Given the state of the economy and the privations being visited on us all the Regulator should lift the shackles imposed on ESB and allow it to compete on an equal basis with BG and Airtricity. There are thousands of customers who could benefit from lower electricity prices but who cannot avail of the BG and Airticity offers due to (a) being unbanked and so direct debit is not an option and (b) being unable to pay the security deposits required by those suppliers. The regulatory restrictions on ESB are therefore a form of social exclusion - the better off can benefit from BG's and Airtricity's lower prices but others can't. That is unjust and it needs to change. Customer service should be the differentiator that determines whether a customer switches supplier or not.
Your incorrect here with that. You dont need a bank account for both BG and Airtricity and Airtricity only charge the security deposit when you dont pay by DD. There are a host of methods for paying your bills of both suppliers so this 'social exclusion' theory of yours is a misnomer.
Also as a point of information Airtricity still offer over 5% reduction in year 2.
You are being very misleading there in your post for some reason....
We switched to Airtricity and it took about a week for the ESB letter of final bill notice etc to come in the post. We've had no complaints since and noticed a saving on the bill.
Plus it feels good to know we are using renewable energy
You are using the same electricity generated from a range of sources - gas, oil, coal, water, wind - as everyone else. The electricity going into your house is no different from that supplied to your non-Airtricity neighbours.
Regards,
Fnergg
Can you provide a link to this? Interesting point which I'd like more info on!
Just received my first ebill from airtricity following the big switch last month and I'm beginning to regret my decision.
My monthly bill has been overestimated by 86.32 euro and when I submitted my meter reading I got the automated reply that the next bill would be adjusted, which means I now have a large bill of 256.81 euro to pay.
Whilst I know my next bill will be cheaper, I would prefer if Airtricity would update my bill now as ESB always did when meter readings were submitted, I would think it would be easier for airtricity to do this as they are mainly sending out ebills rather than paper bills.
My next point is; how did airtricity come up with their estimated reading?, I assumed they would have obtained a history of my usage pattern from ESB but this bill is higher than I ever had from ESB and here was I expecting a saving!!.
Also, since I switched, I've been conscious to put the washing machine, dryer and dishwasher on at midnight for night saver rate which I never much bothered to do before, so I was expecting a double saving.
Anyone else not so happy.
Are there really very few people with bank accounts in the state?
Anyone who's ever worked must be paid into a bank account...(card charge stealth tax alert), plus anyone unemployed for more than six months can be paid into their bank accounts...
I wonder how many people are being excluded?
Enjoying the discussion tho!
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