I don't believe that I was on a "maturity" tariff - doesn't that imply that it was due to come to an end ?

As far as I was aware "On-Line Energy Saver 4" will continue - bear in mind that the rates will increase as all the others will (except fixed/capped) - I asked SP some 12 months ago whether I was on the best rates for my (low) useage and was told YES - but looking back now - I don't think that I was....

Still - whats done was done

It also appears possible to fix (NOT CAP) these rates until June 2014 with SP !!!

Twee:

Which , yet again appears to have been "plucked from the ether"...

I think these are the correct ex-VAT rates for your supply region.

Can't exlude the rates on your old tariff being quoted VAT inclusive. It is also possible the rates on the "maturity" tariff you were quoted were indeed higher.

For the benefit of others, beware maturity offers.

Because they are not universally available they do not appear on comparison websites and are therefore quite difficult to compare with what is available in the marketplace.

As a rule, tariff comparisons should be always VAT inclusive, however billing rates are usually ex-VAT.

Confused? You should be. That said I think it is a good tariff to have switched to.

I have received the rates from SP (that I will pay (capped) until June 2013)

The per unit charges for Capped Price Energy June 2013 are as follows :-

Electricity
-------------------
First 225 kWh used each quarter ( Primary ) : 20.932p per kWh.
All Day Remaining kWh ( Secondary ) : 10.899p per kWh.

Gas
--------
First 670 kWh used each quarter ( Primary ) : 7.504p per kWh.
All Remaining kWh ( Secondary ) : 2.980p per kWh.

Which , yet again appears to have been "plucked from the ether" - but is still less than my ES4 rates had increased to.....in fact it is on a par with the ES4 PRE-increase rates - so I am chuffed !!!

Twee:

...I am confused as to what rate (per kwh), I will be paying for my gas and electricity...

Ha. This had me confused at first, but I think the confusion is as a result of the table design.

On a standing charge tariff there are no primary units, instead there is a daily charge. On a NSC tariff there is no daily charge, instead the first units each quarter are charged a primary rate. Unless you are on *very* low consumption there is no difference in total cost.

Scottish Power has used same column in different tables to tabulate the primary unit cost and the daily charge. As it happens, unfortunately the numbers in the 2 columns are very similar and easily confused.

Look again and you will see. Don't be embarassed, it had me too.

I am confused as to what rate (per kwh), I will be paying for my gas and electricity

If you check your link - you will see that "Standing Charge customers" pay more per unit than non-standing charge customers - which, to me appears slightly odd - I thought that the idea of paying a standing charge was to get a cheaper product

For myself (Southern Area, Non-standing charge, Single rate) - the rate appears to be either 21.979 / 11.444 electricity

and 7.879 / 3.129 gas

or 25.372 / 12.942 electricity and 9.064 / 3.667 gas depending on which table is used

Any advice welcome....

Twee:

why does someone who pays monthly be treated worse than someone who pays quarterly :

I don't think that is true. The answer is something to do with the number of asterisks. Refer to the last page of the tariff booklet...

http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/pdf/CappedPriceJune2013.pdf

Unless you think there is a prospect of standard rates reducing, a "capped" tariff is effectively the same as a "fixed" tariff.

For the benefit of others - not to be confused with "fixed (or guaranteed) discount" tariffs.

So if you want your rates to be fixed (for approx 2 years) you want the Scottish Power Capped Price Energy June 2013 Offer (Version B) tariff.

No idea what is the significance of "Version B". Possibly "Version A" was too generous.

I originally asked via Email for "CAPPED" - because I couldn't see "FIXED" on-line

But - I emailed them again to cancel the capped change, and applied for fixed on-line

The email - this morning - threw the spanner in the works, by stopping me from doing this

So - I am now back to CAPPED - (I have re-applied "on-line") - Which has to be better than sticking to Energy Saver 4 ?

At least it gives me some protection from huge price hikes for 2 years .....

Incidentally - No - I assumed that 4 would run and run - nothing ever received about it expiring.....

And I agree with you about the Offshore emails (india) - they never even get my name right.

Twee:

...I changed my service on-line on Saturday

This morning - I received the following email from SP...

I'm confused, I thought you had switched to the Capped offer (which I think *is* available to existing customers)?

Is the email possibly a response to an earlier pre-switching enquiry?

I think I was once on Online Energy Saver 4, which IIRC was a "fixed" tariff. I think "14" is a "guaranteed discount" tariff, not something I would *ever* recommend. Your "4" tariff would have been extended about a year ago and I assume it has a maturity date. Have you received maturity notice and if so what product are you being offered?

I guess you need to decide if staying with Scottish Power is worth more to you than your custom appears to be worth to the Scottish Power useless marketing department. TBH, on that treatment, I think all big business is exactly the same.

I am no longer a Scottish Power customer because they failed to offer me the "4" extension quickly enough and I had already started my switch and it was too late to cancel (by 1 day!) . With the exception of the useless marketing department (and the off-shored email handling) I thought Scottish Power was OK with a good online billing system.

I'm not sure about your monthly billing point. Will research that more closely later but I suspect there is a misunderstanding there and that fixed monthly direct direct debit payers will have at least as good a discount.

http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/products/capped-price-energy.aspx"

So new customers are getting preferential treatment........(which, I feel is UNFAIR) - What do you suggest I do ?

What are Version B customers and why does someone who pays monthly be treated worse than someone who pays quarterly :

"In addition to capped prices until June 2013, you can also benefit from:
• Gas & Electricity Offer annual discount* of up to £16.80.
• Online Energy Service annual discount** of £5.25 (inc. VAT) for gas and £10.50 (inc. VAT) for electricity.
• Prompt payer discount*** for those who pay by quarterly Direct Debit, or quarterly by cash, cheque or postal order within 24 days of their bill"

I am Southern area - single rate

ie) 21.76 p / 11.44p electricity

7.897p / 3.129p gas

which is approximately the same (averaged out) as if I had remained on Energy Saver 4, after these hikes - which WILL NOT be the last

So - this IS a good move and covers me for 2 years

Thanks as always Jalexa

Twee:I have transferred to Online Energy - Capped Rate (No Standing Charge) - although it doesn't tell me what the rates are !!!

The rates booklet is here...

http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/pdf/CappedPriceJune2013.pdf

Checking a region at random, Capped Price June 2013 has a premium of (only) 13% over (uncapped) Online Saver 14 for a 2 year fix.

I would say that was a safe and sensible choice.

According to SP - Energy Saver 14 rates will not rise in the present round of price hikes...........

Twee:

I may go for SP's online energy saver 14 then ......

...This looks like a no brainer ?

Only you can decide for your region and your attitude to price movement risk.

Scottish Power online energy saver 14 is a "guaranteed discount tariff". The tariff is "guaranteed" to remain 2% cheaper than the standard tariff. I have not checked what the initial discount is but I have long regaled against "guaranteed discount tariffs" and have yet to be corrected in this forum by accredited industry posters.

The question you need to satisfy yourself on is if "standard tariffs" were to increase by say 19% for gas and 10% for electricity (surely not!) how much could a "guaranteed discount" tariff increase by without failing the guarantee? If there was an increase (which didn't fail the guarantee), would normal contract provisions to terminate a contract without penalty, on the occasion of customer detriment, apply? I have never *known* the answer to the last question but I *fear* the answer is no.

Until contested by an accredited industry poster a "guaranteed discount tariff" is neither "fixed" nor "capped".

I may go for SP's online energy saver 14 then ......

present (on line energy saver 4)

electricity 23.414p / first 225 units per quarter & 10.157p thereafter

gas - 6.12p / first 670units per quarter & 4.569p thereafter)

future ? (on line energy saver 14)

electricity 17.842 p/ first 225 units – 10.24 p thereafter

gas – 6.48p / first 670 units – 2.756p thereafter

This looks like a no brainer ?