Switch and switch again – keeping on top of rising energy bills
One of our top tips when it comes to saving money is to consider switching energy providers (i.e. gas and electricity) as a matter of course at least once per year. The average household can save around £200 a year from doing this, so it’s definitely something worth looking into!
Isn’t it complicated to switch energy suppliers?
Not at all! The process these days is very straightforward and can be done online in just a few minutes.
Uswitch.com is one such website who make the process incredibly easy for you – they boast that all you need in order to make a comparison of what you could be saving, and then make the change, is 10 minutes, your postcode and a recent energy bill. Armed with that information they’'ll search different energy plans available in your area, and present you with the results – you can even then filter the options by criteria such as green energy, plans where the price is fixed for a longer period, or ones which don’t penalise you for an early exit.
Once you’ve chosen a new provider and decided to make the change, Uswitch will do all the hard work for you – contacting your old and your new provider for you and getting everything set up behind the scenes.
What other websites can I use to compare prices and deals?
Please note: you should make sure that any comparison website you use are Ofgem approved – you can find a list here.
MoneySavingExpert’s Cheap Energy Club offers a similar service, and goes one step further in making the switch to a cheaper provider for you annually – all you need to do is confirm the offer each year, and the rest will be taken care of for you! [note that MoneySavingExpert is part of Money Supermarket and as such comes under Ofgem’s approved list]
The Money Advice Service has made a helpful video which talks through the process of deciding to and switching suppliers.
I like my existing energy company – do I have to leave them?
No, not necessarily - the other alternative to switching energy providers which might also save you some money is to consider your current plan with your existing supplier. You may be happy with the company, for example their customer service or features of your account with them, but just want to pay less for the energy you are using.
This is certainly worth considering – and you can use a website such as www.ismybillfair.com to compare what you are being charged to what new customers are offered, so that you are armed with that information when you get in touch with your provider.
A top tip is to wait until your plan is nearing its end to make the call as they will be keen to keep you as a customer and you should be more likely to get offered a better deal. And if you don’t get what you want when you make the call, IsMyBillFair has a tip to try again another day when you may speak to another agent who is able to offer you additional discounts on your plan – it's worth a try!
How about if I’m renting?
You can absolutely still switch energy providers if you rent your home – as long as your name’s on the bill, you can make that call. You don’t need to ask your landlord’s permission, but it’s a good idea to let them know anyway out of courtesy. Read more about the details of switching energy provider as a renter here.
I’m on a prepaid meter – can I get a better deal?
If you’re on a prepayment meter, you have two options: if you are able to, ask to switch to a credit (or standard) meter which will most likely work out significantly cheaper (to do this you’ll probably have to undergo a credit check, and your energy account shouldn’t be in debt if you want to do this). Read more about this process on the Citizens’ Advice website.
If you need to stay on a prepayment meter (for example if you are in debt with your energy bills), you can still compare tariffs using one of the above price comparison websites, but you’ll need to tick that you have a prepayment meter, and you’ll see that there isn’t such a big range of options, nor will you have access to the cheapest rates on the market. However, most providers have at least one prepayment plan on offer, and by shopping around, you could still save up to £150 per year, which is certainly worth it!
Read more about prepayment meters here.
