Comments on: That’s gas – eh no it’s electricity!

By: Nick McGivney

Nick McGivney — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:18:39 +0000

In part response to sw above, there was no secret agenda from bloggers as to the organising of the Bord Gais meeting. We didn’t even know who we’d be meeting beyond that they were a large Irish company with an announcement to make. It was recorded openly several times on Damien Mulley’s site. An invite like ‘If you’re a blogger please come along’ is not exactly asking for a masonic handshake.

Legitimate questions about Corrib etc aside, there’s a bitter tone to your queries. None of us, as far as I’m aware, stand to gain anything personally as bloggers via BG’s early announcement to us. It wasn’t a closed shop. Bord Gais was open and transparent about what they were doing. The only secretive aspect of any of this is your identity.

By: Ciarán

Ciarán — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:20:30 +0000

Thanks MP. I recall that the ESB had a problem with cutting electricity off when people fell behind on HP debts for cookers etc. I think it might all have ended up in court many years ago but couldn’t remember.

Anyway, thanks for answering the question.

By: WillKnott.ie » Blog Archive » Flick the Switch

WillKnott.ie » Blog Archive » Flick the Switch — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:58:41 +0000

[...] Suzy Byrne was there and blogged about the consumer side of the equation (as well as the street teams planned). Peter D, AdIreland and Damien Mulley all blogged about this new-found openness. [...]

By: Maman Poulet

Maman Poulet — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:21:22 +0000

The bills are going to be seperate Ciarán – one of the bloggers present the other night asked that question. I’m not sure if there is a published code in terms of cutting of service for non payment of utility bills in Ireland – but am aware from my day job that MABS work with utility companies on these issues on behalf of clients.

By: Ciarán

Ciarán — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:08:05 +0000

I agree on BG having someone keep an eye on what the word is on the Tubes. But they have to avoid leaving comments along the lines of ‘we at Bord Gáis are moving forward with our customer care strategy’ etc etc blah blah. The only desirable engagement is for someone to say ‘thanks for flagging that: I’ll see what we can do for you’ and for them to do it. As far as I can see, lots of corporate 2.0 marketing reveals that few companies seem to know why the difference is important.

On another subject, I was poking around yesterday but couldn’t 100% verify whether the leccy and the gas come in on one bill. And whether falling behind on payments on one, as a matter of policy, would lead to you being cut off on both. That would be a serious issue when it comes to spreading the benefits of the market to people who could most do with the cut in bills: what risks do they run when times are bad?

By: Maman Poulet

Maman Poulet — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:07:37 +0000

No making of website involved in anyone there as far as I know – they actually did engage with bloggersphere and did not specifically invite a chosen few – read the post which invited people along! And you can see Bord Gáis engaging with people online on twitter – http://twitter.com/TheBigSwitchIRL You will note one of the points I’ve made in the post is that I think Bord Gáis Energy should also blog. Not to engage with bloggers – with consumers! Bloggers are not gods!

My interest is in making it easier for consumers to access rights and stop being treated so shoddily and thereby making companies better communicators. I don’t get paid to work in the area and have no interest in moving in to the sector.

By: sw

sw — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:57:37 +0000

i know i’d be more impressed if bord gais engaged with the bloggersphere rather then simply talked to some bloggers( who were invited by their mate who made their website)

By: Maman Poulet

Maman Poulet — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:55:47 +0000

Lots of questions on energy security, responsiblity for maintaining services, corrib, Bord Gais’s own plans for energy production, and environmental issues in energy production. It’s not my specialization so I didn’t blog it. There were bloggers there who know a lot about the energy market and energy production.

I would post about this issue if not invited since it’s being debated online by others – particularly in the need to protect consumers in making a switch and in price setting issues. I read in today’s Irish Times that Airtricity are coming back into the residential property market and if they would like to tell me about it all they now know how to get in touch with me (hit the contact button up on top right hand side). Same for ESB!

Now I’ve learnt more about energy regulation and pricing in particular I will continue to blog in the area. There was no PR company involved in this by the way. It was direct dialogue.

I am actually working on a piece on the ESB and the hush hush/non response over price irregularities experienced by customers in recent weeks – far beyond the 20% price increase. (I discussed some of the background on the issue it with some bloggers in attendance last night)

By: sw

sw — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:40:27 +0000

did the ask any blogger who knew anything about the electricity market?

did anyone ask about privatisation? which have led to purposefully brown outs with enron etc?

would you have posted about this if not invited?

what other companies are involved?

any one say anything about energy security, corrib?

By: Maman Poulet

Maman Poulet — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:36:29 +0000

Sw – you going to come out behind your fake email address? Ah go on – amuse us! I replied to a post on this and was not specifically asked to attend – I’ve blog frequently about consumer blogging issues – even have a category of my blog dedicated to it – have a read! – and about how companies interact with consumers on and offline.

I’ve not recommended one provider over another in the post above have I? I’ve talked about a new product, how it’s been rolled out, how a company could relate to consumers online and about the issues of deregulation of electricity.

By the by – I spent 2 hours of my own time at the meeting (and paid for my own taxis there and back!)