Can you save by switching to or from Shell Energy?
Shell Energy also offers broadband with unlimited downloads and no end of contract price rises.
Shell Energy (formerly First Utility) is the largest energy provider outside of the ‘Big Six’. On top of offering gas and electricity tariffs, they have also recently entered the broadband market, allowing you to add internet connection to your Shell Energy tariff.
Shell Energy offer four different tariffs:
Out of the fixed price tariffs, the 35-month contract comes with the cheapest monthly bill, as well as vouchers to spend in the Shell Energy Shop, where you can buy devices and gadgets to make your home smarter and more energy efficient.
Each of the fixed rate packages comes with price rise protection for the duration of the contract, meaning that you will not be hit with any nasty surprise hikes in your fuel bill, allowing you to be surer when you are budgeting.
You can also get a discount on any broadband package and moving your utilities onto one single bill can help simplify your household expenses.
First Utility was founded in 2008, making it a relatively new company in the utilities world. It expanded rapidly and faced some growing pains, as some customers complained about poor service before its eventual takeover.
Petroleum giant Shell’s acquisition of First Utility came in March 2018. It was rebranded and relaunched a year later as Shell Energy.
After the initial takeover, Shell Energy aggressively charged low rates for customers, often coming out as the cheapest provider in an energy comparisons. However, they have hiked their prices a little as they have become more established, although their rates are still very competitive in comparison with the rest of the market.
Ratings given are out of ten.
| Value for Money | Customer Service | Complaints Handling | Bill Accuracy | Would Recommend | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(formerly First Utility) |
7.2 | 7.3 | 7 | 8 | 86% | 7.6 |
*Based on a survey of 50 Shell Energy customers conducted Feb-Mar 2019
It may come as a surprise to you as Shell is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world, but the energy provided by Shell Energy comes completely from renewable sources.
This means that they do not use any carbon emitting gas or polluting coal in providing the energy for your home, but instead from wind, solar or biomass.
This is verified by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs), so that you can be sure that as a Shell Energy customer your energy is 100% renerwable.
You can even upgrade to a Go Further tariff, which makes the energy from your home carbon neutral. This is done by investing in ecosystems, such as forests and planting trees, which absorb carbon dioxide.
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%
*Wind
Solar
Biomass
Wave and tidal
Hydroelectric
Geothermal
Shell Energy’s switch to being completely reliant on renewable energy came with its rebrand from First Utility. In 2019, the year in which the change of name occurred, 8.7% of the energy supply came from coal, 59.2% from natural gas and just 10.5% from renewable energy, meaning it was heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
By the end of 2020 however, this had switched to 100% renewable energy, meaning that it has been a green supplier for over a year at this point.
Shell Energy also offer provide a number of other incentives to help you make your household greener. For example, the company have formed a partnership with solar battery company sonnen, allowing you to gain solar credits in summer time, helping you to save in winter and reduce your annual electricity bill.
They also install smart meters for free as part of the government initiative to rollout the meters in British homes, meaning that you can have a better idea of how much energy you are using, and work out how to save energy better.
After acquiring First Utility, Shell has shown that it is serious in its expansion in the energy sector, having acquired renewable energy provider Green Star Energy at the end of 2019.
As a result of this, all 200,000 Green Star Energy customers have been switched over to Shell Energy, but originally still paid their existing rates.