Battle of the fuel suppliers

Gunni Parker

Gunni Parker

Gunni Parker

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So... I have recently moved into my first property with my lady friend. And as I am so naieve, I was not aware of all the faff that goes with sorting gas and electric out. Upon moving into the property, I discovered numerous letters from a popular 3 lettered company on the stairs. Therefore, I was advised by numerous people to take reading and give the company a call to set up a direct debit. So I did presuming that I had to change the account to myself for both gas and electricity was simples!!!! How wrong was I!!!

Upon further investigation, I discovered that my electricity was with the EON and my gas was with British Gas . So, the sales dude at EON informed of all the prices stating "we are the cheapest" and that "British gas have put all there prices up". So he adviced me to do a dual fuel saving thing, and that he could sort it out for me by aclick of a button. All I had to do was ring the current gas company up to cancel the gas as I will be going with EON.

So I did. I rang the 'gas' company and explained that I wanted to go with EON. From that I thought it was sorted, how wrong I was again. The gas company sales person told me that they "were the cheapest" and especially cheaper than EON. They spent about 30 mins explaining and told me that EON were putting their prices up and should have told me this. They also mentioned that I had to stay with them for 28 days despite me not actually using any gas in the property prior to moving in. They then put me through to customer service dude who told me that just one click of a button and they can transfer the electricity over to themselves and I can have a supper cheap dual fuel saving account with them.

What the ****!!! How can each company be cheaper than each other??? Is there a noob guide to fuel somewhere on the internet that I am not finding. I thought, electricity was electricity and that was it. Someone even told me the other day that they are all simular in cost. Is this true??? Your thoughts and advice?:confused:
 
Last edited:
As ever Moneysavingexpert has guides on this.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

The main pointers are:

It's not just about doing a comparison. Who you use and how you pay can cut your bills substantially. Here are the key eight rules:
picture of money jar

*

Don't assume dual fuel is always cheapest

Logically, dual fuel (gas and electricity from the same supplier) should be cheaper and it often is, yet not always.

During your comparison, also compare the cost of the cheapest dual fuel supplier with separate cheap gas and cheap electricity suppliers.
*

Do switch to monthly direct debit

Fixed monthly direct debit payments, where you pay a fixed estimate each month, save you 5-10%, as companies are sure you won't default and they earn interest on any overpayments. These should be refunded at the end of the year.
*

Do a meter reading every time

Every time you receive a bill, do a meter reading. Don't rely on your energy provider's estimate; these are often way out. If they're under-billing, you'll have a big whack to pay at the end of the year. If they're over-billing, then they've unfairly got your cash.

If your direct debit is way off kilter, call up and request it's changed. You have a range of rights to ensure it's correct. See the full Energy Direct Debits guide for template letters to help.
*

Do switch to your company's internet tariff

It will usually save you up to 10% over the standard tariff, and all it really means is you get your bills emailed.
*

Avoid pre-payment meters if you can

While a push from the government means things are getting better, those on pre-payment meters are still pretty hard done by, certainly compared to those who pay by direct debit. If possible you should try to switch to a billed meter. You may have to pay to get one, but the savings are usually worth it.

Yet often they won't let you, due to credit score or income difficulties. If that's the case, you're not automatically stuck. Energyhelpline* and Uswitch* allow you to compare prepayment tariffs - plus there's also Ebico which has historically been competitive on pre-payment, though its advantage is now diminishing as other suppliers cut costs.
*

Consider a financial hardship tariff

If you're in financial trouble some companies offer special cheaper tariffs, which help. However you can't assume these will be the cheapest. As you're online (or you wouldn't be reading this), it's possible the cheapest web tariff will beat many hardship deals.
*

Grab £1,000s of grants

There's a vast range of grants available for improving home heating and insulation, just go to the Energy Saving Trust's Energy grant search. For more grants available for all types of home improvement, see the full Grant Grabbing guide.


Use less energy

It's not just who you pay, but how much you use. Cutting energy is a mix of big and little things.

Turn down the thermostat and wear jumpers, turn lights off when you leave a room, use energy saving lightbulbs, defrost the fridge and check it's not on too high, don't leave electrical goods on standby.
 
Windle said:
As ever Moneysavingexpert has guides on this.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

The main pointers are:

It's not just about doing a comparison. Who you use and how you pay can cut your bills substantially. Here are the key eight rules:
picture of money jar

*

Don't assume dual fuel is always cheapest

Logically, dual fuel (gas and electricity from the same supplier) should be cheaper and it often is, yet not always.

During your comparison, also compare the cost of the cheapest dual fuel supplier with separate cheap gas and cheap electricity suppliers.
*

Do switch to monthly direct debit

Fixed monthly direct debit payments, where you pay a fixed estimate each month, save you 5-10%, as companies are sure you won't default and they earn interest on any overpayments. These should be refunded at the end of the year.
*

Do a meter reading every time

Every time you receive a bill, do a meter reading. Don't rely on your energy provider's estimate; these are often way out. If they're under-billing, you'll have a big whack to pay at the end of the year. If they're over-billing, then they've unfairly got your cash.

If your direct debit is way off kilter, call up and request it's changed. You have a range of rights to ensure it's correct. See the full Energy Direct Debits guide for template letters to help.
*

Do switch to your company's internet tariff

It will usually save you up to 10% over the standard tariff, and all it really means is you get your bills emailed.
*

Avoid pre-payment meters if you can

While a push from the government means things are getting better, those on pre-payment meters are still pretty hard done by, certainly compared to those who pay by direct debit. If possible you should try to switch to a billed meter. You may have to pay to get one, but the savings are usually worth it.

Yet often they won't let you, due to credit score or income difficulties. If that's the case, you're not automatically stuck. Energyhelpline* and Uswitch* allow you to compare prepayment tariffs - plus there's also Ebico which has historically been competitive on pre-payment, though its advantage is now diminishing as other suppliers cut costs.
*

Consider a financial hardship tariff

If you're in financial trouble some companies offer special cheaper tariffs, which help. However you can't assume these will be the cheapest. As you're online (or you wouldn't be reading this), it's possible the cheapest web tariff will beat many hardship deals.
*

Grab £1,000s of grants

There's a vast range of grants available for improving home heating and insulation, just go to the Energy Saving Trust's Energy grant search. For more grants available for all types of home improvement, see the full Grant Grabbing guide.


Use less energy

It's not just who you pay, but how much you use. Cutting energy is a mix of big and little things.

Turn down the thermostat and wear jumpers, turn lights off when you leave a room, use energy saving lightbulbs, defrost the fridge and check it's not on too high, don't leave electrical goods on standby.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for that. I aware that EON advise you to take regular readings and update them online.
 
The utilities market is - to use a phrase coined by Dilbert - a confusopoly.

It is impossible to fathom. Just pick someone. Everyone else will seem, at times, better and worse. There's no logic to it.
 
vonhelmet said:
The utilities market is - to use a phrase coined by Dilbert - a confusopoly.

It is impossible to fathom. Just pick someone. Everyone else will seem, at times, better and worse. There's no logic to it.
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha, fair point! EON it is then. You can change it after 28 days anyway can't you?
 
we joined npower as we get £100 each year back for paying by direct debit. This £100 evens out any discrepency in fluctuating unit prices i'd imagine...
 
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