- Ask about better deals
You know, you don’t actually have to switch. You could always call up your current supplier to see if you can pay less. Really.
Can you change to direct debits? Opt for bills over the internet? Move to a cheaper tariff?
Simple steps could lead to serious savings. But beware - ask about any exit penalties, if you decide to make a sneaky switch to another supplier afterwards. Then see if you can get a better deal somewhere else!
- Know what you have
Knowledge is power. Dig out your gas and electricity bills, whether they’re at the bottom of a pile of papers, or buried in your email inbox. Then check: who supplies your gas and electricity? What’s the name of your tariff? And (hopefully) how much energy you use each year?
If you get a Warm Home Discount, make sure the supplier you’re switching to offers the discount. Find out more in our Help with heating costs section.
- Get on the comparison sites
Make life easy. Use a price comparison website to find the best energy deal to suit your circumstances. Check out Ofgem accredited price comparison sites to find the deal for you (scroll down until you see the brown box and click ‘show the list’).
You will need to choose between fixed and variable tariffs. A fixed tariff gives you the peace of mind - the price you pay for each unit of energy, and any standing charges, won’t change. You get protection if prices go up - but you don’t benefit if prices go down. You may also face an exit fee if you want to switch suppliers before the end of your deal.
Comparison websites will want to know how much energy you use, whether in pounds spent or kilowatts (kwh) used. But don’t worry if you don’t know, as they can make a rough guess based on the size of your house, how many people live there, and the appliances you use.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTDLnE2_yS0