5 Tips to get the best deal for your energy

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There are many different energy suppliers and tariffs on the market so switching your energy may seem daunting. Yet, 9 out of 10 switchers find the switching process very easy and you can save hundreds of pounds on your annual bill*. Are you ready to make the plunge?

Compare energy prices using an energy prices comparison site accredited by OFGEM. Accredited sites are reliable, impartial and they make the process of switching very simple. Make sure you get the very best energy deal for your home and follow our 5 tips below:

1. What you need to know before switching your energy: your address, the name of your energy supplier and your tariff. You also need to know how much gas and electricity you use (preferably in kWh). You will find this information on your latest energy bill.If you don’t have a bill to hand, give your energy supplier a call and they will be able to tell you the name of your tariff and your energy consumption over the last 12 months. Before switching, check whether you will incur a fee for cancelling your current energy tariff. You are now ready to compare energy prices.
2. Don’t forget to compare the cheapest dual fuel suppliers with separate cheap gas and cheap electricity suppliers. Dual fuel deals are not always the cheapest. There are small energy suppliers who offer some very competitive gas only or electricity only tariff which when combined can be cheaper than the cheapest dual fuel tariff.
3. When you decide to switch your energy, go for monthly direct debit. Monthly Direct Debit payments will save you between 5 and 10% on your energy bills. They are cheaper as suppliers are more confident you won’t default and they earn interest on any overpayment. Overpayments are refunded at the end of the year.
4. If you have got regular access to the Internet, choose an online tariff. Signing up for an online energy tariff means you accept to manage your gas and electricity bills via the Internet.With an online tariff, you will provide your meter readings online and will receive your bills via email. Online tariffs are quite often the cheapest tariffs available. That’s because energy suppliers have lower overheads with online customers: they don’t to pay to send out bills through the post.
5. Small energy suppliers are often cheaper than the Big Six because they don’t spend millions on advertising or expensive head offices. Small energy suppliers also offer a great customer service and don’t have call centres. So don’t always choose the large well-known energy supplier.

Once you have switched using a comparison website, your information will be passed on to your new energy supplier and so begins the switching process. This can take up to 6 weeks as your old supplier and your new supplier have to share information with each other to transfer your gas and electricity supply. On your new supply start date give a meter read to your new energy supplier.If you change your mind after switching, please note that you have between 7-14 days (depending on the supplier) during which you can cancel your application without penalty.

Paying less for your energy isn’t just about getting the cheapest energy deal. Cut down your energy usage and slash your bill by following some very easy tips:don’t leave appliances on standby, use energy saving light bulbs and set your thermostat correctly. Check out the Energy Saving Trust website and find out where you may be wasting energy in your home.