One of our energy advisors was inspired by our New Year’s Resolutions and Citizen’s Advice Big Energy Saving Week this month to switch their own energy supplier. Read about her experience of switching below.
The first step to switching is a price comparison. We always recommend using an Ofgem accredited price comparison site or the Citizen’s Advice tool which includes a customer service rating.
To do a price comparison I needed:
There were a few other options for me to consider, like how I wanted to pay, whether I wanted a green tariff and if I was eligible for the Warm Home Discount. I chose online, paperless billing, paying by direct debit and a green tariff. Once I had entered my information, I got a list of all the suppliers and tariffs available to me, and the cost savings showed I could save around £180/year by switching.
There are more green tariffs available than ever before and an increasing percentage of the UK’s electricity supply comes from renewables. By choosing a green tariff I want to send a message to my supplier and the energy industry that I don’t want electricity from fossil fuels.
Some green tariffs directly fund renewable electricity generation in the UK; others buy “offset” certificates which doesn’t necessarily increase demand for renewables. Read more about this in this Energy Saving Trust article.
The gas we use for heating and hot water is much harder to make renewable, so isn’t usually covered in a green tariff, although some suppliers are investing in greener gas or give you the option to offset.
Once I picked a new supplier, I contacted them to let them know I wanted to switch. They will liaise with my current/old supplier. The best supplier for me is not necessarily the best supplier for you – for impartial advice about your options, please ask an advisor.
It can take up to 21 days to switch, and you have 14 days to cancel if you change your mind. I will need to send meter readings when the switchover happens – my new supplier will let me know when to do this – and then I will need to pay my final bill to my current/old supplier. And that is it, simple!
Learn more ways to save money on energy bills or call us on Freephone 0800 804 8601 for more tailored advice.