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Electricity price hikes.

  • 01-09-2021 7:07pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,126 ✭✭✭


    Am I right in saying that electricity suppliers can raise their prices within a contract period? My electricity supplier has just written to advise of another price increase, the third since March.



Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69,432 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    It depends on your contract but in nearly all cases, yes. You usually agree a contract based on a notional % discount from their standard unit rates; which can change.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,015 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    Unfortunately these increases are probably to do with levies and not part of of a contractual agreement.

    The contract would cover unit prices not levies and yes they are increasing unfortunately. This said keep an eye on your unit price agreed in contract it should not increase persuant to your agreement.

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69,432 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    The PSO levy is actually falling (by about a third, or ~€2 a month), not rising; and isn't part of the unit rate either.

    Wholesale electricity prices are rising due to an increase in gas prices.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,015 ✭✭✭✭Dempo1


    Yes understand levy not part of unit rate, I actually thought levies were increasing 🤔 but I'll take that reduction 😏

    OP, might then have a point re increases if its not levies 🤔 I wouldn't have thought a supplier could raise unit prices 3 times into a contract 🤔 but of course I'm open to correction, I'm on a very old electric Ireland tariff, I've only seen unit price increase rarely.

    Is maith an scáthán súil charad.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,817 ✭✭✭Darc19


    Natural Gas that produces much of the electricity is at 10 year+ highs.

    Its not just here, but all over Europe and many other places in the world have seen multiple price increases this year. UK has seen an average 24% increase (including increases from 1st oct)

    Unless you are on a "Fixed Price" contract, prices can go up (and down like they did last year and 2019) in the midst of a contract.


    But being a little more energy aware can save substantial amounts - LED bulbs, put washing machine on a 40min / 60 min wash. Less use of tumble dryer. More efficient use of the immersion. Eco setting on dishwasher. and plenty of other small changes that will bring the usage down.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 349 ✭✭Bojill


    It may be more cost efficient to break the contract and pay the early exit fee to switch.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,699 ✭✭✭beachhead


    I have a year's contract from last March and prices were increased in August.But prices increase without fail in first half or the 2nd half of the year without fail every year on the standard tariff(when I was on it) with or without a contract.Oil price fluctuations are always blamed since the year dot.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,817 ✭✭✭Darc19


    Oil prices are never blamed as oil is not used for generation.

    Gas prices are to blame and you can see the live world gas prices on hundreds of financial websites. Currently prices are at eleven year highs.

    And prices don't go up without fail. They FELL last year and in 2019.


    This year prices have risen worldwide as gas prices are traded on a global basis.



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