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

Hi @cormie yeah I spotted the 26% on https://www.energia.ie/about-energia/our-tariffs

They didn't budge so I was going to swap as soon as the march credit from the gov came through. I've been burned in the past with switchover issues and I'd like it to be clean. Others here have said to just go ahead and pull the trigger but can't hurt to wait one more week. Ofc if energia then offer me a deal to stay I might choose to do so depending on the bottom line numbers.

Is that for new customers only?

Im going to wait for last gov credit and then I will switch.My contract expires in few months but no harm trying.Dont mind 50€ penalty it will save me in long term more

@Midlakelands

I just gave Energia a ring, I wasn't paying full attention on the call but the gist was:

I'm currently on a legacy plan and if I switch to a smart plan it would be cheaper.

Current Legacy rate before any discount is 41.17

Current Smart rate before any discount is 38.37 as far as I remember

I'm currently on a 10% discount.

Their pricing is dropping automatically for all customers from March 1st I believe he said

The Smart rate before any discount from March 1st will go to 35.84, he said if I rang back at the start of May (my contract ends mid May), I could get a 15% discount to bring it to 30.47. I think I'd also get 15% on gas at the same time too.

He was able to offer a small discount now but said it would create a new 12 month contract and he advised waiting even though he said he has to work on targets but that he was just being honest :)

I mentioned the 31% being offered would bring that 35.84 down to 24.73 and he said he doesn't agree with offering retaining customers less than new customers and said a few agents had said the same, so he's not sure if that new customer discount will remain, but I'm guessing it will.

So it probably makes sense just to stay put until the contract end and then see what's on offer at the time?

Does it not make more sense to go on the smart plan? The chap said it would make more sense if most of the usage is in the day time?

FYI... purely for comparison purposes.

I'm on the Bord Gais Black Friday 25% off dual fuel. From Feb 29th, the discounted rates will be:

Before 9% VAT:

24hr urban rate elec = 25.22c / KWH, standing charge €200.50 pa

Gas = 7.69c / KWH, standing charge €120.82 pa

After VAT:

elec = 27.49c / KWH, €218.55 pa

gas = 8.38c / KWH, €131.69 pa

Do you have a link? Nothing came up on bonkers

Its on the following page and seems to be working when you select the plans on the energia website but do note the 31% seems to be for new customers with non-smart plans https://www.energia.ie/about-energia/our-tariffs

EI Day 29.84c Night 14.72c FIT 21c

Energia Day 28.81c Night 13.81c FIT 24c

Not sure about standing charges

How's Energia Plan with 31% discount urban day night meter compare to Flogas Community plan ? Is it worth switching and taking the 50 euro hit? Or is Flogas price from March 1st dropping on fixed 1 year rate?

The chaps aka sales people say a lot of things but not once have the smart rates been the best available rate and there is no going back if you decide to get an EV or heatpump etc. in the future.

Its pro rata depending on how many days fall before and after the price change.

If the bill is 60 days long and the price is reduced for the last 10 days your billing units are split 5/6 on the old price and 1/6 on the new price. This is how it previously worked before smart meters came in but it could have changed.

Thats not always the case, as its user circumstance dependant, many people with PV and batteries, are better off on some of the night boost smart tarriffs, such as the 5 cent(inc vat) Pinergy “Cooline” Lifestyle Drivetime (3 hours per night)or Energia Smart Drive which will be (7.64 cent inc vat)for a 4 hour window from March 1st.

In addition, the export rates for Pinergy & Energia are in most cases higher, at 25 cent for Pinergy & 24 cent for Energia.

March 25th Apologies

Rates and Standing Charges effective from 25 March 2024

Electricity Variable Rates – effective from 25th March 2024

Ex. Vat

Incl. VAT

24 Hour Variable Rate

33.99c/kWh

37.05c/kWh

Daytime Variable Rate

37.83c/kWh

41.24c/kWh

Night-time Variable Rate

18.33c/kWh

19.98c/kWh

Night Storage Heating

18.33c/kWh

19.98c/kWh

Electricity Annual Standing Charges - Unchanged

24 Hour

Excl VAT

Incl VAT

Urban (DG1)

€236.12

€257.37

Rural (DG2)

€287.99

€313.90

   NightSaver

Excl VAT

Incl VAT

Urban (DG1)

€303.97

€331.33

Rural (DG2)

€387.37

€422.24

I would do that.Send a reading on the 26th. Or 27th at the very latest.Though their pro rata estimate of your usage could work in your favour.If they underestimate your usage up to the 29th you win.If it's running over then send a reading.I'm 90 units under right now