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

For anyone interested... my complaint to CRU about comparison sites effectively hiding the fact that direct deals with energy companies could be cheaper, has been decided upon.

I questioned the practice used on a particular comparison site where a tick box didn't fully explain the implication of selecting it, in that it would prevent you seeing better deals available directly from suppliers. This was raised in the context where the CRU officially endorses comparison sites and encourages consumers to use them.

Surprise, surprise.... the CRU has considered my complaint and decided that the comparison site complies with their specified requirements. In my opinion, their self imposed requirement is ineffective, since it does not protect the consumer and gives a false sense of officially approved trust. It would be better if the CRU said nothing about price comparison websites and so the consumer could exert the standard 'buyer beware' approach, without the impression of some sort of implied trust through official approval.

The wording of the CRU decision, is as follows :

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for contacting the CRU and for your patience while we have been examining your query.

Your query was passed through to the team which is responsible for the auditing of Price Comparison Websites. The CRU has not identified an issue of non-compliance in relation to your query at this time. The Price Comparison Website in question is complying with the CRU’s framework.

We acknowledge your comments with respect to some suppliers offering cheaper tariffs to customers who contact them directly. This is a practice widely adopted in many sectors. Energy suppliers are not obliged to avail of the services of Price Comparison Websites, it is a tool to assist customers who may find the switching process difficult. It is at the discretion of the suppliers which tariffs they permit the price comparison websites to allow customers switch to via said website.

Similarly, suppliers may offer tariffs to customers that are exclusive to the Price Comparison Website.

Customers at all times have a choice as to whether they wish to switch via the Price Comparison Website or go direct.

We hope you found this information helpful.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In my opinion, they are avoiding the issue that they officially approve the operation of these sites and encourage consumers to use them. At the very least, they could insist that the sites explain their exact mode of operation in the very clear terms that the CRU reply to me outlines.

The following extract from cru.ie details the rules applied with the last credit:

"What if I switch electricity supplier, will I still get the credit?

Yes. If you switch electricity supplier between 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2022, it is the supplier you were with on 29 March 2022 that will be responsible for providing you with the credit. A supplier may apply the credit to your closing bill if applicable or credit you back via the means by which you pay your bills."

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Thanks, my brain isn't operating properly today - never thought to check there.

I got the smart meter installed today. Replaced the 40 year old meter. On Electric Ireland with the normal day rate. Just out of the year 'discount' with them. Have the option to go back with them as per the below screenshots.

I have no solar PV or electric car.

~6500 kWh usage per year.

I went on Bonkers.ie and chose normal meter and a separate tab for smart meter.

Normal tariff quote:

Smart Meter Tariff quote:

Is it true that if I choose a smart tariff, that I can never go back to a normal 24hr tariff?

Wondering what I should do here.

Thanks in advance.

Assuming that the estimated annual bill amounts shown are for your annual usage then it looks like the 24 hr normal tariff is the best of the three shown. In view of this I can't see why you would want to change to a smart tariff plan.

According to the following extract from the Energia Web site it is not possible to revert to a non smart meter tariff:

"Can I change back to a non-smart tariff after I have moved to smart?

No. It is not possible to move back to a non-smart meter tariff once you have selected a Smart Tariff from Energia. You can have a Smart meter installed and remain on your current non-smart tariff."

The article at the link below gives some useful info on smart meters:

https://selectra.ie/energy/guides/meters/smart-meters-ireland#what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-smart-meter

I probably knew myself that they were never going to admit a fault on their part, and since they are 'independent' and therefore untouchable, they can say whatever they want and do as piss poor a job as they do, and nobody can say anything against them.

It's a great little country to do business in.... as Enda Kenny used to say.

Extended til 28 Feb 2023.

I thought that applied to the reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector. Didn't realise it applied to the electricity & gas also.

Fair play to you for following it up becasue these kinds of shenanigans need to be called out even if sod all ever changes.

What you've got there is a typical civil service reply where they dance on the head of a pin for 4 or 5 paragraphs before claiming the case is closed. It just goes to show that even when the CRU arent toothless to do something they are useless instead. Like it is their brand name and logo on Bonkers' site so the CRU hold all the cards in their relationship, if they wanted to have things changed they could do it or else refuse to endorse their website like they are currently doing.

But despite you pointing out that customers can get duped into paying higher prices by the "Only show tariffs available for sign up?" tick bov the CRU still come down on the side of a business over more than 2 million households paying for energy at a time of huge prices. They even admit that price comparison websites make it easier for customers who find it difficult to switch (i.e often people who are not internet savvy and the vulnerable) but in the same reply are perfectly fine with these groups paying more for their energy than need be. All so a price comparison site can get their 10 or 15% commission from the sign up but the customer ends up paying over the odds. Some regulator <rolleyes>

I moved from Bord Gais earlier this after the credit had been applied and my account was in overall credit. They transferred the remaining credit to my bank account automatically on closing.

Do we know why this is? Its the same with switcher.ie at the moment.

There's a few posts discussing it above, I always assumed it was the site not getting a fee to switch for that offer from the companies, but that was just a guess.

I looked at them a few weeks back when my contract ended and they showed me loads of offers, now it's only two, my current supplier and panda power unless I do as you say and tick the box to show me all offers. Even with that box ticked the cheapest offers are seemingly still the only two available for sign up via bonkers.

I had assumed that's what it was alright since as I mentioned above they showed me loads of offers a few weeks back.

I use the sites for a quick comparison but I always do my own research on the supplier websites. I always do the switch on the suppliers website.

Thanks for that.