When can I shop around for a New Energy Supplier?

jazzy

I am currently with Extra Energy for both electricity and gas with a Fixed Price contract until Sept 2015 - Tariff ends on 30th Sept 2015.

When is the best time to start shopping around for a cheaper and better contract? I don't want to terminate the contract too early because I may have to pay a leaving fee on the other hand I don't want to leave it late because I will be charged a higher tariff after 30th Sept.

Is it possible to set up a new contract to start on a specified date i.e 1st October? I usually use a price comparison site.

keith1950

If you want be be 100% sure of no problems leave it until a couple of weeks before expiry however you should actually be OK after the 12th of August and if things go wrong you have right on your side although you might have to fight for it.

No you cannot pick and choose a date....if fact no one can tell when the actual switch will take place and the gas and electric tend to switch on different days.

You cannot be sure the switch will happen before the expiry date so you could be on a standard tariff for a few days.

Switches are supposed to be quicker but my recent last switch still took 5 weeks.

spiro

Under new rules the switch date should be 2 weeks plus 3 working days after the date you apply to switch.

System

spiro wrote: »

Under new rules the switch date should be 2 weeks plus 3 working days after the date you apply to switch.

But not as stated in the supplier's licence which currently quotes RELEVANT DATE plus 21 days where the RELEVANT DATE is the end of the cooling off period.

Obligation to complete a Supplier Transfer within three weeks

14A.1 The licensee must take all reasonable steps to complete a Supplier Transfer within
21 days of the Relevant Date unless:
(a) the Customer requests that the Supplier Transfer be completed at a later
date; or
(b) the Customer notifies the licensee that he does not wish the Supplier
Transfer to take place; or
(c) one or more of the conditions in paragraph 14A.3 applies.

System

jazzy wrote: »

When is the best time to start shopping around for a cheaper and better contract? I don't want to terminate the contract too early because I may have to pay a leaving fee on the other hand I don't want to leave it late because I will be charged a higher tariff after 30th Sept.

.

You can apply to switch 49 to 42 days before the end of your current fixed term without penalty; i.e., no exit fees. Under Ofgem licence obligations, your present supplier will notify you that your contract is coming to an end.

Also, provided your current supplier is notified by the new supplier that a switch is in progress within 20 days of the end of present contract (i.e.; in your case by the 20th October) you will remain on your present tariff until the switch goes through.

dogshome

Yes, you can start the Switch before your contract ends
BUT
The rule is that 49 to 42 days before contract end, your supplier should write to you advising the End Date and advising you of what options they can offer

However, there have been reports on this forum of customers who being aware of the 42 day window made a Switch, then found themselves being charged Early Redemption fees because the supplier had not sent out the letter ! ?

Chase for your letter if needs be

PurplePow

My current fixed tariff with Co-Op ends on 30th September. There’s a £60 early exit fee before then. Am I right in thinking if I switch after 19th August there’ll be no fee as it’s 42 days before end of tariff?

System

PurplePow wrote: »

My current fixed tariff with Co-Op ends on 30th September. There’s a £60 early exit fee before then. Am I right in thinking if I switch after 19th August there’ll be no fee as it’s 42 days before end of tariff?

The Co-op should write to you before the 42 day point. You are then free to switch as stated above. The new supplier manages the switch so there is no need to inform the Co-op that you are switching.

spiro

Hengus wrote: »

But not as stated in the supplier's licence which currently quotes RELEVANT DATE plus 21 days where the RELEVANT DATE is the end of the cooling off period.

Obligation to complete a Supplier Transfer within three weeks

14A.1 The licensee must take all reasonable steps to complete a Supplier Transfer within
21 days of the Relevant Date unless:
(a) the Customer requests that the Supplier Transfer be completed at a later
date; or
(b) the Customer notifies the licensee that he does not wish the Supplier
Transfer to take place; or
(c) one or more of the conditions in paragraph 14A.3 applies.

See https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-releases/ofgem-leads-radical-shake-energy-switching-process

System

spiro wrote: »

See https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-releases/ofgem-leads-radical-shake-energy-switching-process

Thank you. Seventeen day switching is an Ofgem objective but not a regulation. I applied to switch suppliers in early June: my electricity switched in 26 days and my gas has yet to switch. The breach of the 35 day suppliers' obligation with respect to gas is now being investigated by Ofgem. There was no need to go through The Energy Ombudsman process as it has no role in enforcement.

The crucial wording in the link that you have provided is this:

From this August new Ofgem rules will come into force meaning suppliers could face investigation and fines if they do not complete the switching process within a five week period (comprising two weeks cooling off period upfront and three weeks to make the switch). The rules also mean suppliers must stamp out cases where customers are switched by mistake

It is the BOLD sentence that appears in the supply licence at Condition 14A.1 not 17 days.

jazzy

Thanks for the replies. I have had no letter from Extra Energy about my contract is due to expire although it's still early days.

I received an email from USwitch today, the company I used last time for comparisons of energy companies. According to USwitch it is now OK to go ahead now for finding a new contract.



The three cheapest companies were Sainsbury Energy, Green Star Energy and OVO Energy (in that order), any recommendations which of these companies offers the better service?