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Why
To Switch Energy Supplier
And Find The Best Deal Possible
Ever
since the utilities market was opened up to competition in 1999,
thousands of UK households have switched their energy suppliers
in a bid to save money on their gas and electricity and also
reduce their carbon footprint. Depending on where you live and
any contractual obligations you may have in place with your
existing supplier, you could potentially be saving hundreds
of pounds a year by switching your energy to a more cost effective
supplier.
The
first step in switching your energy supplier is to compare the
market. If you have been particularly diligent in filing you
old energy bills away then all you need to do is add up the
totals for each quarter for last year and then divide by four
to get the quarterly average. If you don't have your old bills,
get in touch with your supplier and ask for copies, or you might
even be able to access statements online too. Once you have
these figures, there are numerous online, and usually free,
price comparison websites and most energy suppliers even have
their own versions of these, where you can check your rates
against other deals and packages that they offer.
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The
next step in switching your energy supplier is to decide whether
or not you want to buy all of your household energy from one single
supplier, or if you want to hunt around for the best individual
gas and electricity deals you can find. One advantage of using
an ‘all-in-one' or ‘duel fuel' supplier is that not only is it
often possible to get a reduced combined tariff but it also makes
managing your bills much easier too. It is important that you
input the most accurate readings and figures that you can, as
most energy suppliers offer rates based on exactly how much energy
you use, as often customers that use a lot of energy are offered
a reduced rate; and of course make sure that the price includes
VAT if applicable to you.
Once
you have chosen the best supplier and tariff for you, you next
need to check whether or not there are any deals or discounts
that might be applicable to you, for example pensioners often
get offered a reduced payment scheme. Likewise make sure there
are no hidden charges that may affect you, like a surcharge for
living in a particularly remote part of the country.
Finally
you need to speak directly with your chosen new energy supplier
and agree upon a payment method. Most suppliers will offer some
kind of discount if you choose to pay with a Direct Debit, as
this guarantees their payment each month or quarter and similarly,
choose whether you want to pay weekly, monthly or quarterly too.
To actually switch energy supplier, your current supplier should
be able to supply you with the necessary form to fill in and,
from there, you will also need to advise your bank of any necessary
changes too. |