK and Ireland, have have over 9 MILLION customers,
whereas Bord Gais are a small company with only 400,000 customers, so sometimes it's nice to support the little indigenous company even if Airtricity's parent have an award winning customer service.

Big is not always beautiful, and besides by purchasing electricity from Bord Gais I'm sure you're reclaiming back some of the excess price you're paying them for your gas, so you should end up neutral

broadsheet · 21-02-2009 3:01pm

This move is great for householders, the more players that enter this market the better.

Now we need competition within our transport system, rail especially.

Tiriel · 21-02-2009 3:11pm

Switched to BG - so easy to do online. Will be interesting to see how the savings work out. Must make sure that in the back of my mind the heating isn't left on a bit longer etc. with a subconscious "well I am saving 14%"...

Delighted to see competition in the market - there's nothing stopping the ESB from making efforts to retain their customers. There have been no efforts to reward loyal customers, incentives for paying bill in full on time etc.

k99_64 · 21-02-2009 3:30pm

Cabaal wrote: »

So you believe that Bord Gais one powere station which does not even start to operate till November 2009 and won't be 100% operational till April 2010 will supply 100% of power they require or that they won't buy power from ESB Networks which they will resell?

Bord Gais own 4 wind farms, but you are correct they are reselling esb electricity and using their facilities, the power station opening up is so that when the 3yr promise runs out (or the regulator) drops esb prices that bord gais can still sell at a competitive price

Fnergg · 21-02-2009 6:00pm

Cork_girl wrote: »

...Delighted to see competition in the market - there's nothing stopping the ESB from making efforts to retain their customers. There have been no efforts to reward loyal customers, incentives for paying bill in full on time etc.

ESB is committed to working with the Regulator to reduce its dominant share of the domestic electricity market. It fully expects to lose hundreds of thousands of customers to Bord Gais and others over the next few years. It is not interested therefore in retaining customers by offering them incentives and the like: that would run counter to the drive to reduce its dominance. That is also why ESB prices will remain higher than its competitors for the foreseeable future as, otherwise, why would customers bother to switch?

When it is no longer the dominant supplier (probably when it has 50% or less of the customer market) it will have its regulatory restrictions lifted and will then be able to compete on an equal basis and will be able to offer attractive prices. The sooner this happens the better for ESB - and for customers - so it is not in the least bit worried about the current rush to switch. It would be very concerned if it did not happen. It might seem strange that a company is so philosophical about losing customers but that is the price ESB has to pay in the interests of the greater good.

All this of course is masterminded by the Regulator so ESB customers are paying more than they really need to in order to encourage customers to go and in this way real competition will eventually be delivered. At the moment ESB has its hands tied behind its back so that the regulatory targets can be delivered.

Regards,

Fnergg

corktom · 21-02-2009 6:20pm

Just switched online. My 2 fingers to the ESB giving their overpaid staff 3% and saved 12% as well. Win win situ.

Fnergg · 21-02-2009 6:47pm

corktom wrote: »

Just switched online. My 2 fingers to the ESB giving their overpaid staff 3% and saved 12% as well. Win win situ.

You do realise that the "overpaid" BGE workers got the increase as well?

Regards,

Fnergg

corktom · 22-02-2009 5:21pm

Ok not a win win situ just a win situ

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 23-02-2009 9:14am

corktom wrote: »

Just switched online. My 2 fingers to the ESB giving their overpaid staff 3% and saved 12% as well. Win win situ.

Pay in BGE is every bit as good as ESB and they got the 3.5% with the further 2.5% on it's way, while ESB is looking for a pay freeze. Is this just lack of understanding or begruddery?
The switch is worth it certainly as ESB are not permitted to respond to the price competition but let's stick to the facts.

23-02-2009 10:35am

Does the 10-14% discount include the standing charges? If not the saving would not be too much for me

Cabaal · 23-02-2009 10:44am

rarnes1 wrote: »

Does the 10-14% discount include the standing charges? If not the saving would not be too much for me

Standing charges remain unchanged....how would the saving not be much to you?
Your looking at 10e saving in every 100e (at 10%)

23-02-2009 10:50am

Cabaal wrote: »

Standing charges remain unchanged....how would the saving not be much to you?
Your looking at 10e saving in every 100e (at 10%)

Just worked it out, would save a tenner every 2 months so fiver a month. 60euro a year. Still a saving I know but my bills are pretty small in comparison to others

cormie · 23-02-2009 11:06am

As a non BG customer currently, who can pay by DD, over a period of 2 or 3 years, who will work out cheaper, airtricity or BG? I'd definitely prefer to support renewable energy

Will switch soon myself

Sizzler · 23-02-2009 12:18pm

Did this over the wkend and opted to pay by DD. Tend to pay BG the same amount each month voluntarily regardless of usage throughout the year so always in credit with them for a few bob so will make things handier if nothing else.

Have the ESB reacted in anyway shape or form to this?

Any stats on how many people have left ESB yet? I read somewhere last week that 2000 people signed up in one day to BG, if this continues ESB will have to react surely? Thats a lot of revenue down the toilet for them...

brettmirl · 23-02-2009 1:19pm

ESB can't react. Their prices are set by the regulator.

soc · 23-02-2009 1:26pm

Gosh darn it! Now Airtricity is added to the poll... and I can't add my vote (I voted NO to switching to Bord Gais).

If OP can change my NO vote (poll was originally a yes/no vote) to AIRTRICITY I would be much appreciated!

Sizzler · 23-02-2009 1:30pm

mick_irl wrote: »

ESB can't react. Their prices are set by the regulator.

Bummer ! They pretty much have a clear run so? Havent seen anything from Airtricity?

soc wrote: »

Gosh darn it! Now Airtricity is added to the poll... and I can't add my vote (I voted NO to switching to Bord Gais).

If OP can change my NO vote (poll was originally a yes/no vote) to AIRTRICITY I would be much appreciated!

LOL

Fnergg · 23-02-2009 1:40pm

Sizzler wrote: »

...Have the ESB reacted in anyway shape or form to this? Any stats on how many people have left ESB yet? I read somewhere last week that 2000 people signed up in one day to BG, if this continues ESB will have to react surely? Thats a lot of revenue down the toilet for them...

Sizzler,

See my post above (21/2/09;18:00) which explains why the ESB will not be reacting.

I think that as of today about 13,000 customers have switched.

Regards,

Fnergg

cormie · 23-02-2009 1:46pm

soc wrote: »

Gosh darn it! Now Airtricity is added to the poll... and I can't add my vote (I voted NO to switching to Bord Gais).

If OP can change my NO vote (poll was originally a yes/no vote) to AIRTRICITY I would be much appreciated!

soc, would you know about this:

As a non BG customer currently, who can pay by DD, over a period of 2 or 3 years, who will work out cheaper, airtricity or BG? I'd definitely prefer to support renewable energy

?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 23-02-2009 1:55pm

Sizzler wrote: »

Did this over the wkend and opted to pay by DD. Tend to pay BG the same amount each month voluntarily regardless of usage throughout the year so always in credit with them for a few bob so will make things handier if nothing else.

Have the ESB reacted in anyway shape or form to this?

Any stats on how many people have left ESB yet? I read somewhere last week that 2000 people signed up in one day to BG, if this continues ESB will have to react surely? Thats a lot of revenue down the toilet for them...

Sizzler, You need to read back through the posts a bit as this has all been explained. In brief ESB are precluded from reducing prices in competions, and the loss to them is not as gteat as you might think due to Distribution Use of System tariffs.

Doesn't take from the savings in changing to BGE though.

mike65 · 23-02-2009 1:59pm

13,000 signed up so far, thats not many all thnigs considered. Half of them are prolly on boards!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0223/1224241664749.html

Fnergg · 23-02-2009 6:56pm

mike65 wrote: »

13,000 signed up so far, thats not many all thnigs considered. Half of them are prolly on boards!

I think it's a decent number and probably what BGE were expecting. The trick now is to sustain the momentum as best they can and judging by their campaign to date they should have no problem.

Regards,

Fnergg

ongarite · 23-02-2009 7:00pm

mike65 wrote: »

13,000 signed up so far, thats not many all thnigs considered. Half of them are prolly on boards!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0223/1224241664749.html

I think it shows how apathetic Irish people are. Just couldn't be bothered to switch from ESB, still with Eircom or AIB, BOI BUT still bitch about them.

soc · 23-02-2009 7:05pm

cormie wrote: »

soc, would you know about this:

As a non BG customer currently, who can pay by DD, over a period of 2 or 3 years, who will work out cheaper, airtricity or BG? I'd definitely prefer to support renewable energy

?

The truth is nobody knows.

In simple terms if you are a non BG customer on DD then you will get a 12% discount with BG and only a 10% discount with Airtricity.

To get the 10% from Airtricity you also need to sign up to their payment plan where you get charged a set amount each month, based on your past 12 months of use. At the end of the year any overpay is refunded and any underpay is charged. That might not suit everyone.

If you don't sign up for the Payment Plan you only get an 8% discount.

E.g. based on an ESB charge of 1500 for the year, you'd save 150 with Airtricity and 180 with BG. So 30 euro difference.

For that you need to pay BG a 100 euro deposit. You might actually have to pay a bigger deposit! From talking to Bord Gais I got the impression that if you rent and have been at the address for less than 14 months they want a 300 deposit. Need to double check that though.

Also BG promise to drop their price if ESB do, to keep the 10% difference, I don't think Airtricity promise that, but I might be wrong.

So, yes, once you've got your deposit back, BG is cheaper at the moment.
But in 12 months who knows? Anything could happen.

Given the situation with deposits with BG - I've chosen to go with Airtricity for Year 1, but will definitely reassess my chosen utility company in Year 2 (maybe sooner).

Fulton Crown · 23-02-2009 7:20pm

Cabaal wrote: »

I'd imagine Srameen is just getting tired of explaining the same thing over and over to correct people's incorrect assumptions

I'm sure he is...and we are grateful - but he has choices...just explain it once..or continue to help with better grace.

We are all not experts in this area....and may need the great man's guidance from time to time.:D

Frank_Gooding · 23-02-2009 8:23pm

defo gotta go with bord gais, I am not just saying that because I work for them, can't work for pepsi and drink coke.:)

rameire · 23-02-2009 8:41pm

just want to add that not everybody gets charged the deposit from bg.

_Nuno_ · 23-02-2009 8:49pm

rameire wrote: »

just want to add that not everybody gets charged the deposit from bg.

I signed up online and it said I I had to pay a deposit of 200 OR sign up for direct debit. I signed for direct debit and I didn't pay any deposit so far.

As a side note, I am a BG gas costumer already and they already have a deposit of 200 from me that I had to pay when getting the gas contract.

cormie · 23-02-2009 11:33pm

Thanks soc, that cleared it right up

dlambirl · 24-02-2009 12:11pm

Is there any time you have to wait from connecting with ESB until you change over? We got our metre connected and ESB turned on in November. Do we have to wait a minimum period before switching?? How long do you have to wait with Bord Gais to switch to another provider if one comes along cheaper? IS there a minimum contract??

harsea8 · 24-02-2009 12:25pm

Ok, I just read through the 6 pages of comments and was pretty much sold on the switch to BG. However, after looking at the tarrifs page ( http://www.bordgaisenergy.ie/htm/residential_electricity/3_existing_customer/index.htm?layer=4 ) and my latest ESB bill, I am confused. I know that I don't have a nightsaver meter, but my ESB bill says that I have used up a certain amount of 2 types of units over the last 2 months...one is priced at €0.1597 per unit, the other is €0.1640 per unit. Looking at the above link, I can't see how this compares with the tarriffs on the BG website and I can't see how I will save 10% on those rates. I also notice that the text above the table on the BG website mentions rural 24 hrs and urban 24 hrs, but only give one rate for 24 hrs in the table.

Any idea why there is discrepancy?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 24-02-2009 1:13pm

There are 2 rates on you ESB bill because the cost changed mid billing period. The higher one is the new rate. This is before VAT while the price quoted on the BGE site include VAT.
The Urban 24 hour and Rural 24 hour rates only differ in the standing charges the unit price is the same.

Just in reply to a comment by soc earlier. An annual bill of €1500 with ESB will not be €180 cheaper with BGE as the standing charges are the same. Only the Unit rate is 12% cheaper. It would be closer to €157 for a rural customer. Is a small point but worth bearing in mind. Still a saving though!

MOH · 24-02-2009 1:44pm

dlambirl wrote: »

Is there any time you have to wait from connecting with ESB until you change over? We got our metre connected and ESB turned on in November. Do we have to wait a minimum period before switching?? How long do you have to wait with Bord Gais to switch to another provider if one comes along cheaper? IS there a minimum contract??

According to the T+Cs on sign up with Bord Gais, you have to give them 28 days notice to terminate the contract, but that seems to be it.
(also, slightly misleading - you have to agree to their electricity supply T+Cs before signup, but the link beside the check box brings you to the website T+Cs - you have to click on the 'Supply' tab to reach the supply T+Cs)

As regards switching from ESB, don't know - what do their T+Cs say?

billyhead · 24-02-2009 2:23pm

Hi,

I am currently with the ESB for elctricity in the home and I have a direct debit account with Bord Gais for the gas. I plan to switch over. Do I have to notify the ESB first or do I just sign up with Bord Gais for the electricity on the website and they take care of everything.

Sizzler · 24-02-2009 2:28pm

billyhead wrote: »

Hi,

I am currently with the ESB for elctricity in the home and I have a direct debit account with Bord Gais for the gas. I plan to switch over. Do I have to notify the ESB first or do I just sign up with Bord Gais for the electricity on the website and they take care of everything.

You dont have to tell the ESB diddly. You just go onto the BG website and the rest is easy. Handy hint, if you happen to have your latest meter reading then I think that makes the transition even quicker

admiralofthefleet · 24-02-2009 4:15pm

i have just switched over

OneQ · 24-02-2009 4:38pm

I am planning to switch to BG - I currently have a DD with ESB - do I need to cancel this with my bank after completing switch ?

dahamsta · 24-02-2009 4:43pm

You shouldn't have to, but you do.

harsea8 · 24-02-2009 6:15pm

Colby Stale Creek wrote: »

There are 2 rates on you ESB bill because the cost changed mid billing period. The higher one is the new rate. This is before VAT while the price quoted on the BGE site include VAT.

Doh! thanks for pointing that out, can't believe I missed that. Anyway, I'm signed up and looking forward to saving ~€20 a month!

cooperla · 24-02-2009 7:16pm

I've just switched. happy days!

Heard 11000 had switched by lunch time last Friday, wonder what that's up to by now?

Clare Bear · 24-02-2009 7:46pm

We just switched 2 minutes ago. About time there was some competition. Here's hoping it stays cheaper though!

luckat · 25-02-2009 7:14am

Just got my gas bill - almost €600 for heating a typical semi-d for two months. I wonder when the ESB is going to start offering cheaper gas?

_Nuno_ · 25-02-2009 8:49am

A word of warning. BG took a 200 E deposit from my bank account regardless of the direct debit. The claim on their website is a lie, so be careful if you're renting for less than 14 months.

I am going to try and get it back and if I can't I'll go to airtricity, and probably will see if there are other options for gas as well.

This kind of thing seriously pisses me off.

_Nuno_ · 25-02-2009 10:31am

_Nuno_ wrote: »

A word of warning. BG took a 200 E deposit from my bank account regardless of the direct debit. The claim on their website is a lie, so be careful if you're renting for less than 14 months.

I am going to try and get it back and if I can't I'll go to airtricity, and probably will see if there are other options for gas as well.

This kind of thing seriously pisses me off.

After almost one hour on the phone to Bord Gais electricity and then to the gas section, what happened is that for some reason the gas side of Bord Gais for no particular reason just decided to charge me again for the deposit I already had paid by credit card. Issue seems to be sorted, so the claim on the webiste is actually true, you will not pay a deposit for electricity if you sign up for direct debit.

Just check you bank statement regularly because for any extra direct debits fom BG.....

hedgeh0g · 25-02-2009 11:13am

luckat wrote: »

Just got my gas bill - almost €600 for heating a typical semi-d for two months. I wonder when the ESB is going to start offering cheaper gas?

Just for heating? Do cook with gas as well? Even with cooking thats a lot.

Phone them and ask them to check the reading (estimate)?

corktom · 25-02-2009 3:15pm

Colby Stale Creek wrote: »

Pay in BGE is every bit as good as ESB and they got the 3.5% with the further 2.5% on it's way, while ESB is looking for a pay freeze. Is this just lack of understanding or begruddery?
The switch is worth it certainly as ESB are not permitted to respond to the price competition but let's stick to the facts.

Yes the previous post said that. Ok with sticking to facts but maybe also lets not repeat.

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