E.ON buys npower – What does it mean for customers?

Is npower still trading?

Yes. npower is still trading, and the brand is still active. However, as you can see from their website, npower’s customers are gradually getting transported over to the emerging brand E.On Next. Little is known about this emerging brand at the time of writing, except that it will offer 100% renewable energy and boast its own user-friendly website that will enable customers to manage their own accounts.

However, when accessing npower’s tariffs page, visitors are transported directly to E.On’s list of tariffs. So we can assume that prices and plans will remain the same as those currently offered by E.On. At least for the time being.

npower has assured existing customers that for the time being they can still access their npower account and enjoy their existing tariffs and rates (although these are not available to new customers).

Who is npower owned by?

npower came under the ownership of fellow Big 6 supplier E.On in early 2019. Before this, however, it was owned by Innogy SE, a subsidiary of the German energy giant RWE. E.On is also a German company.

When was npower founded?

npower, as we know it, was founded in 2016. In the early ‘00s it was known as Innogy PLC before being bought by the German energy giant RWE and rebranded as npower.

When will I be switched from npower to E.ON?

If you are currently an npower customer, you can assume that it’s business as usual until you find out otherwise. Although no official timetable has been issued for when npower customers will switch to the nascent E.On Next brand, it is likely to take place over 2021. npower promises that customers will be given plenty of notice before the switch takes place. Ofgem guidelines dictate that customers must be given at least 30 days’ notice before any changes to their energy supply and prices.

Will I be on a different contract with E.On? Will I pay more?

For the time being, npower customers are able to retain their current tariffs, and will be given plenty of notice if they have to change tariffs. As soon as you find out what your new tariff will be under E.On Next, the Papernest team will be able to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere. npower have explicitly stated that customers with prepayment meters will not pay more when they move to E.On Next.

What happens if I’m in credit with npower?

Fear not! Your credit balance is safe and secure, and npower have promised that any credit on your account will be transferred over to npower.

Will npower take on my unresolved complaint to E.On?

Because the npower brand is still active, you should still be able to get some resolution on your unresolved complaint. npower aims to resolve all customer complaints within 8 weeks. If your complaint has not been dealt with to your satisfaction within this timeframe, you can take your complaint to the Energy Ombudsman.

I don’t want a contract with E.On Can I switch?

If you’d rather not join the herd in moving to E.On, you can always switch to an alternative energy supplier. However, be advised that some of npower’s tariffs (such as the Fix Online v43 Feb 2022) carry an early exit fee of £30 per fuel.

However, the Papernest team can help you to switch to a new tariff that will allow you to make significant savings that may more than make up for this fee.

Were npower any good?

Despite their size and resources, npower have had more than their fair share of issues in recent years. Between 2013 and 2014 there was a spate of half a million late and inaccurate energy bills. This was followed by issues between 2016 and 2017 with customers being charged early exit fees that were not applicable to their tariffs when switching. By the time of the acquisition by E.On in 2019 npower had a complaints ratio of 2,188 complaints per 100,000 customers.

Do npower have smart meters?

Although npower have been fitting smart meters for their customers until very recently, all new installations have been suspended. However, their website states that once all customers have been transferred to E.On Next smart meter installations will resume.

Can I still change tariff on npower?

Although many npower customers will inevitably transfer over to E.On, you can still switch to a new energy plan at any time. Just contact the experts at Papernest. When we know the name of your current tariff, your location and a rough idea of your energy expenditure, we can get to work finding the perfect new tariff for your needs. However, if you’d prefer to wait and see what E.On Next has to offer, we can still find a tariff that’s likely to beat it.

What are npower tariffs?

While existing customers will remain on the same tariffs for the foreseeable future, npower’s range of tariffs are not available to new customers. What we can do, however, is take a look at E.On’s current offerings. These are the rates that are available to you as a new customer. All rates are accurate at the time of writing. However, these may be supplanted at a future date by new tariffs that are exclusive to the E.On Next brand.

E.On has an eclectic but modest range of domestic energy tariffs that should be able to suit all needs. What’s more, all of E.On’s energy tariffs come with 100% renewable electricity as standard.

All prices quoted include VAT at 5%. Rates are based on national averages, though yours may differ depending on where in the country you live. Monthly / annual estimated expenditure is based on UK average use of 12,000 kWh of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity per year.

Below you can find the cost information associated with these tariffs.

EON Variable Rate Tariffs

Eon has one standard variable tariff for variable rates. The advantage for having a variable rate is the flexibility in switching plans. This comes at a cost though, which is the chance of higher rates if the market price is higher.

The costs associated with this tariff can be seen here:

Eon Fixed Rate Tariffs

Eon has several fixed rate tariff plans. We have an overview of them down below.

The pricing on these tariffs can be seen here:

Eon Prepaid Tariffs

Eon also allows the use of Prepaid Meters. With this type of meter, rather than paying after your use, you top up your meter and the credit slowly depletes.

Costs associated with this tariff plan can be seen here:

Eon Economy 7 Tariffs

Eon also has Economy 7 plans available for people who have an economy 7 meter.

As mentioned previously, these tariffs have two separate unit rates, one for peak hours of consumption and another for off-peak.

Pricing on these tariffs can be seen here:

E.On Prepayment tariff

Like npower, E.On offers a variable tariff for customers with prepayment meter, although unit rates are not disclosed. Existing npower customers have been assured that their unit rates will not rise after transitioning to E.On Next.

Customers will also be able to continue using the same card / key to top up their meter.

How green was npower?

Like all of the “Big 6” energy suppliers, npower offered 100% renewable energy tariffs, as will emerging brand E.On Next. But just because a supplier offers renewable energy plans does not mean that their fuel mix is free of fossil fuels.

npower energy fuel mix

You can see npower’s energy fuel mix across all of its brands in the table below. This data was posted to the brand’s website in March 2020 and has not been updated since, so we can presume that it is still accurate.

Conversely, you can see E.On’s energy fuel mix in the table below:

npower customer reviews

Unfortunately, npower’s customers have not been kind to the brand on their Trustpilot page. npower has received a total of 2,795 reviews on the platform. Of these:

• 80 (3%) were “Excellent”
• 28 (1%) were “Great”
• 24 (<1%) were “Average”
• 69 (2%) were “Poor”
• 2,594 (93%) were “Bad”

This gives them an aggregate score of 1.2 out of 5 stars, making them one of few energy suppliers in the realm of “Bad”.

Though positive reviews are sparse, they raise some encouraging points. Happy customers site friendly and well-trained staff, helpful responses in dealing with issues, clear and concise information with regards to the switch to E.On and the convenience of being able to request a callback rather than waiting in a queue.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of reviews for npower are poor. Billing issues seem common, with one customer complaining that the company threatened to forward their case to a debt collection agency, giving them just one day to respond. Another reviewer complains of being lumbered with the previous occupant’s debt when paying for energy through their prepay meter. A cautionary tale that highlights the importance of requesting your own key / card as soon as you move into a property with a prepay meter.

How to contact npower?

Existing customers can still contact npower’s customer service team if they need to talk about their energy account. However, their website states that they will need to contact E.On as soon as their plan transitions to E.On Next.

In the meantime, you can contact npower over the phone on 0800 316 9328. Alternatively, you can login to your npower account and use the Live Chat feature.

How to cancel npower

If you want to switch to a new supplier, you don’t need to contact npower. Just get in touch with the Papernest team, and we’ll find the perfect energy tariff for your needs. Once you’ve decided on the plan for you, we and your new supplier will take care of everything. Your switch will usually be completed within 15 days.

How to contact E.On?

If you’d like to talk to E.On about their energy tariffs or any aspect of the npower switch, you can get in touch with them on 0345 052 0000. Alternatively, you can write to:

Customer Service Centre
E. ON
PO Box 7750
Nottingham

NG1 6WR

Thinking of making the switch to npower / E.On? Make sure you get in touch with us first!

As we can see, this is a transitional time for the npower brand. But if you’re thinking of switching to npower / E.On Next, don’t commit to anything without contacting the experts at papernest first. We can trawl the energy market for the perfect supplier and tariff to suit your needs and budget. We’ll even manage your switch from end-to-end to bring you cheaper, greener energy fast and completely hassle-free.

Call us today on 0330 818 6225 to find out more.

We’re available from 8am to 6pm.

Would you like to know more about energy suppliers in the UK? Great! Check out these related articles:

1. British Gas
2. Scottish Power
3. EON
4. Octopus Energy
5. Avro Energy

FAQ

Does npower still exist?

Yes, the npower brand is still active. However, new customers cannot access npower’s tariffs. They can only switch to tariffs offered by E.On.

Can I still switch to npower if I don’t like E.On?

Unfortunately not. npower customers will all be transferred to E.On’s new brand E.On Next over the next few months, after which the npower brand will be discontinued. However, the Papernest team can help you to find an alternative supplier and tariff.

How much does npower charge per kWh?

npower’s rates are no longer available to new customers, so perhaps we should take a look at E.On’s instead. E.On’s unit rate charges per kWh vary by tariff.

They are listed below as follows:

• Standard Variable- 17.165p electricity. 2.927p gas.
• Fix 1 Year- 16.829p electricity. 2.994p gas
• Fix 2 Year- 16.829p electricity. 2.994p gas
• Fix Online- 16.657p electricity. 2.952p gas
• Fix & Drive- 16.829p electricity. 2.994p gas.

Do npower offer the Warm Home Discount?

Yes, as larger energy suppliers, both npower and E.On offer the Warm Home Discount. This allows you to receive a flat rate discount of £140 across the colder months. If you are of pensionable age or in receipt of income-related benefits, you may qualify for the Warm Home Discount.