GET SWITCHING – THE QUICKEST WAY TO CUT ENERGY BILLS

Price comparison sites say households could save up to £300 if they switch energy suppliers.  B&ES (the Building & Engineering Services Association) say it’s the quickest, simplest way to get energy bills down and suggest households follow their 4 steps to start making big savings.

8 January 2015 – Price comparison sites say households could save up to £300 if they switch energy suppliers.  It is the quickest way to cut energy bills and requires no investment – other than some of your time.  Yet millions of households don’t switch; so called “sticky consumers”.  In fact, according to data compiled by Ofgem, only around 15% of homes change their gas and energy tariff each year, and they estimate that 60% of energy consumers have never switched.  Whilst the £300 is at the top end of potential savings, according to Which?, the consumer group, the average saving is £141 and most households would find that very welcome right now.

B&ES (the Building & Engineering Services Association) say that to ensure you get the best deal, shop around and compare the prices on offer by different suppliers.  All domestic suppliers are required to publish their prices and they’ll send you details if you ask.  Recent regulations changes mean that all tariffs will include a standing charge and a unit price (or unit prices if it is a multi-rate meter).

B&ES Chief Executive, Roderick Pettigrew, comments, “After making sure your home is more energy efficient and using appliances more efficiently, the quickest, simplest way to get household energy bills down is to switch supplier.  Yes, it requires some effort but follow these four steps and you could be on your way to making big savings:

• Check the terms and conditions with your current supplier to see if there is a penalty for cancelling your current contract – this is likely to be the case if you have a fixed term or fixed price contract.

• Work out how much you currently pay for your gas and electricity.  To compare prices from other suppliers with the price from your current supplier you will need to calculate how much you are currently paying for your fuel each year.  You can work this out by looking at your last four quarterly bills.

• To compare the different tariffs from different suppliers use comparison websites that are accredited by the Ofgem Confidence Code.  This confirms the information on the website is independent, accurate and up-to-date.

• Work out what kind of tariff suits you best.

“Suppliers are limited to offering no more than four tariffs for gas and four for electricity.  You can then choose how you want to pay and whether you want to manage your account online.  Your new supplier will use the same wires, pipes and meters as your previous supplier and you won’t be disconnected.  The only change you should notice is a different supplier name at the top of your bills”.

B&ES represents domestic heating engineers and all its members operating in the residential sector are Gas Safe registered and also members of TrustMark – the national quality badge for reputable tradesmen that is licensed by the Government and supported by consumer protection groups.  For more information about the Trustmark scheme visit:  http://www.trustmark.org.uk.  Ofgem also has an excellent guide to switching energy suppliers available at:  http://bit.ly/12u5Uib.

Ends

Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd

Media enquiries to:  Heather Lambert.  Tel:  44(0)1256 472020;

Fax:  44(0)1256 471010; E-mail:  heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk

Notes to editors

Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.

B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.

B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.

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