Changes to prices for Pay As You Go customers and customers on the Energy Assist Tariff

In line with regulations from Ofgem following the Competition and Markets Authority investigation, on 05 October 2018 SSE will be readjusting prices for customers with Pay As You Go meters and customers on the Energy Assist Tariff*. The price is based on a cap set by Ofgem and is reviewed every six months.

As a result of the change in the cap, the vast majority of SSE’s Pay As You Go customers and Energy Assist Tariff customers will see the overall cost of their energy increase. This reflects an increase in the cost of supplying energy as acknowledged by Ofgem in its statement regarding a change in the level of the Vulnerable Customers Safeguard tariff cap.

Smart Pay As You Go customers will see the change automatically on the 05 October 2018. Non-Smart Pay As You Go customers will also be billed at the new prices on 05 October 2018 but their meter will display the old prices until their first top up following the price change. It is important that these customers top up as little as £1 soon after 05 October 2018 to avoid them being billed the difference at a later date. Customers on the Energy Assist Tariff will see the change automatically on 05 October 2018.

Typical dual fuel customers with standard Pay As You Go meters and typical dual fuel customers on the Energy Assist Tariff** will see an average annual increase of £47 resulting in a typical annual bill of £1135***. The change will be the same regardless of payment method. The change is the result of an increase in unit rates for both gas and electricity and an increase to standing charges for gas. There has been no change in the electricity standing charge.

SSE is writing to all affected customers to let them know how they are impacted and explain the options available to them.

For more information on the support available for customers visit here.

*Customers with credit meters who receive the Warm Home Discount and have not signed up to a fixed tariff have been moved onto the Energy Assist Tariff, which is priced at or below the cap set by Ofgem.

** The Energy Assist Tariff is compliant with the rules and caps put in place by Ofgem’s Vulnerable Customer Safeguard Tariff.

*** Average across all areas of the UK and based on Ofgem’s typical domestic consumption values of 3100 kWh for electricity and 12,000 KWh for gas per year