(UPDATED) A Great Way To Get Rid of Electricity Salesmen! (Unit-e)

Member Name: delawney

Product:	Unit-e
Date:	30/01/02 (350 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Boosts supply of energy from renewable sources

Disadvantages: Slightly more expensive

Every so often we have a salesman come to our door, telling us how much they can save on our electricity bills. "No thank you", I say, "I choose to pay more for my electricity". They look at you with bewilderment. This was obviously not in their training. For once, they don't know what to say. Eventually they remember to ask who I get my electricity from. "Unit-e" I reply. More confusion. They haven't got a tick-box for that one.

Seems strange to say I happily pay more for my electricity (especially since I'm an accountant and surely as such I'm supposed to be penny-pinching!), but until recently I did. This is because the electricity I buy is 'green'. I say until recently, as I recently moved house and got temporarily stuck with the existing supplier, but more about that in a mo...


*** SO WHAT MAKES IT GREEN THEN? IS IT JEALOUS? ***

Of course, in reality the majority of the electricity that flows into my humble abode probably comes from the local nuclear powerstation. Nothing very green about that. So how does Unit-e work?

Unit-e claim to provide 100% renewable energy. For every unit of electricity you use, Unit-e promise to feed the national grid with a unit of electricity produced from renewable sources of energy such as wind and hydro power. All unit-e generation is based in the UK. Simple really.

In contrast to the more familiar electricity suppliers who may provide an optional 'green tarriff', Unit-e has no involvement in any other potentially polluting source of electricity production. They only provide energy from renewable sources.


*** HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY'RE NOT FIBBING? ***

Unit-e is accredited by Future Energy, a scheme run by the Energy Savings Trust and verifies the claims concerning the amount of renewable electricity bought and sold by suppliers.


*** SURELY THAT'S GOING TO COST MORE ***
>
Well, that would be a yes.

They estimate that the average consumer will pay approximately £3 per month more for their electricity. A small price to pay for helping to encourage use and development of renewable energy sources.

But why does it cost more? Unit-e explain: "Renewable electricity is a new technology and has only really been developed over the past 10 years in the UK. As it is a new technology It is currently more expensive to supply electricity from renewable technologies than from conventional fossil fuels. unit-e charges its customers the additional cost it has to pay to supply its renewable energy product."


*** HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST ME? ***

Unfortunately, I can't tell you that exactly since it depends on where you live. This is because in each region of the UK, Unit-e are charged different amounts for the use of the infrastructure to supply electricity to your home. This is true of any electricity supplier, and is not unique to Unit-e.

For me, in the East and South East region, I will pay 9.85 pence per day as a daily charge and 6.97 pence per unit used.

To see how much it will cost you, try the "quick quote" facility at Unit-e's website (www.unit-e.co.uk).


*** SO HOW DO I GET ME SOME OF THAT GREEN LECCY THEN? ***

The first time I signed up with Unit-e (at my previous address) I did it over the phone. It was quite some time ago, so I'm afraid I don't remember the process in intimate detail. However, I do remember that the changeover (from Eastern Energy) was easy and hassle-free.

So, today, fed up to the back teeth with Scottish Power (whole new op coming on that), the supplier I was unfortunately saddled with when I moved house, and feeling guilty that it's taken me so long to get around to switching, I visited Unit-e's website (www.unit-e.co.uk) and was delighted to discover that you can sign up onlin
e.

(An aside: I must admit I'm dreading the switchover process this time, as we are dealing with Scottish Power. They managed to totally bodge up my gas switchover a few months ago!)

Signing up via the website is quite straighforward. Before you start you will need to have a recent electricity bill from an existing supplier complete with your supply number to hand.

There are nine stages to work through:

1. Select Domestic or Business use. As I am writing about domestic use, the rest of these steps as described assume that is what was chosen.

2. Select your postcode prefix (this is the first two letters of your postcode). This determines your region.

3. Select your meter type - that is whether you have a single rate or an economy 7 meter.

4. Select your preferred billing method. There are four poddible options:

* easy pay 1
Monthly direct debit with a discount at the end of the year of £10

* easy pay 2
Quarterly advance payment that gives a discount of 4.25% on the payment

* easy pay 3
Half year advance payment that gives a discount of 5.5 % on the payment.

* easy pay 4
This is a annual advance payment that gives a discount of 8 % on the payment

The saving is based on your advanced payment e.g. if your bill is £400 per year and you choose option 4 you will get an annual discount of £32.

5. Review your selected tariff. All this does is confirm what you will be charged for your electricity. For my region (East and South East) on a monthly direct debit it is as follows:

Daily Charge: 9.85p

Unit Charge: 6.97p

Discounts: £10 Annual Discount - Monthly Direct Debit

6. Supply Number. First you have to select whether you are applying for a single or multiple properties. Then you have to enter your supply number (as shown on your electricity bill) and your address.

If you do not have your suppl
y number you can still proceed, although this may slow down the switchover process.

7. Personal Details.

Don't worry, these are not personal questions like "How often do you have sex?". This is just your bog standard name, address, etc.

Just like lots of these sites and paper forms, there is a box to tick if you do not wish to receive information from their partners.

8. Confirm Order

You need to click on the link shown clearly in red to review your contract. It is worth checking the supply number again at this stage to ensure you have entered it correctly. You'll also find all the small print here, so I should point out that you should read all this carefully!

Once you have read your contract and you are happy to proceed, you can move onto the next stage.

9. Application Completed

No more work here. This simply thanks you for taking the time to switch to renewable energy from unit-e, and tells you that they will be sending confirmation of your order in the post.


*** TELL ME A BIT MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY THEN ***

I had no idea you'd be so interested!

Unit-e is an independent, UK company. They are owned by the Monkton Group plc. If like me, that immediately fills you with suspicion (goodness I'm getting cynical in my old age!) fear not. "Monkton has no other subsidiaries or business interests and it is focused entirely on its development as a specialist operator in the renewable energy market", apparently.

Unit-e has also been rated the number 1 green electricity supplier by Friends of the Earth.


*** SO WHAT ARE THEY LIKE AS A SUPPLIER IN PRACTICE? ***

I was with Unit-e for 2 years before I moved house. I paid by monthly direct debit, and received a statement every 3 months or so.

Overall, I was extremely happy with their service. One criticism is that their bills can be slightly confusing,
but they do make sense once you get your head around them! Certainly not enough of a complaint to make them lose a star. I never had cause to complain, and if I ever needed to contact them for anything staff were always friendly and helpful.

When it came to moving house, I was slightly misled as they gave the impression I would just have to give a meter reading, and they would be able to take over the supply. I don't think that was deliberate, and it could well have just been me being a thickie! Of course, that wasn't the case and consequently I've been lumbered with the existing supplier (Scottish Power) in the meantime. I don't recommend them at all - a whole new op in the pipeline methinks!


*** WHAT ABOUT GAS? ***

Unfortunately, Unit-e only supply electricity at present. This means you have to get your gas (if you have it) from an alternative supplier. I have chosed to buy my gas from Southern Electric, who then donate to the RSPB (subject of future opinion!).

However, this may change in the future as Unit-e have been considering the supply of gas to customers. It has been investigating the possibilities for an environmental gas product. It is still working on this and considering the issues related to supplying gas. Watch this space!


*** SO, IN SUMMARY... ***

If you're conscious of environmental issues, this is the electricity supplier for you - and it's so much fun confusing those salesmen!

Overall, I give them five stars, as I think under the circumstances it would be unfair to knock a star off for them being a little more expensive. That's my opinion so ner!


Information sourced from Unit-e's website at www.unit-e.co.uk

Summary: