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

OK. Are your rates fixed for 12mths?

That is a fair jump, just 1 cent on the night rate but 4 cents on the day rate which is like a 12% increase in the space of a couple of days.

But at least we both avoided the increase and are locked in at the old rates. Im just hoping I dont get a phone call from them now asking me for some EV charger install certificate 👀

Me too re the apartment. What class of meter do you have?

I’m raging - I missed out on the lower Energia plan

I find it impossible to take Conor Pope seriously tbh. This is the same guy that spent €10K on holidays in 2021

I only have 24hr meter so EV plan is not an option

Smart Meter

They just came and fitted these for all apartments. No choice. No contact since about smart plans. It should be cheaper with these but I think it's not.

An interesting point to note when using the comparison site Bonkers.ie

When selecting your search criteria, there is a tick box for 'Only show tariffs available for sign up'.

I saw this and thought, 'of course .... why would I want to see tariffs that I can't avail of'? I ticked the box and worked through the options that then displayed and signed up for the cheapest one. I then had to go to my new supplier website to sign up for additional 'reward' benefits and I noticed that they actually were showing a better (cheaper) deal on their own site.

I sent a complaint email to Bonkers and they replied to explain that when you tick the box, it only shows deals that are arranged with Bonkers and that suppliers may also have deals available that they do not share and they therefore will not be available for sign up through Bonkers.

The explanation that pops up if you click the question mark beside the tick box , simply says ..."Tariffs available for immediate sign up, with bonkers.ie will be shown in your results, so you can rest assured your sign up will go smoothly'. In my opinion, that is being a bit economic with the truth ... it should say " there may be better tariffs available directly from energy suppliers, would you like to include them?"

It is a bit slight of hand.... and has undermined my confidence in the site, as an honest broker. I am tech savy and not stupid, but their tick box methodology with their arguably biased and incomplete explanation, is obviously intended to encourage selection of only deals that they can provide.

Its disappointing to see that the potential for rip off is ever present, even when you think an organisation is working for you.

Caveat emptor!

It's not in bonkers or other such sites interest to warn you as they want you to switch using their site so that they collect the commission from the energy supplier. I always initiate my switch through the suppliers web site.

The energy companies are doing exactly what health insurance companies do. Complicate and segment something to make it difficult for consumers to navigate and find best value. My ideal 'deal' would be to offer a standard rate and then opt in discounts or loadings for various extra features added. It will never happen.

Bonkers are not the only comparison site asking this same question on deals not available. All comparison site have the same site architecture.

These are all commercial entities and will point people to the deals or companies they have the best sign up rewards with, giving the min amount of necessary info in the process. While of enormous benefit, ultimately it is caveat emptor for the consumers. The site is well covered no matter how vague or ambiguous the clarifying information is. Never trust a broker that is not offering access to full market offerings.

I would instinctively select 'No' as it is clear by them asking the question there are other deals available. Even the cashback question is worth working both ways as an offering with this feature won't rate as high if you select 'No' .

It is worth spending time on it and cross checking the offer against the service providers own site. When I have selected my own plan (currently looking like its best to split providers (for 1200kwh elec and 4500kwh gas p.a.) I will sign up directly. I don't see the point in doing so with the comparison site.

Also worth noting that these websites tend to over state the savings to be made by switching as they default your current deal back to the non discounted rate based on the time left on your current contract.

There's a lack of independent advice available in the area. One should never make a bed for the fox in the hen house.

Agreed, I never compare to my current supplier and always select that I am a new to market customer. The savings calculations are subjective and not relevant - I am simply looking for the cheapest current offering, not some guesstimate of what I might save.

yeah and then he wrote a tone deaf article complaining about it claiming that he had been ripped off. He is supposed to be the consumer correspondent for the Times & RTE but that article on his summer holidays showed me that Conor Pope has no consumer smarts at all. He he has no credibility left IMO and it also showed me just how far removed from reality the Irish Times/D4 set like Conor Pope actually are.

I have dealt with CRU before, on other issues and I would share your opinion that they are useless at consumer protection (as well as broader sector regulation). On actually calling the CRU office on one occasion to follow up on an issue, I was told how under resourced they are and that they struggle to keep up with the workload - I suggested they raised the matter with the relevant minister and also inform the public that they were operating at less then optimum effectiveness!. I never saw that admission acknowledged publicly.

I have also forwarded my CRU complaint email ... to the CAI and Conor Pope of The Irish Times (Pricewatch). If the only consumer recourse being advised, is to funnel us towards comparison sites, those doing so, need to clarify for themselves and us, exactly how those sites operate.

SSE prices are due to increase wef 1 Oct 22. Have you viewed their new prices?

Prices effective 1 Oct 22:

It is the CRU who tell the commercial comparison sites to include those two questions to tick