There is a myth about the gas and electricity market, when it comes to finding better energy prices. This myth is the common, yet understandable, misconception that switching energy supplier is an arduous task – lined with pitfalls and headaches. This is actually far from the truth . In this 5 step guide we will talk you through the entire process and, by the end, you will have saved money.
It’s quick, easy and best of all it’s free. Start now and find out how you could be paying less for your gas and electricity .
What do you need?
You won’t need much to start saving. All it takes is your address, your most recent energy bill and your yearly energy consumption. Your yearly consumption will be present on your annual energy statement . However, if you don’t have access to this, then not to worry, we can estimate an average with a small amount of information on your household and inhabitants.
Compare energy suppliers and save money in five minutes!
We’ll need to know your location as this will affect the prices available to you.
Next we want to know a bit about your current energy plan . This allows us to ensure that we can find you a better deal than the one that your currently on.
Our short questionnaire will talk you through what we need to know. This won’t take longer than five minutes.
If you don’t have your current energy usage available to you at this moment in time, then we can work it out for you based on your household information.
Next we’ll need you to tell us what type of plan you want us to find for you. Everyone’s needs are different and it’s important that we know roughly what it is you’re looking for. This allows us to make sure that the results we find are relevant to you.
Here comes the fun part. We’ll show you a list of gas and electricity suppliers that can offer you a better deal than the one that you’re already on. You choose the one that looks most right for you.
We’ll show you all of the plans details, such as specific rates and the length of the plan. We’ll also show you the consumer feedback on each of the plans, so you can find out about the experiences that previous customers have had with each company.
Once you’ve decided which plan you want to save money with, all that’s left to do is confirm your choice. We’ll take a few of your details and pass them on to your new provider. There’s no need to contact your old supplier as your new supplier will take care of that for you.
However there are two things that you definitely should do.
Take a meter reading on the day that you switch energy.
Make sure that you have cancelled any direct debits, otherwise you will continue being charged by your old provider.
And that’s all! Congratulations, you’re now paying less for your gas and electricity.
Even though you’ve finished switching, we’re still here to answer any questions you may have. Here are some that are frequently asked:
This won’t happen at any point. All energy suppliers use the same cables and pipelines. This means that you won’t have to have any new infrastructure laid in or any workmen visiting your house.
There will be no changes to your gas and electricity supply. You will be paying less and to a different company. Everything else stays the same.
Confirming your energy switch takes 5 minutes, however the actual changeover process takes 17 days. The two energy suppliers will arrange a date between themselves and will inform you of when the change will happen. It cannot be overstated that throughout this time your energy supply will not change.
Yes. You’ll receive a joining pack and a message from your new provider. This letter will confirm the new plan that you’ve entered onto. Your old provider may decide to contact you, the only information that you’re required to give them is your last meter reading from the day you confirmed that you were going to switch energy deal.
No. The two suppliers will have communicated with each other about the date of the energy switch over so there’s no chance of you being charged twice. The only way that you will end up paying both energy suppliers is if you haven’t cancelled any direct debits that you may have set up with them.
There is a two week period after you change over that is referred to as a “cooling off” period . If you wish to cancel your energy switch within this time you simply contact the new supplier and let them know.
You can change your energy provider every 28 days. It is important to note that many gas and electricity companies have charges that apply to people who terminate their contract early. We advise that you keep updated by checking the new deals available to you about twice a year. Also remember that if you’re on a fixed rate deal, you’ll want to make sure that you are aware of when the deal finishes so that you can know what deals will be available to you.
Yes. It is important to shop around on the energy market, just as you would in any other market. This allows you to view the competing offers and allows you to be aware of smaller suppliers that may not be as well known.
Ofgem, the regulator of the gas and electricity markets in the UK, introduced the phrase “energy shopper”. This describes the way that they think people are most likely to get the best deals in the market – by shopping around for deals.