Choosing the right energy plans can be a daunting task, there are so many pieces of different pieces of information on plans pricing and the range of various charges that come with going to certain energy suppliers. Here we are going to discuss how you can choose the right energy plan for you; we will make the process that little bit easier by answering the most common questions asked by consumers.
Energy plans
Energy plans are put in place to meet the needs of the consumer, so there are a few things you need to consider including:
Type of the house
The size of your house and how many residences you have could affect the price of your home electricity plans. If you have moved into a new home, it’s always wise to check who your energy provider is, when you first move into a home the energy provider defaults to whoever the previous tenants had as their energy supplier. You might find that this isn’t a cost-effective plan for you so you should look around for deals.
Speak to neighbours
We always recommend speaking to your neighbours, establish who they have their home energy plans with and if at all possible roughly how much they pay. This will give you a good indication who you should be going with and what kind of price plan you should be looking for. You can use MoneySupermarket.com online bill checker to check the price of energy bills within your postcode area. USwitch works in a similar way; they also help to make the switching process easier.
Comparison sites
There is a range of comparison sites now available to you, so utilise them when searching for new energy plans; they can help give you the best price with the best plans. One thing we would like to mention is that not all energy providers are on comparison sites, so it is always worth checking alternative routes.
Research energy suppliers
There are so many different energy suppliers around and choosing the right one for you can be extremely hard. If you are looking to reduce your energy plans, you should be asking yourself a few questions.
- Does my plan account for my energy consumption?
- Does my plan give me any bonus?
- Is the plan I need flexible or fixed?
- Can I come out of the plan if I don’t like it?
- How do I pay for the energy plan?
- Do they have a good customer service satisfaction rating?
- Have they been recommended by anyone else?
You need to look at the rate per kilowatt hour and check all fine print. Ampower only offers fixed-rate plans for our customers as we believe in always allowing you to know exactly how much you will be paying. We like to know our customers can budget their monthly spending and knowing their energy plan price won’t come as a shock.
You need to make sure you research how much energy you are getting for your area; different suppliers will offer different prices for various locations so use comparison sites, contact relatives and friends nearby and don’t be afraid to ask neighbours.
Check payment methods and make sure its convenient for you, the last thing you want to do is switch and then having the hassle of only being able to pay by bank transfer or in the post office. A lot of suppliers you can now pay online or via direct debit, this is also something you should check to see if you get any benefits for doing so.
Check to see if you get any benefits for referring a friend; this can be a small perk that may sway your mind over another energy supplier.
Make sure that once you have switched you check your monthly payments and you receive your monthly bill on time. You might also want to see if there are any additional fees such as receiving paper copies of your energy plan. There are some suppliers that keep hidden fees in the small print, so we always recommend reading all aspect of the website information or booklet you receive in regards to energy plans.
Always check how long you are tied to a plan for, this is often where the customer is misled or can get confused. If you are unsure make sure you get in contact with the provider. You should always check terms and conditions of any contract you go into.
Price
The price of your energy plan is going to be one of the most important parts you need to consider, by going with the right energy provider you can find a plan for the right price matching your energy consumption. If you have a fixed plan, this means that you will pay the same amount throughout your plan for each kilowatt hour. This is typically known as the best plan if you tend to use your energy during what is known as peak hours. With this type of energy plan, you will have more stable bills, meaning you can easily track your energy spending. The best part about having a fixed energy plan is that you’ll be protected against any increases in energy prices.
Summary
By following these few steps, you can find the right energy plan for you. It can seem like a daunting task and in some instances can be a little time-consuming. The only thing you need to think about is whether you are spending too much on your energy plan compared to other people within your postcode. You should try to find out the price of energy and who neighbours energy supplier are. This will be a good indication of who you should be looking for and what price bracket you should be within. We always recommend looking for a fixed plan, meaning your energy plan will stay the same price throughout the year. There will be no hidden costs, and your price plan won’t change if energy prices become more expensive. Always do your research when thinking about different energy plans, check comparison sites and search engines as not all energy providers are on them.
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