What to save? Ready to Switch? Get fair, unbiased information in a language you understand so you make the right choice.
Why switch energy supplier?
The energy market has become fiercely competitive, and providers offering everything from money off to free insurance to tempt you to switch your energy to them.
You might think that there will be hassle involved in switching, but there really couldn’t be a simpler way to save yourself hundreds of pounds.
According to recent Ofgem figures (October 2007) the average customer could save between £60 and £100 on their home energy bills - but you can actually save a lot more simply by taking the time to compare providers and tariffs.
The amount that you can save depends on a number of factors, including who currently supplies your energy, how you pay for it, and who you will be switching to.
If you don’t already pay by direct debit, you should definitely start paying in this way. Most companies charge a fee for processing your payment if you don’t pay by direct debit, so doing so will allow you to increase your savings and ensure that you’re never fined for being late on a payment.
You should also consider an online-only account, with paperless billing. This not only helps the environment, but it will also allow you to eliminate the risk of being over-charged by an estimated bill as you’ll be entering your own meter readings. What’s more, paperless bills are often the cheapest on the market as they allow energy providers to save too.
Finally, anyone paying for their energy with a pre-payment meter should definitely switch to a standard payment system if they’re able to do so. While pre-payment meters do help with budgeting, they tend to be more expensive and Ofgem says that people switching from a pre-payment meter stand to save the most - more than £170 in some areas of the country. Capped tariffs are available for anyone concerned about escalating costs, and many energy suppliers offer discounts and special tariffs for people struggling to cope with the cost of their energy.
Why isn’t everyone doing it?
Actually, millions of people are doing it. According to Ofgem, more than 2.8 million people switched their energy in the first seven months of 2007 alone. Switching isn’t just about saving money - the energy sector is known for inaccurate billing and many people choose to leave their current provider in search of a tariff better suited to their needs.
Are there other benefits to switching?
As well as saving hundreds of pounds, and getting yourself onto a more appropriate tariff, switching provider could allow you to do more to help the environment - without cutting down on your home comforts.
Almost every energy supplier now offers a green energy tariff that promises to match your energy consumption with Renewable Energy such as solar power, wind turbines and wave energy. Some of these tariffs cost a little more each month, while others will offer financial incentives for switching - the key is to do your research before signing up.
You should also check out the various energy efficiency grants and discounts offered by your new supplier, which will offer money off things like cavity wall insulation - which can cut your heating bills by up to £90 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust - and new boilers or free energy saving light bulbs.
There are also loads of ways that you can further cut your energy bills. Follow our Energy Efficiency Tips for small changes that can lead to big savings.
How do I switch?
Using a switching service like ours allows you to compare each energy supplier in your area and find out which one offers the cheapest tariff for your postcode and energy usage.
Energy prices differ by region, so it’s important to do a search that includes your postcode and the amount of gas and electricity that you use, so we can recommend the right plan for you.
Once you’ve chosen your new provider, you simply fill out some personal details and your energy supplier will contact your old provider on your behalf, and write to you with the date of your switch. The switch itself will take between four and six weeks and once complete you’ll receive your final bill from your old supplier - which you should check against a meter reading taken on your switchover date. After that, you’ll only receive new, lower bills from your chosen energy supplier.
If you have any questions about switching energy supplier, read our Switching FAQ which answers all your energy switching questions.
