A Helpful Guide to Switching Suppliers

If you would like to save money and energy then switching energy supplier may be an appealing option to consider. It may seem like a daunting and complex process, however there are various options available that could result in you finding a cheaper alternative to your current energy supplier. There are different options to consider when reducing your energy bills, such as checking you are getting the best deal from your current supplier, finding out if there are better ways to pay your bills or switching suppliers. Also, to help you make a more informed decision there are a range of tools and guides available that can help make the process easier.

Before considering switching supplier, you may first want to check if their is a better deal available from your current supplier. According to the Energy Saving Trust, energy suppliers can offer up to four tariffs for gas and electricity. There are also different ways that you can pay your bills that can make a difference. Most energy suppliers may offer a discount if you pay by Direct Debit. You can save up to £100 a year if you choose to pay by Direct Debit instead of cash or cheque. Also if you receive your bills online you may get a discount, as it reduces the use of paper, cuts costs for the supplier and has positive effects for the environment. So contact your supplier to find out if a cheaper tariff is available or to see if there is better way you could be paying your bills.

If you are considering switching suppliers there are a variety of tools available to help you. However, there is some important information you need to gather first to make sure you can get the best deal:

• Before you switch, find out if there are any fees for cancelling current your energy deal
• Your Postcode
• The name of your current gas or electricity supplier
• The name of your current tariff – this can be found on your bills
• How much energy you use
• How you pay your bills

According to Which? Switch, 9 out of 10 of their members who switched thought that the process was simple. They also estimate that the average saving customers could make when switching is £301.

Ofgem is also a great source of tools and guides to help you make the best decision before switching:

• The Be an Energy Shopper website contains information and tools to help compare different tariffs, a glossary that helps to clarify the language used on energy bills, and there is also a downloadable guide available that can be printed off.
• Ofgem have also gathered a list of different online comparison websites that run in agreement with Ofgem’s confidence code. This can be a good source to use when looking at the different deals and tariffs that are available

Greener Kirkcaldy’s Cosy Kingdom energy advice service is also here to help. This service has helped over 3000 people in Fife. Cosy Kingdom energy advisors can visit you in your home and offer advice on different energy issues such as:

• Help you find efficient ways to save both energy and money
• Check to see if your are eligible for energy efficiency measures such as free insulation or a new heating system
• You can also ask questions about your energy bills, tariffs or fuel debt