I hate Direct Energy! (Rant) - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Deegee · 04-24-2009, 08:19 PM

Direct Energy is very pushy and their rates for electrical are awful. Hell, their rates on gas is awful, too.

I told the guy at my door to leave or I was calling the cops. =[

mike66 · 04-25-2009, 01:24 AM

we have to focus to live off the damn grid.

i mean enmax bill, 160 (i know a little of it is water/sewage) then gas is another 120 or so.

over a fwe years thats a lot of money,

Peanut · 04-25-2009, 06:22 PM

So, if I just phoned Direct Energy to get my gas set-up... does this mean I have a floating rate? Nobody's ever been to my door, and I didn't sign anything so I'm assuming no contract? I always just throw out my bills after paying so I haven't really noticed.

... And now I'm going to go look up easymax because I've never really heard about it.

Frequitude · 04-25-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peanut

So, if I just phoned Direct Energy to get my gas set-up... does this mean I have a floating rate? Nobody's ever been to my door, and I didn't sign anything so I'm assuming no contract? I always just throw out my bills after paying so I haven't really noticed.

... And now I'm going to go look up easymax because I've never really heard about it.

Buy your gas and electricity through Enmax and they give you $100 a year...

Crazy Flamer · 04-25-2009, 06:35 PM

For anyone interested in EasyMax, my company is an authorized dealer for Enmax. PM me and I will gladly answer any questions. I have been doing this for over 5 years.

Ironhorse · 04-25-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedi Ninja

A few weeks back, a young woman came by our house asking for the person responsible for the bills. Right away I said "I'm not interested in any rate plans. Thanks." She kept pushing, asking to see my bill, etc.. I repeated the same thing 3 times and finally said "I'm too busy for this, goodbye!" And shut the door.

Perhaps you could have tried "I'll show you mine if you show me yours?

No wait. That's bad.

twotoner · 04-26-2009, 01:00 AM

Just watched the CBC market place story on these leaches:
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2009/power_of_persuasion/main.html
Plenty of similar comments of abuse, manipulation and fraud on the comments section for that show.

These people at the door make $100.00 a contract they sign up/steal for upwards of 1k+ a day.

Next time they come to my neighborhood, I will boot them off my property and then follow them around door to door and politely discourage every one of my neighbors from signing up with them.

Anyone else up for this?

Ruttiger · 09-23-2009, 12:08 PM

Bumped for more information. I've just taken possession of a new condo and have to switch the electricity over to my name. Reading this thread, I've deduced Enmax is the better option by far over Direct Energy. But I really can't wrap my head around whether to go with their 5 year rate of 8¢/kWh, or the EasyMax Floating Electricity rate. Thoughts??

bomber317 · 09-23-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

Bumped for more information. I've just taken possession of a new condo and have to switch the electricity over to my name. Reading this thread, I've deduced Enmax is the better option by far over Direct Energy. But I really can't wrap my head around whether to go with their 5 year rate of 8¢/kWh, or the EasyMax Floating Electricity rate. Thoughts??

Well, here are the historical rates.

https://www.enmax.com/Power/Tariffs/...ergy+Rates.htm

So 8 cents is higher then the variable right now.

Cliche · 09-23-2009, 12:33 PM

If you are good at budgeting what you use for power, then the easy max is fine. Although with the economy in the state it is, floating may be the way to go so long as there isn't manipulation of energy prices.

Really if you think that oil will break the 100$ barrier again very soon, and that electricity will exceed 10 cents /kwh then yes that would be a good deal.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/...163/story.html

And I guess only this year and maybe the next 2 will I be losing out on the 7c/kwh contract that I signed in 2006

Antithesis · 09-23-2009, 12:41 PM

I'm surprised that so many people actually even speak to door-to-door salesdorks. I look at their nametags and if they are selling something I just shut the door, if it is a charity or something I just say "not interested" and close the door before they can get a word in, either way.

mykalberta · 09-23-2009, 12:47 PM

I would also like to know this. - about the Enmax variable vs easymax 8cent option.

We had a condo board meeting at the place I live - they used to be with Direct Energy and I had a movement to go with Enmax, Direct Energy had a rep there - it was funny to watch her justify their ridiculous lock in rated compared to Enmax.

Knalus · 09-23-2009, 12:59 PM

Does anyone have a way to get out of these contracts after they have been signed? My mother in law would really like to know.

cyclone3483 · 09-23-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knalus

Does anyone have a way to get out of these contracts after they have been signed? My mother in law would really like to know.

For ENMAX, just walk away.

For all others, good luck with that. There may be a hefty penalty, but I am not sure.

yads · 09-23-2009, 01:41 PM

Direct Energy, no idea. With Enmax you just give them 30 days notice.

V · 09-23-2009, 01:48 PM

I just had two ladies at my door yesterday with the usual lines. They told me that they could take my Enmax bill and put it in the same envelope as my Atco gas bill, and save me hundreds of administration costs every year.

I strung them along for a little while, but got tired of it quickly, and finally told them I'm with Easymax. She instantly turned around and said "Well, we can't do anything for you then."

Easymax is quite simply superior in any way to anything else on the market here. Now I have to go around to the neighbours to see how many of them got sucked into signing. I think there's two weeks to cancel.

ruddstud · 09-23-2009, 02:20 PM

I just called Enmax and asked what I am currently paying:
- she said I have been at a fixed rate of 9.95/? for gas...
Is this good? Should I switch to the variable rate of 2.5/? for the winter?

- I am also paying 8c/kwh fixed.
- should I switch to the variable of 7C?
If anyone can help, i would appreciate it.
Thanks

Crazy Flamer · 09-23-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruddstud

I just called Enmax and asked what I am currently paying:
- she said I have been at a fixed rate of 9.95/? for gas...
Is this good? Should I switch to the variable rate of 2.5/? for the winter?

- I am also paying 8c/kwh fixed.
- should I switch to the variable of 7C?
If anyone can help, i would appreciate it.
Thanks

I have expertise in this business and i would DEFINITELY get off the fixed rate for gas. I don't think gas prices are going to be above $9.95/GJ. Even if they were, get off the fixed rate you are on and a month later, you can switch back to the lower fixed rate EasyMax is currently offering of $8.25/GJ.

As for electricity, I personally am on the variable rate, which changes monthly. However, if you don't want to monitor what the regulated rate is every month the 8 cents/Kwh is definitely the best option.

ruddstud · 09-23-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

I have expertise in this business and i would DEFINITELY get off the fixed rate for gas. I don't think gas prices are going to be above $9.95/GJ. Even if they were, get off the fixed rate you are on and a month later, you can switch back to the lower fixed rate EasyMax is currently offering of $8.25/GJ.

As for electricity, I personally am on the variable rate, which changes monthly. However, if you don't want to monitor what the regulated rate is every month the 8 cents/Kwh is definitely the best option.

thanks so much! How much do you think I will save per month with average usage and house size of 2000 sq ft?

arsenal · 09-23-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruddstud

I just called Enmax and asked what I am currently paying:
- she said I have been at a fixed rate of 9.95/? for gas...
Is this good? Should I switch to the variable rate of 2.5/? for the winter?

- I am also paying 8c/kwh fixed.
- should I switch to the variable of 7C?
If anyone can help, i would appreciate it.
Thanks

With easymax, you can switch from fixed, variable floating etc anytime you like. But you can only do it once every 30 days.

As far as if you should switch. That's really up to you. Right now, all the floating / variable rates are much lower than the fixed rates. So if you switched to those, you would save some money. IIRC there is some lag time when you switch. But I could be wrong.

Once you start seeing electricity and natural gas prices rising, you probably should look into switching back to fixed rates.

Call ENMAX Customer Care to verify, but I think if you switch from fixed, to floating/variable, and back to fixed, your term starts all over again.