Switching electric/gas providers (see first post for links)

Casati

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252602#Comment_122252602

Rang Flogas and they said initially I need to get a new meter installed - which I will have to pay for to move from a non smart day night tariff to a 24hr tariff- wasn't sure but cost it will cost 'hundreds' to get that done and take weeks.

Background is original meter in house was 2019, so when I moved from 24hr to Day Night I didn't need a meter change. Subsequently a Smart meter was installed but I never activated a smart meter program. V annoying!

gussieg

Screenshot_20240613-132109.png

This was the flogas deal from a few months back.... my usage has jumped up exponentially since I last looked at the now smart meter. Seems a bit odd considering it's summer ish , but could be the airfryer and occasional use of the immersion. I ve got energy monitoring plugs too so don't understand how this jump has happened.

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122254669#Comment_122254669

airfryer shouldn’t use much electric, since we stopped using the oven and grill and moved over to airfryer the electric dropped

Emersion on tbe other hand is a different animal, do you use a timer ?

SullDog

Currently with Energia for both on a 15% discount, because I'm such a good customer 🙄, but was having a nose around different providers today to see the lay of the land and has me wondering if anyone's went the way of the fixed rate offer from SSE Airtricity? Quick breakdown of how the two compare for me, Energia - Electricity 34.99, s/c 236.62 and Gas 10.07, s/c 141.60 & SSE - Electricity 24.58, s/c 240.97 and Gas 8.28 s/c 152.31. No brainer to switch right?

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122257009#Comment_122257009

There’s cheaper available at fixed rate (see Certa elec above) but at these prices differences the SC comes into effect.

Personally, I’d be looking at a variable rate and just use bonkers.

You’ll save a decent chunk switching. Your energia rate is extortion. Pick what’s cheapest. Forget about it for a year and switch again next summer.

xboxdad

Will the SEE 10% price cut apply to the "1 Year Fixed Dual Fuel" plan from the 1st of July, do you know? (new customer, waiting to sign up) Thanks.

TitianGerm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122258179#Comment_122258179

No not for current customers but you'd imagine it would reduce for new customers. Customers who signed up for a fixed rate will stay on the same rate.

xboxdad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122258182#Comment_122258182

Thank you. Yes, I'd be a new customer, not an existing one with SSE.

tom23

Out of contract with SSE… was thinking of going to Flogas as according to bonkers.ie they are offer the best deal for me on dual fuel. I have a smart meter but have never activated it. Should I stay away from using the smart meter. the immersion and tumble dryer get horsed out of it in my house (three teenagers).

To renew with SSE I get 10% discount.

jasonb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122259796#Comment_122259796

A couple of little things about Dual Fuel with Flogas… They treat it as two separate accounts and you will have two Direct Debits, one for Gas and one for Electricity. And their billing portal is not easy to use/intuitive. The data is all there, but you have to work it out a little. Also, I don't know if it will happen again over the coming winter, but they didn't give me the Govt. €150 credits, they still charged me the same amount each month, but the Credit went against my Balance (I was using their Budget plan).

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122259796#Comment_122259796

check with energypal too

beardo81

Switched to Board Gais and Electric Ireland this week, do they credit your account with the switching cash back or send to your bank? I think they were 50 & 120

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122260316#Comment_122260316

They credit your account. Leave before the end of the 12 months and they have a right to reclaim it.

bigboss1986

Today I decide to brake contract with Energia and went with EI with smart meter plan(activated)

0.2508€ 24h plan +100€ bonus(that will cover 50€ penalty)

I found out energypal.ie gives much better view what is the best plan and with my own calculation and how much im using I would save around 350€ in next 12months.

Also EI rate is variable .I didnt want go fix rate route with Sse.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122261984#Comment_122261984

What plan were you on with energia?

bigboss1986

I was on time of use plan until march and in march i changed midterm to fix 24h plan but was slightly worse than new customer.At that time Energia was the cheapest.

Inforapenny

Folks, current contract with Flogas due to expire next couple of days. All electricity and it’s a 24 hour fixed rate.

A couple of questions:

1. My understanding is that I physically have a Smart Meter installed outside house (I don’t submit meter readings) but I am not on a Smart Plan as on 24 hour fixed rate plan. Common thought on here seems to be not to activate a smart plan. Are smart plans identified by Smart Tariff in the wording on bonkers?
2. I used that Energypal website, very helpful, I dont seem to see a way to identify if a plan is or isn’t smart based on the analysis, am I missing something?
3. I rang current provider and they said my contract ends 19th of June at midnight and I need to be careful if I move provider I am not stuck in limbo with no electricity if the new provider doesn’t activate me in time. Maybe it’s scaremongering! Is there any best approach if I do switch to make sure I don’t pay an early release fee for current provider and ensure no chance of being caught in limbo with no electricity as new provider hasn’t activated me in time?
4. Is peak time usage just 5pm to 7pm? That’s what seems to show on the energypal analysis and is the peak time the same time for all providers?

Thank you.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122267690#Comment_122267690

3 is complete bull. At end of contract you are moved to the standard tariff.

When not on a smart meter they take your customer meter read as the end/and start readings.

You will not be left without electric or a electric supplier, you will not be in limbo.

Inforapenny

Would anyone convince me not to move to a smart plan? It is coming in at 100 euro cheaper based on last 12 month usage.

Also smart plan includes 30% discount off standard electricity rates( variable rate tariff) which if the standard rates drop over the 12 months will include further savings Vs a 12 month fixed rate

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122269501#Comment_122269501

The difficulty with a smart tariff is that once you go smart, you cannot go back. You're smart for the rest of your meters life. While you might save €100 this year, you could easily be out of pocket next year. If the tariff is ToU, that would annoy me.

Saying that, for €100, its probably worth the switch.

Speak Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122269501#Comment_122269501

How much 11 p.m to 7 a.m usage have you. I have over 30% so made the move 12 months ago. I have peak 5 p.m to 7 p.m down to 9%. Hard to get much lower with the dinner rush at home.

Inforapenny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122269647#Comment_122269647

Day usage of 58%
Peak usage of 10%
Night usage of 32%

I work from home a fair bit, I couldn’t believe night usage was so much, must be air to water heating doing its thing.

Inforapenny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122269616#Comment_122269616

Although it’s a smart plan it only seems to give one standard unit price. It’s the Home Electric + Saver 30 with electric Ireland.

25.08 cent if you include the 30% discount, now obviously their standard rate could increase but thought/hoped electricity prices might go down over the next year.

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270019#Comment_122270019

25.08 cent if you include the 30% discount

Energia have a 23.99c rate and BGE have 24.56c (both standard tariffs and variable rate). Is there a particular reason why you'd go for EI's 25.08c rate?

Both from bonkers.ie

their standard rate could increase but thought/hoped electricity prices might go down over the next year

Ah yeah, if prices are going to change, its more than likely downwards.

Inforapenny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270097#Comment_122270097

Actually that Electric Ireland rate also includes a 100 euro cashback, so that is why it was more preferable based on a kWh usage of 3,600.

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270237#Comment_122270237

Seems like you've done your research and should pull the trigger with the caveat you can't switch back to a standard plan and must be smart from here on out.

tom23

folks tried to use the energy palm using a csv file from SSE… wouldn’t let me load it. Any thoughts?

Inforapenny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270316#Comment_122270316

Out of interest, the fact it is a smart plan albeit with one daily standard (potentially variable) rate how would one be smarter in future apart from shopping around?
I presume no smart plan will give a guaranteed 1 year fixed rate?

As this is first year in house, I wonder are we better off having a second year of data before jumping on a Smart Plan.

Inforapenny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270351#Comment_122270351

The file I used is from ESB, you should be able to get similar from ESB.

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270355#Comment_122270355

Shopping around is the smartest thing to do every year.

If you switch to a time of use plan, it’s all about changing your energy usage to night and off peak.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270351#Comment_122270351

Better to create an account with esbn and download your data from there and then upload it to energypal, you'll need your mprn to register, it's very straightforward.

uli84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122271027#Comment_122271027

thank you bord gais ev smart electricity was suggested to me but to be honest whatever they cut in the rate they take back in the high standing charge in my opinion, also don’t understand why their standing charge changes depending on the plan, not the case with airtricity or yuno

uli84

and yes my daytime usage is 55% peak 10% and nightime 35% so maybe should go with Energia in fact, so tough

TheMagee

I noticed Bord Gais are now doing a limited time 33% discount on their rates for new customers. Anyone know of a workaround for existing customers to get that rate, when I joined back in Feb it was a 22% discount.

rob316

Got a letter from flogas my contract ends in 6 weeks. Can I just go ahead and sign up with someone else now?

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122272090#Comment_122272090

If you wanna pay the €50 breakage fee per fuel type.

If you don’t. Wait 6 weeks

delly

For those thinking of moving to a timed smart plan, it is great to get the cheaper rates after 11PM, but also it's a pain in the arse as well. I'd like my kiddo to empty the dishwasher in the evening before going to bed, but that doesn't work if I only put it on at 11. Similar issue with the clothes dryer, which you can't really leave running during the night due to the fire risk. I set the washing machine to run on a timer at 6 in the morning, but that wakes up the dog. First world problems, I know, I just wish the period of the nighttime window was better.

I was out of contract with Flogas on the 10th of June and moved to EI's all day smart plan rate, so I'll no longer have the hassle once the new contract kicks in.

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122272282#Comment_122272282

Environmentalists will tell you to run as many appliances at night to avail of cheaper and greener electricity.

The fire brigade will tell you not to do this. Your washing machine, your dryer, your dishwasher etc should never be run when you're asleep. Aside from an electric car, there's very little most people can do to shift their energy profile to during the night safely. The other big energy users e.g. showers, are typically used off peak but during the day. Nobody is going to go to bed late/get up early to have a shower.

loup

Recently we switched to a smart meter for gas, I can't see any specific smart gas plans online, are they all under the standard plans? Thanks for the energypal link, will upload my usage there and check out who to switch to.

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122278852#Comment_122278852

 smart meter for gas

There's no such thing as a smart gas tariff. All gas tariffs are standard plans.

corcaigh07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122273144#Comment_122273144

The EV plan surely suited to a house with heat pump?

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122280935#Comment_122280935

Apologies, I wasnt trying to make a sweeping statement about smart tariffs. The point i was trying to make is that without making a massive investment (heat pump or solar panels), there's very little you can do to shift electricity load to night time. I've a gas boiler and electric showers, there's not much I can do so I stick to a 24 hr tariff. To make a change, id need to insulate and install a HP or buy an EV. Neither make sense for me right now.

Everyone should of course look at their own energy profile. People with solar panels, heat pumps, storage heaters, EVs could come down to a different decision than myself.

There's more nuance then maybe I suggested prior.

5star02707

anyone know how long before the MPRN name (with ESB Networks) changes ?

Problem I have is under our new electricity provider my name is correct but in ESBN system it is still not changed to my name ( still under the builder's name)?

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122282423#Comment_122282423

call them and they will change it

millb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270351#Comment_122270351

Use the csv file from ESB N ..

TheSunIsShining

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122281090#Comment_122281090

Dishwasher and washing machine are gone to 95% nighttime run here. Will get the 20A Sonoff controller and will start timing immersion to come on during the EV rate - cheaper KW cost than gas for heating water in the EV window. It's not huge savings but it's something. But yes, the main saving and reason for going smart here is cause we have an EV so 6000kw a year for the EV means it's worthwhile going smart for the EV window for charging

zell12

Just me or has Waterpower vtm skyrocketed? D 29.91 N 20.81 (incl vat)

PowerToWait

I signed up to Energia Smart Data. 14.7c Night rate, 27.46 Day, 28.78 Peak. 300 standing (rural)

Significantly cheaper rates than the BWG deal with Flogas I just finished. Usage is 30 - 35% night rate, have heat pump.

Is there another plan I've missed I can have a look at? I didn't see anything as good value in my brief researching.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122286071#Comment_122286071

That's the first time I've heard WP mentioned here in a long time, they're high alright, I'd be looking at moving if it were me.

5star02707

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122282551#Comment_122282551

I have called ESB Networks but they said it is up to electricity supplier to send it to them but when I called Bord Gais they've already sent it to ESB? Going in circles now