Did you know that a record number of households during the last year, have moved to another energy supplier? Consumers are gradually becoming savvier when it comes to their energy, in a bid to find the most cost-effective plans available.
At some time or another, every homeowner, landlord or tenant will be faced with the task of choosing an energy provider. Whether you are moving into a new home or have had enough of your existing supplier, there are a few important things to consider before committing to any energy company or changing providers.
It can be tempting to simply stick with the energy provider you’ve inherited when moving into a new home, or feel reluctant to change, even if you have been unhappy with your current provider; however, it’s well worth considering switching if you aren’t receiving the service you have been promised. Join the many customers who are making the switch and find an energy provider that works for you instead of against you.
Stick with us, and we’ll take you through the considerations you should make if you’re thinking about changing providers. Luckily, we will be able to make the process much easier for you, as we break down all of the things you should be looking for in a new energy supplier.
How to find gas and electric suppliers
When wondering how to find gas and electric suppliers, it can be somewhat of a minefield. With a huge amount of energy providers on the market, promising that they are the best, cheapest and most eco-friendly out there, it’s hard to know where to start and who to believe.
While many people immediately opt for one of the larger energy providers, more and more consumers are taking their time to really research the market; and rightly so! The days of going with a company simply because you recognise their name are long gone, as those that do so, are left with a tariff or plan that is unnecessarily expensive.
Follow our guide to help make things a little clearer; you’ll soon discover which providers best match your requirements and you’ll be able to whittle down prospective companies in no time at all.
Who Is Your Existing Supplier?
First of all, if you’ve just moved, distinguish who your existing supplier is, as this will give you a starting board when it comes to comparing providers. You may choose to go with the one you’ve been given, but it’s still worth shopping around to ensure you’re getting the best deal - particularly if you’re moving into a new build property, as you’ll often be automatically be placed onto the most expensive plan!
If you’re unsure as to who your provider is, take a look at this information on the uSwitch website, which will point you in the right direction.
If you know your provider, but are not sure if the plan you’re on is right for you, set aside 10 minutes to give them a call and ask them to talk you through everything. You are well within your rights to pose questions to your energy provider and decide whether they are the right company for you. Having provided home energy plans nationwide for many years, we are always more than happy to talk to our customers and discuss their plan in-depth to provide complete peace of mind.
What Are You Looking For In An Energy Provider?
Once you’ve got all of the information you need from your current provider and are ready to research the market, take a minute to jot down what is important to you. This will help narrow down your search and leave you with providers who are best suited to your lifestyle. Below are a few factors to consider; pick and choose which ones matter to you.
Sustainability
Due to the ever-rising desire to remain as eco-friendly as possible, many people are looking at every possible way in which they can care for the environment and reduce their carbon footprint. Quite a few energy providers now offer ‘green energy’, which essentially means that it is collected from sustainable resources, such as sunlight, wind, the ocean and geothermal heat - as explained in this article from NRDC. Ampower is proud to offer renewable energy, sourced using wind farms and solar power - ensuring that all of our customers have the option to be environmentally friendly while saving money in the process.
Smart Technology
The technical savvy amongst us may be drawn to providers who offer the latest online facilities and Smart technology, alongside their energy plan. If this is you, take a look at suppliers that are more digitally focused, with the ability to perhaps sign up online, interact in live chats or access your account through a designated app. For consumers with hectic lives, always on the go, this can be a really good time-saving selling point. Some providers will even offer you Smart home products upon signing up, which is a plus point for anyone looking for an energy provider who offers technological capabilities. Fortunately, all energy providers are due to provide their customers with Smart meters by the end of 2020, so you’ll be able to access this kind of technology very soon, no matter who your provider is.
Bundles
If you’re wanting to make your life a little easier, some suppliers offer energy plans along with other amenities, such as broadband and insurance. These are done in bundle packages, offering multiple plans in one monthly bill. One in ten people buy more than one service from their energy company, according to this article from Which?, but they also note that the price can be much higher than necessary, mainly due to the convenience they are providing, rather than the energy. Because of this, we would recommend keeping your energy and other services separate, as you could end up spending much more money by consolidating everything into one bundle.
Tariffs
While we like to keep our home gas plans and home electricity plans nice and simple, customising energy plans to the individual customer, there are some providers that offer different kinds of tariffs. These can complicate things somewhat, as providers simply pop you into a generic tariff box with thousands of other customers and the personal service more often than not, goes out the window! Examples include smart, tracker and variable tariffs, along with many others, which are detailed in this article from Compare the market. If just looking at all of the different options fries your brain a little, we’d definitely recommend seeking a provider who can offer a more bespoke service and tailor an energy plan to you.
Customer Satisfaction
This is a big one among many customers; as no matter how cheap your plan may be or the number of gadgets your supplier may provide you with, it’s meaningless when something goes wrong, and help is nowhere to be seen. It’s therefore well worth reading up on prospective providers and ensuring that their customers are happy with the service they provide. Testimonials are a great way to get a realistic and honest view of a company’s customer service and if they are a supplier that will be ready to help should you face any issues. Here at Ampower, we pride ourselves on having a UK based call-centre and fantastic feedback. The satisfaction of our customers is our number one priority.
A Small Or Big Provider
This can often tie in with our above point of customer satisfaction, as more often than not, smaller providers tend to be able to provide a more personal service. In a recent energy satisfaction poll from Which?, The big six energy providers (British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON UK, npower, Scottish Power and SSE) were all beaten in polls when customers were quizzed on how happy they were with the service; putting smaller energy providers at the top of the list. As in many industries, small companies will without a doubt, be able to offer you a bespoke service that fits around your specific lifestyle and energy consumption.
Compare Away!
So, you’ve identified what’s important to you, your lifestyle and household; now’s the time to do the research and compare providers. There are many energy comparison sites that allow you to list your requirements and find suppliers that could fit the bill. We would always recommend, however, that you contact individual energy providers that are of interest to you, as some may not show up on these sites, and you could end up missing out on a great deal!
We’re always happy to discuss any specific requirements with prospective customers and would love to hear from you, should you be looking for a new energy provider. Feel free to give us a call or get a quote in just 60 seconds, using our handy online tool.
We’d love to become your new energy provider, and welcome you to the Ampower family!