Compare Energy Suppliers UK

It is a great idea to regularly compare energy prices to understand the current wholesale market.

If you're on a fixed-price energy tariff, make note of your contract end date. The energy supplier will roll you onto expensive out-of-contract rates if you do not switch in time. You can start the switching process within the final 49 days of your contract. This avoids all early exit fees.

Be aware that energy prices rise before colder months. August and September are great times to consider switching your energy supplier.

When you switch with Love Energy Savings, we will stay in touch with you when your contract is coming to end to ensure you can remain on the best rates we have available.

The Energy Switch Guarantee, introduced by Ofgem, promises any consumer switching energy suppliers would be completely switched within 5 working days. If you would like to delay your switch, you can request this. Consumers have 14 days to cancel the switch from when the energy contract is agreed.

For business customers, recent changes have aligned the switching time with the domestic market. New faster switching regulations means that businesses will also be switched to their new supplier within 5 working days.

It’s worth bearing in mind that this is a voluntary guarantee which suppliers have the choice to sign up to. Many of the most well-known energy suppliers have now committed to the guarantee to improve switching times across the energy market.

Households can switch energy suppliers as often as every 28 days. Many fixed-price energy tariffs include an exit fee. So households should be wary of switching too frequently.

Legislation from Ofgem and the Energy Switch Guarantee has made it simple to switch energy. After selecting your new supplier from the Love Energy Savings comparison engine, you can begin your switch. If you are using the comparison engine, you do not need to inform your old supplier. We will handle your switch and your new supplier will be in touch.

Before selecting your new supplier, you may want to consider:

• Value for money
• Tariff terms and conditions
• Customer satisfaction scores

Firstly, you should contact your energy supplier and explain your problem and what you want your provider to do about it. Each energy supplier has a complaints procedure that must be followed.

This procedure may involve submitting information about your issue, via a letter, on their website or over the phone. If you wish to send a letter, Citizens Advice provide complaint templates that you may find helpful.

Once you have submitted a complaint, your supplier has 8-weeks to inform you what action they will take. Some complaints may require further action. For example, if you are reporting a problem with your meter, your energy supplier may contact you to arrange a time for an engineer to visit.

If it has been over 8-weeks and you still haven’t resolved your complaint, you may wish to escalate it further. You can do this by contacting the Energy Ombudsman.

The Energy Ombudsman is approved by Ofgem - the UK gas and electricity regulator - to independently handle disputes between consumers and energy suppliers. In cases where consumers have suffered a financial loss, they may be able to secure you a refund or compensation.

They are mandated to deal with energy suppliers on your behalf and seek to:

• Correct ongoing problems that have not been resolved.
• Seek an apology for poor service or fault

Suppliers work out how much you pay by direct debit by looking over your previous energy expenditure. Usually, these estimates are accurate.

However, they can be very wrong, particularly if your usage is well below the average. This can result in your direct debit payments being higher (or lower in some instances) than they should be.

By letting your supplier know of any changes, they can alter your direct debits accordingly, reducing the risk that you will overpay and need to claim an energy refund.

If you have encountered problems claiming an energy refund from your supplier, then legislation from energy regulators Ofgem could help.

Ofgem has introduced regulations which force suppliers to refund any money owed to a customer who has made a request. However, there are exceptions - if you’re in arrears then the supplier may withhold the money until the balance is settled.

No matter which energy supplier you choose, you will never be left without gas or electricity.

We were shocked to find out that lots of people in the UK are scared to compare energy prices and save cash because they thought they would have to be cut off.

This will never happen as all providers share the same wires and cables. So, if this is what has been holding you back from potentially saving hundreds of pounds, get comparing!