Scottish Power increases energy prices
December 15, 2010 at 11:02 am
For those living up in Scotland, it has been a pretty miserable winter already, with utter chaos caused over the last couple of weeks by the seemingly relentless snow and ice hitting the roads, airports, and pavements of even the major cities. However, things could be about to get a lot worse for the Scots, with Scottish Power announcing an energy price hike for its customers.
It would seem that there is not a lot of festive spirit or goodwill towards all men going on at the Scottish Power headquarters, with the company revealing an average price increase of 2% for gas and almost 9% for electricity. It is thought that around 2.5 million homes will be affected by these increases at a time during which the wallets are already being stretched by the demands of kids and other relatives who aim for Christmas presents slightly more exciting than a pair of socks.
Whilst those on the company’s fixed products or social tariff will see their prices stay the same, bad feeling towards the company is likely to be widespread in Scotland, particularly since consumers were only granted a single week’s notice before the changes came into effect.
Of course, an easy way to hit back at the price hikes is to use an energy price comparison site and consider switching supplier. It can seem like an effort to compare prices but it certainly is worth it when you consider the fact that those unlucky Scottish Power customers affected are likely to see an additional £50 or so on their bills next year.
Npower customers rewarded with ‘smartpower’ monitor if they are prepared to go green
December 6, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Current npower customers who choose to switch to paperless billing will become eligible to receive a free ‘smartpower’ device that provides real time information about the amount of energy being used in a household at any one time. Those customers who receive such an energy monitor could well use it to make significant savings on their bills, as well as help to lower the hefty carbon emissions we are responsible for across the UK.
Speaking about the success of the offer so far, npower’s marketing director Kevin Peake has suggested that “176,000 npower customers have now received an electricity monitor and we’ve found that energy consumption drops by between five and 15 per cent in the first year of use”.
Customers who choose to take up the offer will not only be reducing their energy consumption by up to 15% in their first year of use, a factor that is going to become increasingly important as energy companies look to put up costs to meet rising wholesale prices, but will also be able to take satisfaction in the knowledge that they are doing their bit to help cut the amount of CO2 the UK produces.
Despite the offer only currently applying to those customers who have never had an energy meter before, the majority of npower’s customers should be eligible for receiving one. Whilst it is unlikely to be a device topping any Christmas lists any time soon, it is something that families looking to cut down on using wasteful applications will surely receive with open arms as they look to reduce the amount of electricity they waste by leaving household appliances switched on unnecessarily.
Can solar panels meet their instillation costs
December 6, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Whilst solar panels appear to offer an ideal way to save money on electricity bills, those who invest also run the risk of not getting back the money spent on initial installations. Concerns over these risks have increased since the publication of research which found that ten out of 14 solar thermal panel companies have made misleading claims as to how much money a customer can theoretically save by installing a solar panel at home.
In their report, Which?, the consumer watchdog champion, has suggested that instead of getting solar panels installed by bigger companies such as British Gas, consumers can generate far greater savings on their electricity bills by choosing to take out an initial loan to pay for their own independent installation of solar panels. This fact is highlighted in the Which? report, which states: “Even if you were living in the UK’s sunniest region, the maximum you would save is £412 a year off your electricity bill, compared with the £1,313 that free solar panel companies such as British Gas and Isis Solar will collect from the feed in tariff”.
With this in mind, consumers are being urged to make sure that they think carefully about offers of free installation and ensure that they look to the long term, rather than focus upon short term savings. However, with lending rates still at a low level due to a more cautionary approach necessitated by the impact of the credit crunch, many homeowners may be forced to accept the lower returns and instead attempt to enjoy the satisfaction resulting from receiving money in reward for helping the UK make the transition to renewable energy sources.
