Save Money By Leaving ESB/Electricity Ireland

Sounds · 13-07-2013 11:46AM #1

Just want to have my rant for the day and share some good news as well.

I've been with esb for years, bills have always been over priced, nothing new there.
They never sent anyone around to read the meters and then have the
cheek to make estimated bills, like the technology is not out there for
them to know exactly what you're using, if they wanted to.
But they just don't because it's ripoff Ireland and they're allowed to do what they want as they always have,
Over charging everybody, letting them run into debt and cutting them off when they can't afford to pay in full, i'm not making this up.

The last two years, in the summer time they hit us with bills for 600+ euro.
We couldn't be using that much electricity but when it comes you got to pay.

Just two weeks back our landlord rang prepaidpower.ie and they had meters
installed at all apartments, we put 25 euro in the meter and two weeks later
we still have electricity, wtf????
At that rate it's not even costing us 15 euro per week.

I wish everyone would wake up and realize that electricity ireland
are one of the most hungry companies in ireland next to the banks.
They will never help you unless they're getting money from you.

We're a very sleepy country when it comes to things that are important
and right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meat, having
companies like esb/electricity ireland is not what people need, we need electricity but from cheaper better providers.

Red Kev · 13-07-2013 11:49AM

Sounds wrote: »

Just want to have my rant for the day and share some good news as well.

I've been with esb for years, bills have always been over priced, nothing new there.
They never sent anyone around to read the meters and then have the
cheek to make estimated bills, like the technology is not out there for
them to know exactly what you're using, if they wanted to.
But they just don't because it's ripoff Ireland and they're allowed to do what they want as they always have,
Over charging everybody, letting them run into debt and cutting them off when they can't afford to pay in full, i'm not making this up.

The last two years, in the summer time they hit us with bills for 600+ euro.
We couldn't be using that much electricity but when it comes you got to pay.

Just two weeks back our landlord rang prepaidpower.ie and they had meters
installed at all apartments, we put 25 euro in the meter and two weeks later
we still have electricity, wtf????
At that rate it's not even costing us 15 euro per week.

I wish everyone would wake up and realize that electricity ireland
are one of the most hungry companies in ireland next to the banks.
They will never help you unless they're getting money from you.

We're a very sleepy country when it comes to things that are important
and right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meat, having
companies like esb/electricity ireland is not what people need, we need electricity but from cheaper better providers.

The technology exists, it's called a phone or internet, you read your own meter, contact the ESB and they will send you and up to date bill with the new reading and amount on it.

suicide_circus · 13-07-2013 11:53AM

for some reason these pre paid electricity service strike me as a massive scam?

Yawns · 13-07-2013 11:55AM

the pre-paid power actually cost more than Electric Ireland etc. The fact the OP was too bloody lazy to even submit a reading of his own is why his bills were so high.

13-07-2013 12:08PM

Can't you also request that someone comes out and reads it?

IceFjoem · 13-07-2013 12:16PM

Sounds wrote: »

We're a very sleepy country when it comes to things that are important
and right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meat, having
companies like esb/electricity ireland is not what people need, we need electricity but from cheaper better providers.

Mmmm delicious meaty ends

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 13-07-2013 12:17PM

Electric Ireland are not responsible for reading meters, none of the electricity companies employ meter readers, meters are read by ESB Networks which is now an independent company.
OP sounds like a shill!

ted1 · 13-07-2013 12:22PM

Sounds wrote: »

Just want to have my rant for the day and share some good news as well.

I've been with esb for years, bills have always been over priced, nothing new there.
They never sent anyone around to read the meters and then have the
cheek to make estimated bills, like the technology is not out there for
them to know exactly what you're using, if they wanted to.
But they just don't because it's ripoff Ireland and they're allowed to do what they want as they always have,
Over charging everybody, letting them run into debt and cutting them off when they can't afford to pay in full, i'm not making this up.

The last two years, in the summer time they hit us with bills for 600+ euro.
We couldn't be using that much electricity but when it comes you got to pay.

Just two weeks back our landlord rang prepaidpower.ie and they had meters
installed at all apartments, we put 25 euro in the meter and two weeks later
we still have electricity, wtf????
At that rate it's not even costing us 15 euro per week.

I wish everyone would wake up and realize that electricity ireland
are one of the most hungry companies in ireland next to the banks.
They will never help you unless they're getting money from you.

We're a very sleepy country when it comes to things that are important
and right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meat, having
companies like esb/electricity ireland is not what people need, we need electricity but from cheaper better providers.

Prepay is 37.5c a day dearer. Also the only match electric Ireland's standard tariff. Join board gains get the introductory offer and paperless billing with direct debit and your paying much more, once this expires go back to electric Ireland and get the sme. Avoid Airtricity.

irritablebaz · 13-07-2013 12:24PM

i keep an eye on my usage and submit my own readings. electric ireland have recently got with the programme and are offering better deals than they used to. however i got a good deal from airtricity and save over 30/40 euro than i would if i was using electric irelands best tariff.

ted1 · 13-07-2013 12:25PM

Sounds wrote: »

companies like esb/electricity ireland is not what we need electricity but from cheaper better providers.

So why promote a company that costs more, are you comission based?

P.S don't forget every time you top up you pay bank charges so instead of paying 1 transaction every 2 months your paying for much more

Sounds · 13-07-2013 12:32PM

ESB bills were at least 160/180 for two months, too much for a small house, with the money they make they can afford to be cheaper, but they're not.
No wonder half the landlords in this country have tenants disappearing, it's mainly because of companies like these money grabbers.

People are so nieve to these things they just accept it, in other countries services are dirt cheap yet in Ireland they're much more expensive
I'm sure they have a great reason/excuse for that too, population or something ridiculous.

At the rate we're being charged now with prepaidpower, less than 15 euros per week, works out about 120 every 2 months, saving at least 50 p/m.

It's not that we i've never read a meter, if a company is offering a service then they should be responsible for knowing your usage, ESB obviously don't = estimated.
I'm saying, if a company offers you a service and said,
Oh btw, we have no idea what your usage is, but we'll make up the price anyway.. unless you do our job for us and get a reading.. wrong wrong wrong!

I think the figures have proven already who costs more.

I posted this to get other's opinions too, as i know plenty people saving big since they left esb

Go ahead and back them up if you like, maybe you've had a good experience with them or too much money to notice, they've always been ripping customers off.
If one person here reads this and give them a try and saves money which they will, then it was worth my effort, all my friends will be switching.

Yawns · 13-07-2013 12:39PM

No your figures are estimates for one company and actual usage for another. If you bothered to submit your own readings, you would have had cheaper bills. Pre-paid power use the same rate as Electric Ireland, the same standing charge and also have their own charge which is about 130 euro a year so straight off the bat they cost you more. Looking at your other posts you wanted Lidl & Aldi to close because they didn't provide baskets so I'll leave this thread alone now. You either love a good moan or are one of those persons who needs everything done for them every step of the way.

ted1 · 13-07-2013 12:44PM

Sorry buy with all due respect your talking alias of nonsense. It's summer bills will be less.

Get out an ESB bill and divide the cost by KWH to get an Average Unit Price.
Then read your meter stick in ten euro and read your meter when it runs out divide again to get your AUP.

It's actually easier and less hassle to submit a meter reading by the phone or by an app then it is to trot down to a shop to top up you Meter and enter a 20 digit code along with the other keys required. Actually there's less buttons to press when submitting a meter reading,

Regardless if they are estimates once an actual reading is taken approx 3 times a year ( off hand I forget the exact figure what the charter says) it'll balance any over charging

Sounds · 13-07-2013 01:07PM

You're right i love a good moan, great place for it, i don't need anybody to to the work for me and i'm definitely not doing someone else's job for them.
And i never wanted lidls or aldi to close their stuff is dirt cheap.. anyway that's another topic.
I had my rant for today glad to see so many comments.

wendell borton · 13-07-2013 01:11PM

Deregulation was a stupid idea foisted on us by the eu and obsequious licking government. Where once there was a single company supplying electricity we know have producers, suppliers and retailers who all have a cut.
There is no real choice just marketing and confusing payment options and an actual increase in the price of electricity.

theSHU · 13-07-2013 01:13PM

wendell borton wrote: »

Deregulation was a stupid idea foisted on us by the eu and obsequious licking government. Where once there was a single company supplying electricity we know have producers, suppliers and retailers who all have a cut.
There is no real choice just marketing and confusing payment options and an actual increase in the price of electricity.

The communist forum is datta way

>

naughtysmurf · 13-07-2013 01:25PM

Sounds wrote: »

I've been with esb for years, bills have always been over priced,
The last two years, in the summer time they hit us with bills for 600+ euro.
We couldn't be using that much electricity but when it comes you got to pay.

So you stayed with a company that you felt overpriced their service for years

You got bills during the summer for €600 over a two year period and you just paid them without question or investigating the reason why this was the case

Don't suppose you would be interested in some magic beans I have, do you a good deal

kneemos · 13-07-2013 01:39PM

Considering the op's ability to rant I don't believe he paid €600 bills without even making a phonecall.

meoklmrk91 · 13-07-2013 01:41PM

Anyone I know who has gotten those pre pay meters installed says that it has seriously kirbed their usage, they are able to manage the bill better because they can actually see what they are using. They have stopped using the dryer and hate wasting any electricity what so ever.

I am very careful when it comes to electricity usage, I only use the washing machine if I have a full load to put on, I don't own a dryer, I don't leave things stand by. Now I am in no way a nazi when it comes to it but I just don't like wasting anything, thus my last bill with electric Ireland was for a grand total of €35. That was for a little over 5 weeks, you can't argue with that.

Sounds · 13-07-2013 01:52PM

Yes unfortunately everywhere i have lived had ESB i did make phone calls about the high bills, did ake calls about the bills talked to house owners,
But they were always quick with answers so in the end had to pay off the bills, some times they'd cut us off because we didn't have the full amount and they refused to accept small payments.

Some people can't save money, for whatever reasons, you can say it's their own fault if you like,
When you're hit with the full bill you get into difficulties paying it back, you get stuck with debts you can't afford, i did and then cut me off.
They've done this to many households.

At least now people can watch their usage, pay as you go and you'll never be stuck with a big bill again, i what i should have been doing from the start.

TheChizler · 13-07-2013 02:05PM

You could always monitor your usage, you can buy an Owl or similar energy monitor for half the price of the prepay additional annual charge.

ted1 · 13-07-2013 02:24PM

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Anyone I know who has gotten those pre pay meters installed says that it has seriously kirbed their usage, they are able to manage the bill better because they can actually see what they are using. They have stopped using the dryer and hate wasting any electricity what so ever.

I am very careful when it comes to electricity usage, I only use the washing machine if I have a full load to put on, I don't own a dryer, I don't leave things stand by. Now I am in no way a nazi when it comes to it but I just don't like wasting anything, thus my last bill with electric Ireland was for a grand total of €35. That was for a little over 5 weeks, you can't argue with that.

That's very lite usage, 15 euro would be the standing charge for 5 weeks, leaving 20 euro, which at an AUP of 20c leaves 100kwh, this approx 2.8 kwh a day.
What type of property is it? Have you hot a fridge, freezer, T, how do you light the place and cook dinner?

Are you being hit with the low usage charge?

AlekSmart · 13-07-2013 02:35PM

Sounds wrote: »

Over charging everybody, letting them run into debt and cutting them off when they can't afford to pay in full, i'm not making this up.

The last two years, in the summer time they hit us with bills for 600+ euro.
We couldn't be using that much electricity but when it comes you got to pay.

Just two weeks back our landlord rang prepaidpower.ie and they had meters
installed at all apartments, we put 25 euro in the meter and two weeks later
we still have electricity, wtf????
At that rate it's not even costing us 15 euro per week.

I wish everyone would wake up and realize that electricity ireland
are one of the most hungry companies in ireland next to the banks.
They will never help you unless they're getting money from you.

We're a very sleepy country when it comes to things that are important
and right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meat, having
companies like esb/electricity ireland is not what people need, we need electricity but from cheaper better providers.

Sounds,could you clarify your own situation re the ESB bills,as €600 does appear excessive,particularly if its Summer Use.

Do/Did you have a Night Rate meter ?...Do/Did you have storage heating and/or a dryer..?

You mention "Us","We" and "Our",so is it a communal situation,and more importantly what is your Landlords role in the bill ?

My own experiences are that Actual price competition for household accounts is minimal,with only a few special-offer type deals offering any real advantages.

Maximum savings tend to be restricted to Direct Debit/E-Billing coimbinations,some of which may be too much of a step for customers.

Speaking personally,I have never had an issue with the "Old" ESB that was'nt resolved to my satisfaction and Electric Ireland appear similarly competent.

As for the PAYG Meter,it really is intended for those who lack even basic financial discipline,and is an expensive way to learn it.

meoklmrk91 · 13-07-2013 02:49PM

ted1 wrote: »

That's very lite usage, 15 euro would be the standing charge for 5 weeks, leaving 20 euro, which at an AUP of 20c leaves 100kwh, this approx 2.8 kwh a day.
What type of property is it? Have you hot a fridge, freezer, T, how do you light the place and cook dinner?

Are you being hit with the low usage charge?

That was my first bill after moving into the property, it has three bedrooms, I have a large fridge freezer, all the usual appliances, I cook large portions of dinner and freeze them, then defrost them and use whenever I want. I am the only one here so it makes it easy to be careful of my usage. I am not crazy about it by any means but I hate waste of any kind so when I use my electricity water anything really I make sure that I am using it properly like I said, full loads of washing etc. only having lights on in the room I am in. Don't think I am being hit with the low usage charge, it wasn't on my bill anyway.

oldyouth · 13-07-2013 02:58PM

Phone in your reading, it's not that hard. Foolish person to just keep paying estimated bills.

As for the pre-paid meters, these are 1) a great way to budget and 2) a smart way for the supplier to weed out the bad payers. Also, there will be no adverse publicity when a supplier wants to cut power to a 96yr old widow. If she doesn't pay up, she doesn't get power. No ringing Joe Duffy to say the nasty man is at the door with a snips to cut the line

13-07-2013 03:05PM

Yawns wrote: »

the pre-paid power actually cost more than Electric Ireland etc. The fact the OP was too bloody lazy to even submit a reading of his own is why his bills were so high.

Gas the way pre paid power/phone credit, etc actually costs dearer when if anything you would think it would be dearer on people with a debt to settle.

Question for boardsies. If you do submit a reading yourself for the next impending bill after settling up the previous bill then will it balance out the next bill assuming that the company overestimated your previous bill?

TheChizler · 13-07-2013 03:14PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Question for boardsies. If you do submit a reading yourself for the next impending bill after settling up the previous bill then will it balance out the next bill assuming that the company overestimated your previous bill?

Yep of course, your indicated usage will be less. The danger is if the rates change while its being estimated, there's no real way to go back and say exactly what was used at the time if the old rate.

dupek · 19-08-2013 03:04PM

When dealing with a company such as Electric Ireland always do so in writing/email & when making agreements or non agreements over the phone..insist that what has been discussed etc is forwarded to you in an email. if possible.. never call, write & insist on written/email responses.

Flibbles · 19-08-2013 03:19PM

Prepay power (and all the other versions popping up at the moment) are easily the most unethical thing I can imagine regarding electricity. They charge more than the usual method, and if you can't afford to pay the electric (because of emergency or circumstance), tough ****. No electric for you. Whereas the traditional way will allow a payment plan and not leave you without electricity.

An awful, unethical scam to take advantage of the vulnerable, the same as the ones in the UK.

Geuze · 19-08-2013 03:32PM

Note that PrePay Power are MORE expensive than ESB or BGE.

37.5 cent per day = 11.25 per 30 days extra

That's 137 euro EXTRA per annum.

Plus you don't get the 10% off unit rates available by shopping around.

SweepTheLeg · 19-08-2013 03:33PM

I've had Gas & Electric meters for the past few months, and I'll never go back. Great not getting bills, Just stick a few quid in the meter every week for electric and even less for gas seeing as it's summer.

Save Money By Leaving ESB/Electricity Ireland

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