Gas and Electricity Tariffs
The glossy adverts from the power companies tell us how good the latest tariff is, but read the small print before you sign up as it may not be the right tariff for you. For example, Economy 7 is a great tariff if you have electric storage heaters or if you fancy getting up at 4am to put on a load of washing to take advantage of the hours of cheaper electricity, but if like most of us you use the majority of your energy during the day or evening then there are much more suitable and cheaper tariffs out there to choose from.
Fuel prices have fluctuated over the last few years and prices have even gone down from their recent high so it is worth investigating as you may be on one of the most expensive tariffs.
Quick tips
- Compare both price and complaint levels of the power companies. They now have to compete for your business.
- Watch for special tariffs for certain groups such as pensioners, people who pay by different methods, or who need more power at certain times of day e.g. for storage heaters.
- It is usually cheaper to get both fuels from one company.
- If you pay by cash/cheque/debit card you may be paying more for your fuel than those who pay by direct debit or online. Direct debit or the internet are usually the cheapest way to pay, with pre-payment meters generally the most expensive. To find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of pre-payment meters see the attachment at the bottom of the page. By switching to direct debit you could make an average annual saving of £101 on gas and electricity.
- Opting for paperless billing could save you money.
- Take regular readings for your gas and electricity and either phone or use the internet to update your accounts and ensure you don't end up with estimated bills. Estimated bills can cause lots of problems by either under or over charging your accounts so it's best to keep up to date with regular readings to ensure there is no nasty surprise next time you receive a bill.
The gas and electricity watchdog 'Energywatch' has been replaced by a body called Consumer Focus. Along with general help and advice on energy matters, they could help you to see how much money you could save by switching fuel supplier.
Social Tariffs
As part of the government’s strategy to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016, all energy suppliers now have to offer social tariffs to help their most vulnerable customers cope with the high costs of gas and electricity. So if you’re struggling to keep up with the rising cost of heating your home, why not talk to your supplier and see if you can be moved to a cheaper tariff.
What should I do?
Firstly, you should compare energy tariffs to check if there are cheaper options available to you – you may be on one of the most expensive tariffs especially if you haven’t changed your energy supplier in a while. Secondly, speak to your energy provider to see what they can do for you. You may be able to switch onto a social tariff if you fit their eligibility criteria. See the social tariff attachment at the bottom of the page for more information on tariffs available from each of the power companies.
Switching Supplier
Power companies now have to compete for your custom. The companies listed below can offer a price comparison service that can help you decide which fuel company can offer the best service for you:
Please note that the companies listed are not recommendations of the Council. This is not a definitive list and there may be other companies available.
By contacting a fuel comparison site, they will be able to advise you which companies can offer the most suitable deals for those who use a pre-payment or card meter to pay for their fuel.
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