The unavailability of 12 month, fixed price contracts , has been a game changer and you are largely at the mercy of the supplier.
I recently switched to Bord Gais for electricity and to benefit from a 39% discount on their standard rates making their new customer rate fairly attractive. The following week they announced a 34% increase in their standard rates ! Switching ain't what it used to be !
I signed up to Energia EV plan on Monday September 5th, its rate, as its fixed” for 12 months, but only applicable to day/night meters. We have about 60 % of our usage, (which will drop a bit as winter closes in) on night rates.
All Including vat:
Day rate 29.82, Night rate: 8.58(not a typo)
Annual Standing Charge of €296.40.
The same day, i signed up to Flogas, “Green Future Gas 35% off” for 1 year, came with €220 one off credit, unit rate 11.04 (not fixed)which has since increased, but largely irelevant, as we only use gas for hob cooking which is very small usage, & annual standing charge of €104.29 standing charge inc vat.
I left Electric Ireland, a few days after, their most recent increase, and had to pay €50 exit fee for both Electricity & Gas, but its more than worth it, as i’l have zero gas bills for a year, the €220 credit will cover the lot.
I just missed, even lower rates, on the Energia EV plan. They increased them, just before i switched, and a few days after i switched, they increased again to 33.80 day & 9.73 night.
EI’s new Electricity rates from October 1st, are more than double the Night rate of the Energia EV plan, the standing charge was €100 extra per year with EI, and the day rate was nearly 20% higher with EI.
Point is, one needs to keep a regular check on the offers that come out. The Flogas offer was gone, just a few days after i switched, i spotted it a few weeks ago, and only moved, when EI increased gas rates on September 1st. competition seems to have totally dried up alright, in recent weeks, and it has become increasingly difficult, to compare one against the other.
