Section 1: Definitions
Contract – these terms and conditions and the Welcome Letter.
Energy – either or both of gas and electricity (as agreed between you and us for the purposes of the Contract).
Green Deal Plan - means a ‘green deal plan’ as described in the Energy Act 2011, being an arrangement pursuant to which payments in instalments (“Green Deal Charges”) are due to be paid to an authorised provider (“Green Deal Provider”) and are collected by energy suppliers under energy supply contracts.
Licence – our Energy licence granted by Ofgem.
Network – the network of the Network Company.
Network Company – the company licensed by Ofgem to operate the Energy network local to the Property.
Ofgem – the energy regulator for Great Britain.
Payment Method – prepayment via a prepayment meter, or direct debit or cheque monthly or quarterly in arrears.
Property – the property identified by you for the purposes of the Contract as the domestic property to which we will supply Energy.
Welcome Letter – means the letter we will send to you (by post or electronically) to confirm the details agreed as part of your application.
we/us/our – Green Energy (UK) plc, a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 4194006.
you/your – the person who has agreed to enter into this Contract with us. If more than one person is named on the account then they will each be held jointly liable for any monies outstanding.
Section 2: Contract
2.1 This Contract is between you and us for the supply of Energy.
2.2 We may transfer our rights and obligations under this Contract to another company. If we do so, your rights will be unaffected. You cannot transfer your rights and obligations under this Contract without our written permission.
2.3 We reserve and maintain our rights set out in electricity or gas legislation and our Energy licence.
2.4 We may need to vary the provisions of this Contract to meet legal and/or regulatory requirements, or as a result of any changes in law or to our Licence or the industry codes. We can make such variations by giving you notice of them.
2.5 If we plan to make any changes to this Contract which will increase the charges or are to your disadvantage, our Licence generally requires us to give you 30 days prior notice of when the changes will take effect. Where this is the case, we will give you at least 30 days prior notice. If you do not accept the changes, you can end this Contract by arranging to switch to a different supplier. If you do this, the changes will not affect you unless your transfer to a new supplier does not take place within six weeks. In that case we reserve the right to implement the new terms with effect from the date previously notified.
2.6 Details of the service quality levels we aim to provide, and of the compensation we will pay you if we fail to do so, can be found at www.greenenergyuk. com/customer-promise. Details of our complaints procedure can be found at www.greenenergyuk.com/complaints.
Section 3: Sign Up and Transfer of Supply to Us
3.1 By entering into this Contract you confirm that you own and/or live in the Property or that you are responsible for arranging the Energy supply to the Property. You also confirm that the Property is connected to the Network, and that you will use the Energy only for domestic purposes.
3.2 Subject to Section 3.6, you will have signed up to this Contract by:
- completing an application over the internet;
- completing an application over the telephone; or
- completing an application and posting it to us.
3.3 You have a right to cancel this Contract within 14 days of the date you signed up.
3.4 If we are taking over from another supplier as the supplier of Energy to the Property, we will aim to complete the transfer within 21 days after the expiry of your right to cancel. Under certain circumstances (as prescribed by our Licence) we may not be able to complete the transfer within 21 days. Where this is the case, we will complete the transfer as soon as we can.
3.5 Once we are registered under the industry rules as the supplier of Energy to the Property, we will supply Energy to the Property until this Contract ends.
3.6 The Energy legislation provides for a deemed contract to arise between you and us where (i) you own or occupy the Property; (ii) we supply Energy to the Property; and (iii) we do not have a contract with any other person for the supply of Energy to the Property. In those circumstances, this Contract will be your deemed contract for the supply of Energy to the Property, and:
- there will be no Welcome Letter;
- the charges payable by you for the Energy will be as set out on our website www.greenenergyuk.com;
- the Payment Method will be payment by cheque monthly in arrears (or by prepayment meter where applicable); and
- this Contract will end where you start to receive a supply of Energy, either from us or from another supplier, under a contract you have agreed with us or the other supplier.
Section 4: Charges
4.1 The charges payable by you for the Energy will be set out in the Welcome Letter. We may change the charges in accordance with section 2 and our Licence. Up to date information on all applicable charges may be obtained from www.greenenergyuk.com.
4.2 All charges will be subject to UK tax or duty at the prevailing rates, which you must pay in addition.
4.3 Before or after the start of this Contract, we may assess your circumstances (for example, we will look at how likely we think you are able to pay our charges). Depending on the result of our assessment, we may charge different prices or ask you to pay in a certain way, to pay a security deposit or to use certain meter types (for example, a prepayment meter). We will base our decision on information that we hold about you or information you or a credit-reference agency give us.
4.4 If you take, or attempt to take, Energy by interfering with our, or the Network Company’s equipment, we may disconnect your Energy supply, calculate how much you owe us, bill you for charges and refer the matter to the appropriate authorities.
Section 5: Billing
5.1 We will send you regular bills or statements setting out the Energy supplied and the charges payable under this Contract (together with any other information required by our Licence).
5.2 All outstanding charges on your account must be paid by you in accordance with the Payment Method set out in your Welcome Letter (or as subsequently changed in accordance with this Contract).
5.3 We will estimate your bill if we do not have an up to date meter reading. We will adjust your next bill on receipt of an actual meter reading or if other information subsequently becomes available.
5.4 We will only charge you for units of electricity which we reasonably consider to have been consumed and amounts in respect of a standing charge or other supply charge accrued within the period of 12 months preceding the date of our bill. This will not apply where we have been unable to bill the correct amount for electricity consumed in any period due to any obstructive or manifestly unreasonable behaviour on your part or in other circumstances permitted by law
5.5 If you do not pay our charges we reserve the right to carry out one or more of the following actions (subject to compliance with our Licence):
- charge interest at the Bank of England base rate plus 4 percentage points;
- require you to pay by an alternative Payment Method;
- change the frequency of when your bills are sent;
- ask for a security deposit under section 6;
- take legal action;
- ask debt collection agencies to act on our behalf;
- obtain a warrant to enter the Property;
- fit a prepayment meter at the Property;
- discontinue the supply of Energy to the Property.
5.6 We may also charge you for any costs incurred as a result of your late payment or in connection with recovering money you owe us, including costs incurred in performing any of the above actions.
5.7 If you owe your previous supplier money for the period prior to the start of supply under this Contract, and the debt is transferred to us, you will pay us the amount owed together with any reasonable administration costs we incur.
5.8 Gas meters measure your consumption either in cubic meters or in cubic feet. The amount of gas you are billed for depends on a number of variables such as calorific value and pipe pressure. We will convert your gas meter read into kWh in accordance with the relevant gas legislation.
Section 6: Security Deposit
6.1 If we are concerned about your ability to pay our bills or if you fail to pay your bills in accordance with clause 5, we may ask you to pay a reasonable deposit as security for payment of our bills. You must pay this by the date we give you. We will give you a reasonable time to pay us. We will not ask for a deposit if we install a prepayment meter at your property.
6.2 Title in any security deposit will vest in us, but we will pay you an equal amount after the payment of our final invoice or if we agree that a security deposit is no longer necessary (subject to any amounts deducted by us in settlement of outstanding charges).
Section 7: Metering
7.1 We will ensure where possible that the meter at the Property is read every two years.
7.2 If we have not taken an actual meter reading, we will estimate your bill based on your previous usage. If this is not available we will use industry averages to estimate your Energy consumption. If you have provided a meter reading, we will use this unless we have reason to believe it is inaccurate.
7.3 We will use meter readings as proof of your energy usage unless your meter is found to be faulty.
7.4 Either of us can ask for the meter at the Property to be tested by an independent meter examiner. If you ask for a test you may be charged for the test. If the meter is found to be inaccurate, any charges for testing the meter will be refunded.
7.5 If Energy is supplied to the Property through a prepayment meter, and you use an electronic or token meter, it is your responsibility to make sure you buy enough credit units. You must also keep and look after the plastic card (or other device), keeping it clean, safe and free from damage. If you fail to do this, we may charge you any costs we have to pay to replace them.
7.6 You must not interfere with or damage (or allow others to interfere with or damage) the Energy meter at the Property.
7.7 Where the meter at the Property does not meet the statutory requirements or we have to install a prepayment meter or you request that a prepayment meter is changed to a standard meter, then we may charge you for any work done to your meter.
7.8 Where a smart meter is installed in your property in line with the SMETS code of practice by agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you agree to allow us to record half hourly interval data from that meter. Should you not want us to record this data you must notify us in writing
Section 8: Access to the Property
8.1 You will ensure that we and the Network Company (or anyone authorised by us or them) is given safe access to your property at reasonable times for all reasonable purposes in connection with the supply of Energy, including without limitation, reading, inspecting, maintaining or replacing the meter or other Energy equipment at the Property, or cutting off the Energy supply in accordance with our or their rights under legislation or the industry codes.
8.2 Where reasonably possible (except for meter readings), reasonable advance written notice will be given prior to us exercising these powers of entry. These powers of entry are subject to statutory and regulatory restrictions. Any person authorised by us will carry and produce a duly authenticated document showing his authority.
8.3 Aborted visit charges may be applied to your account if we have arranged for an engineer to visit your property at a specific time and no access is granted.
8.4 If you do not have a smart meter fitted, we will request access, such access not to be unreasonably withheld, to fit a smart meter at a mutually convenient time.
Section 9: Ending this Contract
9.1 We may end this Contract if you have failed to pay our charges under this Contract, you cannot pay your debts, or you have failed a credit check, and
- you have refused our offer to allow you to pay in instalments or to have a prepayment meter fitted; or
- it is not reasonably possible for us to fit a prepayment meter
9.2 If any of the above circumstances apply before the transfer of your supply to us has been completed under the industry codes, we may immediately terminate this Contract in writing. In other cases we will give you 7 working days’ notice of termination.
9.3 This Contract will automatically end if Ofgem requests another supplier to provide Energy to the Property under the supplier of last resort scheme set out in our Licence.
9.4 Where you are selling or leaving the Property, you must give us at least two working days’ notice of the date you are leaving, and a final meter reading for the time period you were residing in the property. This Contract will then end on the date so notified. If we do not receive the required information, this Contract will end on the date on which any other person begins to take a supply of Energy at the Property (or, if earlier, at the end of the second working day after you have notified us that you have stopped owning or occupying the Property).
9.5 You can transfer the Property’s supply of Energy to another supplier at any time by giving us notice. If you do not provide us with an accurate meter reading for the end of this Contract, this will be deemed by your new supplier. If you have not paid any outstanding Energy charges, we may stop you switching to another Energy supplier.
9.6 You will be liable to pay for the Energy supplied to the Property until such time as this Contract ends. We will aim to send you a final bill within 6 weeks after the end of the contract, but this will be subject to reconciliation if further information subsequently becomes available.
Section 10: Data Protection
10.1 We will comply with all applicable legislation and requirements in relation to protecting your personal data. Our policy on these matters is set out in our Privacy Statement, a copy of which is attached.
Section 11: Liability
11.1 We are liable for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, and for any other liabilities that cannot be limited as a matter of law.
11.2 We are responsible for any loss that is a foreseeable consequence of our breach of this Contract, provided that we will not be liable for losses that arise as the result of a matter beyond our reasonable control; or for any loss of income or business.
11.3 The maximum amount of our liability to you under or in connection with this Contract is limited to £100,000 per incident up to a maximum £1,000,000 in any calender year; this limit does not apply to liabilities that cannot be limited as a matter of law.
11.4 The supply of Energy under this Contract will be delivered to the Property by the Network Company. We do not guarantee the supply of Energy to the Property at all times
11.5 Nothing in this Contract shall limit or affect our rights or powers under our Licence or legislation.
Section 12: Green Deal
12.1 If the Property is (or becomes) subject to a Green Deal Plan, we will collect Green Deal Charges from you and pass these to the Green Deal Provider (or its nominee).
12.2 We will only collect Green Deal Charges under this Contract that become payable after the date we commence supplying electricity under this Contract. Once we stop supplying electricity to the Property, you remain liable under this Contract for the Green Deal Charges incurred during the period in which we supplied you with electricity.
12.3 Despite the Contract ending, while you are the Green Deal bill payer under the Green Deal Plan, you will remain liable for the Green Deal Charges.
12.4 If you don’t pay the Green Deal Charges, we’ll have the same rights as if you owed us any other money under this Contract.
Section 13: Energy Terms of Connection
We are acting on behalf of your energy network operator to make an agreement with you. The agreement is that you and your energy network operator both accept the National Terms of Connection (NTC) and agree to keep to its conditions. When you enter into this contract it may affect your legal rights. The NTC is a legal agreement, it sets out rights and duties in relation to the connection at which your network operator delivers energy to, or accepts energy from, your premises. If you want a copy of the NTC or have any questions about it, please write to: Energy Networks Association, 6th Floor, Dean Bradley House, 52 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2AF Phone; 0207 7065100 Website: www.connectionterms.org.uk
Section 14: General
14.1 This Contract constitutes the whole and only agreement between you and us relating to the supply of Energy to the Property
14.2 If the Property is in England or Wales, this Contract shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales and any disputes arising from or in connection with this Contract shall be dealt with by the courts of England and Wales. If the Property is in Scotland, this Contract shall be governed by Scots law and any disputes arising from or in connection with this Contract shall be dealt with by the Scottish courts.
14.3 You hereby appoint us as your agent for the purpose of obtaining your supply number or other relevant information from your Network Company. You also authorise us to obtain and use any information your previous supplier has about the supply of Energy to the Property or the meters at the Property.
14.4 If we delay in taking action when you breach this Contract, we will still be entitled to take action to enforce a similar (or any subsequent) breach of this Contract.
14.5 If any part of this Contract is declared invalid by a court or regulatory authority, the validity of the rest of this Contract will not be affected.
14.6 If you believe that there has been an escape of gas at the Property, you must immediately call the Network Company on 0800 111 999 and they will provide any emergency services for which you must allow them access.
14.8 Our notices to you will be sent to the Property or such other address where you have asked us to send your bills. Your notices to us must be sent to: Green Energy (UK) plc, Black Swan House, 23 Baldock Street, Ware, SG12 9DH. You must include your electricity supply Number and/ or gas MPRN.