Best method for finding and changing to new Gas/Electricity provider.

elsmandino

Hello there.
I have been with British Gas for my electricity and gas for the entire time I have lived at my property (15 years - please don't shout).
It is one of those things that I just never got round to but am determined to do so, shortly and save myself (hopefully) quite a bit.
A bit of research has revealed that it is no longer the case of just going to something like USwitch - there are apparently alternatives.  I have read about companies (like Look After My Bills) that say they will find the best deal for you, though subject to them only changing you to a company for which they get commission.
I would be really grateful for some advice on how to find the best deal - as always, there are now masses of options.

Gerry1

Don't touch LAMB or anything similar.  You can get far better deals yourself and you need to understand how it all works.  Quick tips:-

• Separate suppliers can be cheaper.  Just do the sums yourself.
• You MUST compare the whole market, not just the suppliers who pay the sites commission.  Often it's quite hard to avoid the default to commission based suppliers, and if you re-run after a whole market comparison they will often revert back.  Start with Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?' for a genuine whole of the market comparison.  Sadly, the Cheap Energy Club doesn't do this, despite its claims, it omits Neon Reef and others.
• Ignore ALL projections and claimed savings.  Ofgem's crazy rules mean they're meaningless.  Just compare the £annual from actual annual meter readings, never estimates, and always do the sums yourself.
• If you have E7, also compare single rate, which can sometimes be cheaper.  Keep the E7 meter, many companies will happily bill at single rate.
• Forget monthly DD amounts, it's only a kitty that may or may not cover your costs.  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#whatyoupay
• Cheap companies can have customer service problems.  Check the ratings on these forums and with Citizens Advice, but ignore TrustPilot.
• When you have a shortlist, check for cashback, but cheap companies seldom offer this, you just get lower prices.
• Always send monthly readings, keep your own records and save the monthly bills.
  

Happy switching !

Kitchen_Sink

elsmandino said:

Hello there.
I have been with British Gas for my electricity and gas for the entire time I have lived at my property (15 years - please don't shout).
It is one of those things that I just never got round to but am determined to do so, shortly and save myself (hopefully) quite a bit.
A bit of research has revealed that it is no longer the case of just going to something like USwitch - there are apparently alternatives.  I have read about companies (like Look After My Bills) that say they will find the best deal for you, though subject to them only changing you to a company for which they get commission.
I would be really grateful for some advice on how to find the best deal - as always, there are now masses of options.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity/

Neil_Jones

The likes of LAMB are aimed towards idle people who want the savings (if offered) but don't want to put the leg work in to get them, preferring the "can't somebody else do it" mentality.

That aside, Gerry1's post above covers near enough everything you need to know.

dogshome

All of Gerry1's above

PLUS

1) Establish from past bills what your annual consumption actually is for Elec / Gas.

2) Forget the Car crash & Meercat comparison sites and visit the one on Citizens Advice Bureau - Unlike the others, this is non-commercial and lists every supplier without fear or favour.

3) When you find a supplier you think you would like to have, CHECK THE CUSTOMER FEED-BACK. There are some real dogs out there and not just among the really cheap one's.

4) .Having seperate suppliers for Gas and Elec can save money - Check the CAB set twice, once for 'Gas only' and again for 'Elec only'

Kitchen_Sink

Gerry1 said:

...

• You MUST compare the whole market, not just the suppliers who pay the sites commission.  Often it's quite hard to avoid the default to commission based suppliers, and if you re-run after a whole market comparison they will often revert back.  Start with Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?' for a genuine whole of the market comparison.  Sadly, the Cheap Energy Club doesn't do this, despite its claims, it omits Neon Reef and others.

..

Whilst I agree you  MUST compare the whole market, it would be incorrect to suggest that MSE CEC  does not compare the whole of market. (according to the accepted industry definition)

If you happen to have found an odd, small, new supplier that does not wish to be included on all comparison sites, then good for you - but that does not mean that the MSE CEC does not compare the whole of market.

Otherwise neither do Citizens Advice nor Which? as they do not appear to include Ampower, Bluegreen Energy, etc

Kitchen_Sink

dogshome said:

...

2) Forget the Car crash & Meercat comparison sites and visit the one on Citizens Advice Bureau - Unlike the others, this is non-commercial and lists every supplier without fear or favour.

....

Did you know that Which? is just an affiliate site of Energylinx?
And who owns and operates Energylinx nowadays? Yes the meercats!

As for Citizens Advice, they use Energyhelpline.com for their source data.

Similarly MSE uses it's parent site, MoneySuperMarket, for it's source data.

You can see the full list of independant, ofgem accredited energy comparison sites here:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/how-switch-energy-supplier-and-shop-better-deal

But the link I posted earlier has links to some of those the same sites but which offer exclusive MSE cashback deals too!

Gerry1

Kitchen_Sink said:

Whilst I agree you  MUST compare the whole market, it would be incorrect to suggest that MSE CEC  does not compare the whole of market. (according to the accepted industry definition)
If you happen to have found an odd, small, new supplier that does not wish to be included on all comparison sites, then good for you - but that does not mean that the MSE CEC does not compare the whole of market.
Otherwise neither do Citizens Advice nor Which? as they do not appear to include Ampower, Bluegreen Energy, etc

Interesting.  What's the 'accepted industry definition'?  The CEC's website states:-

"Do you include all tariffs on the market
Yes we do – we don't exclude any tariffs, nor do we do what some comparison sites do and have a default setting where you only see those that pay us."

That's clearly untrue because they don't include Neon Reef.  If Neon Reef or any others do not wish to be included, then the CEC should make this absolutely clear, e.g. by stating "We show all tariffs, except those where the suppliers do not provide us with this information or do not wish it to be shown to existing customers".

Hadn't realised that so many suppliers are missing: I'd assumed that all the unfamiliar names on Ofgem's lists of domestic gas and electricity suppliers traded under other names (e.g. Foxglove t/a Outfox The Market, Daisy t/a Yorkshire Energy) but obviously this is not the case.

Gerry1

Kitchen_Sink said:

As for Citizens Advice, they use Energyhelpline.com for their source data.

There's a very important difference: Energyhelpline.com defaults to showing only the suppliers that pay them commission, which is why I always suggest trying the Citizens Advice version first because it also shows the others.

Kitchen_Sink

Gerry1 said:

Kitchen_Sink said:

Whilst I agree you  MUST compare the whole market, it would be incorrect to suggest that MSE CEC  does not compare the whole of market. (according to the accepted industry definition)
If you happen to have found an odd, small, new supplier that does not wish to be included on all comparison sites, then good for you - but that does not mean that the MSE CEC does not compare the whole of market.
Otherwise neither do Citizens Advice nor Which? as they do not appear to include Ampower, Bluegreen Energy, etc

Interesting.  What's the 'accepted industry definition'?  The CEC's website states:-

"Do you include all tariffs on the market
Yes we do – we don't exclude any tariffs, nor do we do what some comparison sites do and have a default setting where you only see those that pay us."

That's clearly untrue because they don't include Neon Reef.  If Neon Reef or any others do not wish to be included, then the CEC should make this absolutely clear, e.g. by stating "We show all tariffs, except those where the suppliers do not provide us with this information or do not wish it to be shown to existing customers".

Hadn't realised that so many suppliers are missing: I'd assumed that all the unfamiliar names on Ofgem's lists of domestic gas and electricity suppliers traded under other names (e.g. Foxglove t/a Outfox The Market, Daisy t/a Yorkshire Energy) but obviously this is not the case.

Suppliers, usually small and new who may be unable to meet demand if advertised on comparison sites can request to be excluded.

If you think the CEC is wrong, complain to the ASA and get the website changed. Then your argument may carry more weight.
But the reality is, I suggest, that you do not understand what is accepted by the industry as 'showing the whole of market' .
To advertise a supplier on a comparison site, that clearly does not want to be advertised, even by saying explicitly that the site is excluding results from that particular supplier would contradict the intent of not wishing to be advertised.

Any comment as to where I can find Ampower, Bluegreen Energy, etc on the site you recommend?
Any clear indication on the site you recommend that they are not being included???

Or is it one rule for one site, and another rule for another???

Perhaps what we need is for Ofgem to endorse something like a Confidence Code for energy comparison sites people are recommended to use?
Oh yeah, they already do, but neither Which? nor Citizens Advice are on it (but EnergyLinx and Energyhelpline are)

Edit: Just because Ofgem has given a company a supply licence, doesn't mean they supply.
e.g I think Zog have had an electricity supply licence since Sept 2017, but you won't find them on any comparison site for electricity, as they don't supply electricity.

Kitchen_Sink

Gerry1 said:

Kitchen_Sink said:

As for Citizens Advice, they use Energyhelpline.com for their source data.

There's a very important difference: Energyhelpline.com defaults to showing only the suppliers that pay them commission, which is why I always suggest trying the Citizens Advice version first because it also shows the others.

So then you have to go back to EHL and see if there is any potential cashback.
What a complete waste of time and duplication of effort. Simply go to EHL and look at the whole of market, rather than just those that pay them commission.

Simples!