moving to electric kiwi

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750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1809096 29-Jun-2017 17:55

Further to this, I think they are blocking signups from Flick customers

If I type 2 known Flick addresses into the checker, they both come up with this message,

If I try any other random address in the same area, it allows you to continue signup

skewt: My friend tried to sign up with my code but got this message, anyone else had this?

Area was: Dunedin, she was attempting to move from Flick
Maybe they are currently struggling with demand from flick customers

ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1809137 29-Jun-2017 19:36

skewt:
Further to this, I think they are blocking signups from Flick customers

If I type 2 known Flick addresses into the checker, they both come up with this message,

If I try any other random address in the same area, it allows you to continue signup

skewt: My friend tried to sign up with my code but got this message, anyone else had this?

Area was: Dunedin, she was attempting to move from Flick
Maybe they are currently struggling with demand from flick customers

I think you're right. If I enter my address I get that message (I'm with Flick). If I enter my next door neighbours on either side (not with Flick), I don't get the message. There must be a lot of people trying to switch for them to do this...

kingjj

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#1809140 29-Jun-2017 19:41

skewt:

Further to this, I think they are blocking signups from Flick customers

If I type 2 known Flick addresses into the checker, they both come up with this message,

If I try any other random address in the same area, it allows you to continue signup

skewt: My friend tried to sign up with my code but got this message, anyone else had this?

Area was: Dunedin, she was attempting to move from Flick
Maybe they are currently struggling with demand from flick customers

Just tried the same thing with known Flick address and their neighbours and got the same thing. They've most certainly blocked Flicksters moving across.

ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1809143 29-Jun-2017 19:55

Perhaps they've assumed that ex-Flick customers will be more likely than others to leave EK again as soon as spot prices decrease and stabilise.

clive100

236 posts

Master Geek
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#1809186 29-Jun-2017 20:16

ashtonaut: Perhaps they've assumed that ex-Flick customers will be more likely than others to leave EK again as soon as spot prices decrease and stabilise.

Is that because Flick is hard for them to deal with when changing over ? Surely it's not worth switching back & forth several times a year for what must be only a small saving over a 12 month period.

timmmay

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#1809204 29-Jun-2017 20:55

Interesting. It could be exactly what it said, that the load is too high to take all the Flick customers.

I don't think it's fair to switch to EK for a short period while spot prices are high. My plan was to switch and stay, with no plan to move back.

Benjip

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Ultimate Geek

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#1809246 29-Jun-2017 21:59

My guess is that they (EK) know Flick are swamped with Flick -> EK switchers at the moment and therefore EK would not be able to get people switched over within the 10 days (due to Flick being behind on paperwork etc.) that they advertise on all their (EK's) comms.

So it's easier to just say no at the moment rather than having to work out new messaging in terms of "It's taking longer than the 10 days we promised" etc., which most consumers would probably blame on the GSP (EK) and not the LSP (Flick).

ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1809252 29-Jun-2017 22:15

timmmay:

Interesting. It could be exactly what it said, that the load is too high to take all the Flick customers.

I don't think it's fair to switch to EK for a short period while spot prices are high. My plan was to switch and stay, with no plan to move back.

Personally I disagree, they advertise no contract, if its not fair why don't they put up a contract? We can't pretend to know what will cost them or what doesn't.

I looked at signing up, but decided against it mainly because they list their prices excluding GST deliberately to mislead (so it seems cheaper than it is). How many people missed the fine print I wonder? It also concerns me that they're potentially blocking ex Flick customers from signing up.

If you can't do it off contract then have a contract, but don't advertise it with no contract then only accept people when it suits. Hopefully these trends prove to be a coincidence.

jonathan18

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#1809417 30-Jun-2017 09:56

Another consideration may be EK's promise to "save in your first year"; how does this work for Flick customers?

EK request a single power bill for this purpose. Now, for most providers with fixed charges (and with a bill likely to cover a month of usage), a single bill could be relatively accurate. But this not the case for Flick customers - a single bill covers only a week, and it is highly dependent on the spot charges at the time.

So, if I give EK my most recent bill (-9% "cheaper" than my previous provider, compared to my overall average savings of 19%) it's not going to be hard for them to guarantee first-year savings; equally, if I pick one of the low weeks, that's going to probably cost them a decent amount.

I'm happy to provide them figures for the previous year which will give a much more accurate basis to calculate these costs.

What have other people done who have made the Flick > EK transition?

darkasdes2

428 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1809428 30-Jun-2017 10:03

jonathan18:

Another consideration may be EK's promise to "save in your first year"; how does this work for Flick customers?

EK request a single power bill for this purpose. Now, for most providers with fixed charges (and with a bill likely to cover a month of usage), a single bill could be relatively accurate. But this not the case for Flick customers - a single bill covers only a week, and it is highly dependent on the spot charges at the time.

So, if I give EK my most recent bill (-9% "cheaper" than my previous provider, compared to my overall average savings of 19%) it's not going to be hard for them to guarantee first-year savings; equally, if I pick one of the low weeks, that's going to probably cost them a decent amount.

I'm happy to provide them figures for the previous year which will give a much more accurate basis to calculate these costs.

What have other people done who have made the Flick > EK transition?

I was changed over yesterday to EK from Flick, it took 10 calander days for changeover process.

clive100

236 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#1809435 30-Jun-2017 10:13

When I changed over I provided the most recent bill from my old provider Grey power (Pulse Energy). I was previously on the standard user plan but EK advised I would be better off on their low user plan. So the savings guarantee was then based against the most common supplier for this area Trustpwer & not a true reflection of My actual savings. However in reality after 7 months now I am much better off with EK & has saved between $20-35 on each months power bill. That is covering both warmer & colder months so a good indicator that I should save $200-300 in a annual cycle.

timmmay

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#1809437 30-Jun-2017 10:16

jonathan18:

Another consideration may be EK's promise to "save in your first year"; how does this work for Flick customers?

EK request a single power bill for this purpose. Now, for most providers with fixed charges (and with a bill likely to cover a month of usage), a single bill could be relatively accurate. But this not the case for Flick customers - a single bill covers only a week, and it is highly dependent on the spot charges at the time.

When I sent them a flick bill here was their (quite reasonable) reply.

We only guarantee savings based on a plan which has comparable conditions to Electric Kiwi. This means we don’t calculate savings based on plans with special conditions, such as dual fuel and/or bundled discounts.

Flick customers pay a varying rate for electricity which cannot be determined in advance. Some weeks their bills will be higher than others even if the amount of electricity used is the same. This means we can’t do a direct comparison with our simple, single rate plans where you’re never surprised by your bill!

Don’t worry we’ll still guarantee your savings! We’ll simply use recent prices from the biggest power company in your area to track your savings.

jonb

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#1809441 30-Jun-2017 10:24

Also I would class both Flick and EK users as more technically astute and more skilled at working the free hour periods than the average household. Too many Flick users joining will definitely reduce your margins significantly, for a minor operator.

jonathan18

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#1809443 30-Jun-2017 10:31

timmmay:

When I sent them a flick bill here was their (quite reasonable) reply.

--

We only guarantee savings based on a plan which has comparable conditions to Electric Kiwi. This means we don’t calculate savings based on plans with special conditions, such as dual fuel and/or bundled discounts.

Flick customers pay a varying rate for electricity which cannot be determined in advance. Some weeks their bills will be higher than others even if the amount of electricity used is the same. This means we can’t do a direct comparison with our simple, single rate plans where you’re never surprised by your bill!

Don’t worry we’ll still guarantee your savings! We’ll simply use recent prices from the biggest power company in your area to track your savings.

Thanks, Tim - yeah, that's an understandable position.

My change-over to EK finally came through on Wednesday afternoon. In terms of the free hour of power - I understand the ability to change for a particular day up until midnight that night, but it can still be a bit of guess work as to which is the most advantageous hour to select given the delay in being able to view the data. I'm assuming, based on Flick data, that the first hour of running our heatpump in the morning will draw the biggest load so I will default it to this period.

timmmay

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#1809458 30-Jun-2017 10:48

jonathan18:

yeah, that's an understandable position.

My change-over to EK finally came through on Wednesday afternoon. In terms of the free hour of power - I understand the ability to change for a particular day up until midnight that night, but it can still be a bit of guess work as to which is the most advantageous hour to select given the delay in being able to view the data. I'm assuming, based on Flick data, that the first hour of running our heatpump in the morning will draw the biggest load so I will default it to this period.

That's what I've done. I've also scheduled hot water, dish washer, and sometimes the clothes drier for that time.

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