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Firedog
Super User
FiredogSuper User
Super User
December 12, 2022
Solved

Difference between tariffs at Switch and Renewal?

  • December 12, 2022
  • 24 replies
  • 353 views

My fixed-rate contract comes to an end next month, and I’m now in the ‘renewal window.’ I’m trying to find out how much more I’ll have to pay when I’m transferred to a simple variable tariff. The rates I see at two pages at ovoenergy.com are different, by about £60 a year in my case.

Can I be certain that if I follow the advice on the renewal page and “pick this plan today to enjoy these prices” I will in fact be billed at the rates offered?

Here are the screenshots:
  

TIL captured today from Renewal - OVO Energy


 

TIL captured today from Switch your gas and electricity to OVO (ovoenergy.com)

 

Best answer by Jeffus

Updated on 20/10/23 by Abby_OVO

I assume both are in fact variable plans as the exit fee is zero and there is no plan length so the rates could change at any time up to the Energy Price Guarantee rates. 

The only fixed feature being the Energy Price Guarantee?

I expect the rates will change come 1st April which ever option you choose when the EPG changes

The tariff name is different in both examples. We have seen different tariff names with slightly different rates before but i think i would get something in writing personally from ovo if you wanted to confirm, of course with the caveat that the rates could change anyway with either plan up to the EPG 

 

24 replies

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Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
December 30, 2022

No worries. Relay UK is a free service that anyone can use for any reason. While it is designed for people with hearing or speech difficulties, there’s no strict rule saying you have to have such difficulties to be able to use the service. If you’ve just lost your voice temporarily due to a cold but still need to make phone calls for example, that’s perfectly cool with them too.

All I’d suggest is that it’s worth reading the user guides at https://www.relayuk.bt.com/ first as they’ll make your life a lot easier.

They never ask you the reason why you use the service either. It’s provided there for anyone who may benefit from it. If it’s easier, you can just use the Relay UK app on any smartphone rather than playing with the desktop software. Or if you’d rather use a full mouse and keyboard, you can get the desktop app instead.

Just for accessibility reasons (and because I really do genuinely like to recommend this thing to people a lot!):

Windows 10/11 (Via Microsoft Store): https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/relay-uk/9N6QLQ67VWVG?hl=en-gb&gl=gb

Mac: Search Relay UK Desktop App on the Mac App Store

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bt.relayuk

iOS/iPadOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/relay-uk/id1483202788

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Firedog
Super User
FiredogSuper UserAuthor
Super User
December 30, 2022

No worries.

Thanks again. I got the app for PC and had it set up in no time to make calls (apart from the usual round-the-houses to get Bluetooth to pair properly, that is). I’m not quite sure about persuading people to use it when calling me, though. 

How do you suppose it works when you call OVO and you’re no. 385 in the queue? Are you tying up a whole Relay assistant on hold? I’d hate to do that … 

Is there any prioritization of voice calls and webchat for those on the PSR, ? I’d hate to be jumping the queue if there is.

 

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Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
December 30, 2022

They’ve considered that exact possibility. The Relay Assistant stays with you during the entire call, but if necessary they can move the call to another Relay Assistant - you’ll always be notified if that happens. BT has loads of them so the chances of you blocking another call are pretty low. And emergency calls always take priority anyway.

They won’t mind if the call takes a while to reach an agent, and you can talk to the Relay Assistant at anytime if you need to, such ask to ask for advice on what to do to make the call work.

As for OVO’s priority queue thing? It does exist, but not for PSR. If you have an account management flag against your account (like I do) you get redirected to your squad rather than the general queue whenever possible. It effectively speeds up queue times massively. :)

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Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
January 3, 2023

Hey @Firedog,

 

If you don’t get written confirmation of your new plan, It might be worth contacting Support with the case number just to ensure you are moved to single tariff rates when the plan expires. 

 

There may have been some confusion as you’ll just roll onto the Variable contract at the end of your current fixed term, always best to double check 🙂

 

Hope this helps. 

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
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