Bord Gáis is a White Knight?

[New_Economic_Agenda]

From midday today any ESB customer will be able to switch over and get their electricity from Bord Gáis by either phoning the company or going online, according to reports on the RTE website.

Bord Gáis has announced a guarantee to customers that its prices will be at least 10% lower than the ESB, for the next three years and the double digit guarantee is due to remain in place, no matter what cuts the ESB introduces.

And there will also be no penalty if a customer wants to switch back to the ESB.


In light of developments and revelations in recent weeks at ESB regarding their pay increase and the reports that the 'average salary' there is 100k - do posters feel that Bord Gáis will be viewed as a White Knight in the market and that there will be an initial surge away from ESB in the first few weeks because of this?

[adamirer]

not after just seeing the size of my bill. f***.

[Twin Towers]

The ESB will be stripped clean of residential customers but no mention as yet at Bord Gáis Homepage. Why so?

[New_Economic_Agenda]

Here's the RTE report

RTÉ News: Bord Gáis enters electricity market

[Clanrickard]

Have changed my business to Bord Gáis and am seeing the benefits.

[slx]

Airtricity is also offering a 10% cheaper than ESB price to domestic customers.

The only other energy supplier that I am aware of, Energia (NIE) are still not offering service to domestic customers.

[Kevin Doyle]

The ESB will be stripped clean of residential customers but no mention as yet at Bord Gáis Homepage. Why so?

You think so?

Bord Gais has nowhere near the generation capacity of ESB, if demand goes through the roof for domestic supply and ESB market share collapses what’s the bets Bord Gais will end up having to buy nearly all its electricity from the ESB anyway?

The supply of domestic electricity is actually the smallest percentage of ESB profits.

But its good news none the less, especially as the ESB is primed to lower its prices by ten percent anyway which means Bord Gais will be supplying electricity at a price 20% lower than now.

[ConsumerChampion]

You can sign up to airtricity also,they are 10% cheaper. You need to pay by direct debit and get your bill delivered by email.

[HanleyS]

Wasn't Bord Gais pledging a 10 year price freeze a few years back? i.e. before their 20% hike.

[imokyrok]

We certainly need competition in the area. However given that the ESB still own the network and equipment I wouldn't be surprised if that causes difficulties for non-esb customers in the event of a fault. When our phones lines went down in the area Eircom prioritised their own customers over those of other companies. Houses in our little cul de sac who were with eircom had services back within 3 days. We were with BT and it took 8 days and even then we had to track down the local eircom guy through a neighbour of a friend scenario. All this despite the fact that there is a business being run from our home.