Flogas offers 20% cut on Bord Gáis prices

A FURTHER shake-up in the gas market has come, with Flogas offering a 20% discount on Bord Gáis prices to new customers.

According to Flogas, this makes it one of the cheapest gas providers in Ireland along with Airtricity.

Chief executive of the Consumers Association of Ireland, Dermott Jewell, said that at long last Ireland has a competitive marketplace with a strong degree of real choice for consumers.

“However, consumers will now need to look at all of the offers and take their time to consider them before committing to what are annual contracts with terms and conditions applying.”

The Flogas offer is only available to new customers via direct debit and they can opt for one of two packages. The first package offers a 20% discount off Bord Gáis prices, but they would have to pay an annual charge of €124.85. The second package offers a 15% discount off the unit rate charged by Bord Gáis with an annual standing charge of €68.10.

Flogas said there are no penalty fees if a customer decides to switch from it to another provider.

Flogas will guarantee the 20% discount rate until the next review of natural gas prices which is scheduled for March of next year.

Managing director with Flogas, Richard Martin said: “Typically, the largest gas bills for homes in the winter months is incurred in October to December, so residential customers switching to Flogas natural gas are guaranteed one of the cheapest rates in Ireland just when it’s most needed.”

Mr Jewell said, however, this offer may be a “little too late or unappealing” in the sense that Airtricity have come in with a 6% reduction in electricity on top of their 20% reduction in gas. “And it is more than a little frustrating that current customers are excluded here.”

Mr Jewell said consumers must look at their budget, see where they need to reduce on their usage and choose only the best package suitable for their needs.

“Let’s be clear – providers have taken too long a time to get to this point of discounting in what has been a seriously overpriced market for the consumer in Ireland.”

A Flogas spokeswoman said the best deal would be for customers to get electricity from Airtricity and gas from Flogas.