Tips on Switching Supplier

When considering which gas and electricity supplier is right for you, it is important to look beyond the price offered. Of course the cost of using the supplier is a key consideration but there are other factors to take account of.

These include:

• Service rating - Consider the quality of the service you will receive with our independent star ratings.
• Price rises - Use our price rise calendar to view the company's last price increase. If a price rise has taken place recently you have the additional peace of mind that an additional increase is unlikely to follow in the immediate future (although occasionally companies increase prices several times a year).
• How green is the supplier - Not all green products will offer the same provisions. Use the details links to read about the percentage of the product that comes from renewable sources and/or the contributions made to green funds.
• Capped and Fixed deals may be more expensive in the first year but can offer long term savings as they are exempt from price rises.

Types of payment method

• Monthly Direct Debit

  This payment will be taken from your bank account on a monthly basis on the same date. The amount will be determined by the energy provider based on your energy consumption. This amount is balanced through-out the year meaning you may pay more than you consume in the Summer but less in the Winter. If your account is in credit, your provider should reimburse you every 6-months. NOTE: This payment method generally carries the best level of discount.

• Quarterly Cash or Cheque

  This payment method occurs by the energy provider issuing you with a quarterly bill for the energy you have used. There may be a prompt pay scheme attached to this whereby you may receive a % off your bill for paying within a certain period. Your bill can be paid by post, at a post office or at the bank.

• Quarterly Direct Debit

  This payment will be taken from your bank account on a quarterly basis on the same date each time. The amount will be determined by the energy provider based on your energy consumption. This amount is balanced through-out the year meaning you may pay for more than you use in the Summer but less in the Winter. If your account is in credit, your provider should reimburse you every 6-months.

• Prepayment

  You will pay your energy by topping up a key, token or card and inserting it in your meter. This will then provide you with an amount of credit. Once that credit runs out you may receive a free top-up for emergencies but will need to acquire more credit. The emergency credit used will then be deducted from the meter. NOTE: You must have a prepayment meter in order to pay by this method.

• Standing Order

  This is an instruction to your bank to issue a set amount of money on a regular basis to a given party/business. These payments currently take 3-working days to arrive in the providers bank account. These payments will be agreed with the provider based on your estimated consumption.

Use this link to find more information on why you should consider switching gas and electricity supplier.