Switching gas/electricity

[Queen Jess]

Does anyone continually switch gas/electricity to get cheaper prices?

I switched about 4 years ago to Ecotricity because I was sick of really poor customer service and didn't mind if it cost a bit more. However, now it costs quite a bit more and so I could save a fair whack by switching to some of the small, new suppliers.

Have things improved recently so that this is much easier than it used to be?

 

[Jon]

Does anyone continually switch gas/electricity to get cheaper prices?

I switched about 4 years ago to Ecotricity because I was sick of really poor customer service and didn't mind if it cost a bit more. However, now it costs quite a bit more and so I could save a fair whack by switching to some of the small, new suppliers.

Have things improved recently so that this is much easier than it used to be?

I don't however ya know. 'blah blah use my bulb link' is more about getting the referral than it is about if Bulb actually offer anything decent.

I looked into this in the summer and the reality is that the prices for Bulb and other similar companies are near enough the same as your get with the big 4

HOWEVER, I would have thought switching energy suppliers is easier than say switching banks so from that point or view if you can save yourself some money for 6-12months before changing again it may be worth doing

 

[Queen Jess]

I don't however ya know. 'blah blah use my bulb link' is more about getting the referral than it is about if Bulb actually offer anything decent.

I looked into this in the summer and the reality is that the prices for Bulb and other similar companies are near enough the same as your get with the big 4

HOWEVER, I would have thought switching energy suppliers is easier than say switching banks so from that point or view if you can save yourself some money for 6-12months before changing again it may be worth doing

I was just looking at the savings from the green site, but since our whole house is electric it can add up to significant amount now it is getting colder outside. Only hesitating because I hate lots of hassle!

 

[Jon]

I was just looking at the savings from the green site, but since our whole house is electric it can add up to significant amount now it is getting colder outside. Only hesitating because I hate lots of hassle!

Is it a hassle to swap?

How come you don't have gas at all? Are you in a flat?

 

[Queen Jess]

Is it a hassle to swap?

How come you don't have gas at all? Are you in a flat?

No, I have a house. The builders put in a new fangled heat pump thingy that is meant to be more efficient, but still can be expensive to run over the winter. I don't think it's a hassle to swap, but only done it once, four years ago, so not sure anymore!

 

[cashbacklover2019]

Either go around all the energy companies that offer refer a friend switching bonuses with no exit penalties ideally using links that are offering a referral split thus maximising switch benefit or use this tool which shows all energy companies without having to tick a box as is the case with other comparison sites

Compare Gas & Electricity Prices - Citizens Advice Energy Comparison

You can use our price comparison tool to compare prices from different energy suppliers.

energycompare.citizensadvice.org.uk

Doesnt take long to do a comparison, make decision, complete sign up, switch completed in around 17 days, Bank switch takes 7 working days.​

 

[katykicker]

I don't however ya know. 'blah blah use my bulb link' is more about getting the referral than it is about if Bulb actually offer anything decent.

I looked into this in the summer and the reality is that the prices for Bulb and other similar companies are near enough the same as your get with the big 4

HOWEVER, I would have thought switching energy suppliers is easier than say switching banks so from that point or view if you can save yourself some money for 6-12months before changing again it may be worth doing

I know it's your jam @Jon to slag off everything but where is your actual research to show the prices are 'near enough the same'? I personally looked into it when I wrote about it and this was the price difference for me:

New provider:
Bulb: Electricity – 13.59p per kWh / 20.44p standing charge
Bulb: Gas – 3.37p per kWh / 20.44p standing charge
Old provider:
Previous big 6 supplier: Electricity – 18.58p per kWh / 23.78p standing charge
Previous big 6 supplier: Gas – 4.077p per kWh / 26.52p standing charge

As you can see the difference of the variable tariffs is quite large. You may think it is just pence but you will use 100s of kWhs, especially being at home a lot, so not switching is just throwing money away.

Even just the difference in the standing charges added up to about 1 month a year 'free' for me, just for switching, without the savings on everything else. No one tariff or provider is going to be best for everyone. For me personally, I wanted to use greener energy and so I'm with Bulb. I know @Jon hasn't switched in years, as I've been nagging him, but the difference is amazing. I won't bother leaving my link, as it isn't about you joining Bulb specifically, but honestly switching is SO easy. If you need help talking you through the process (with any provider not just the one I use!) then drop me a message.

It is VERY easy to switch and if you have a tariff with exit fees some providers will pay that now to get your custom. Don't forget to check out topcashback or quidco etc before switching too as sometimes there are cashback offers.

 

[Jon]

We looked into bulb and a handful of others and the prices weren’t that difference but now you’ve got me wondering if it’s how we use gas / leccy as a household of just two adults maybe doesn’t make the same savings as a 2 adults 2 children one

 

[katykicker]

We looked into bulb and a handful of others and the prices weren’t that difference but now you’ve got me wondering if it’s how we use gas / leccy as a household of just two adults maybe doesn’t make the same savings as a 2 adults 2 children one

Honestly, even 1p on a kWh and 3p on a standing daily charge is a HUGE saving over a month and a year though.

 

[cashbacklover2019]

Katykicker if you have Gas with Bulb you are throwing money away as Gas is very expensive with Bulb, Standing Charge alone is 9p a day ( 32.85 per year) dearer for my postcode than Utility Point, you can switch Gas out and keep Electricity with Bulb if you wish, I have just posted this somewhere else

Comparison of tariffs charges for my postcode area

Utility Point Just Up Tariff Fixed 12 Months E 14.5110p per kWh 12.11p per day Gas 2.8403p per kWh 11.55p per day - Plus 25.00 account credit any combination of switch including Gas only Switch via my link/code Turquoise1015267

Octopus 12 Month Fixed - E 15.162p per kWh 19.215p per day - Gas 3.276p per kWh 16.8p per day

BULB - Variable E 13.430p per kWh 20.44p per day - Gas 3.530p per kWh 20.44p per day Note how expensive Bulb Gas is, can stay with Bulb if you wish just switch Gas to Utility Point via my code/link for much lower charges plus £25 account credit

 

[homie]

Bulb was more expensive for me too at my old address when taking duel fuel. Here I only have leccy and a tank for lpg gas, which is much more expensive than piped gas.

If anyone else has a LPG tank, this site was able to get me a half decent deal, locked in for two years. https://www.lpg-save.co.uk/

 

[Jon]

Bulb was more expensive for me too at my old address when taking duel fuel. Here I only have leccy and a tank for lpg gas, which is much more expensive than piped gas.

If anyone else has a LPG tank, this site was able to get me a half decent deal, locked in for two years. https://www.lpg-save.co.uk/

arent those cylinders kind of big?

 

[Riddler]

I am a member of the cheap energy club and so when a better deal is available I get an email. Here is the link to the club, it is from the green site

Cheap Energy Club - Compare Energy Deals – MSE

Join MoneySavingExpert’s energy comparison site, Cheap Energy Club to avoid overpaying on energy bills. Compare gas & electricity prices and monitor to see if you're constantly on the cheapest deal. Many can save £200/yr by switching suppliers.

www.moneysavingexpert.com

Additionally, I have a spreadsheet with all of my services listed, price and the start and end date (and where the contract rolls indefinetely I enter the 12 month date as a renewal date). About 2 weeks before the renewal date I have an alarm set to remind me to start looking around for a better deal.

Like you, my preference is not to have to switch so when I gather the cheapest competitor price I'll then check the prices with my current provider, however, if they can't at least match it then I switch.
I never used to switch, I used to just leave things as they were. In hindsight I can see that cost me £0000's over the years. The people who don't switch are the ones who subsidise the new customers on the best deals. In other words if you don't switch you're a chump, I was a chump once not anymore.

There's no place for loyalty as it is always certainly always only one way traffic. I never got anything for loyalty except a nice hefty bill.

 

[homie]

arent those cylinders kind of big?

Its not too big. You can get ones you bury in the ground but mine is hidden amongst the bushes so you cant really see it.

 

[Jon]

Its not too big. You can get ones you bury in the ground but mine is hidden amongst the bushes so you cant really see it.

Oh wow didn’t know you could store them in the ground!

 

[LaurenKnox]

Hey, hey, dude. I personally used to do this to save an extra penny, but it bothered me so much because I don't see much pleasant in this, except that I saved a little money. I started to learn about different companies with which you can save money on electricity, I came across Simply Switch right now I'm sitting and thinking whether it's worth cooperating with it. Maybe someone knows about this company? can someone give me any advice? I will be glad to receive any of your answers)