Page 7 - Gi flipbook March 2018

Failing to switch energy supplier online comparison tool

costs millions of UK households that includes quotes from
all suppliers.
Citizens Advice Chief
£1,500 over past six years Executive Gillian Guy said:
“Checking your energy tariff
and switching to a cheaper
the Big Energy Saving Week Philip Sellwood, deal is one of the quickest
campaign found. the trust’s CEO, told and easiest ways to cut
Ofgem figures show that The Independent: “The your bills. "We know people
more than a third (35 per difference between the who stay with the same
cent) of UK households – average standard variable energy supplier often pay
or nine million – did not tariff and the cheapest hundreds of pounds more
change gas or electricity deal on the market is a year for the same gas and
Customers are counting provider between 2012 and significant, but millions electricity. It is too often the
the cost of failing to switch 2017. of households still aren’t most vulnerable and those
energy suppliers The YouGov survey found accessing these savings. with the lowest incomes
that 65 per cent of people “To put that into context, who pay the highest prices
would read reviews when switching this year could for their energy.”
FAILING TO SWITCH planning to spend £1,000 save you up to £300 – Energy Secretary Greg
energy supplier has cost but just 16 per cent read equivalent to more than Clark said: “We’re helping
millions of UK households any reviews about their new a month’s worth of food people take control of
more than £1,500 over the energy supplier or tariff shopping. In other words, their fuel bills to reduce
past six years, campaigners when they last switched. if you haven’t switched for how much they pay for
have warned. Big Energy Saving Week, six years, you’ve missed out their gas and electricity.
Despite the possibility of led by the Energy Saving on more than six months Big Energy Saving Week
saving up to £300 a year, a Trust, Citizens Advice and of food shopping.” highlights how much
third of people (33 per cent) the Department for Business, Citizens Advice is hosting money people can save
say they do not see the Energy and Industrial local events across the simply by changing their
point of switching because Strategy (BEIS) aims to help country to help people energy supplier and taking
they believe all suppliers are households lower their compare prices, and is action such as installing a
the same, a YouGov poll for spending on energy. promoting its own impartial smart meter.” ■

Worst and best energy providers named

THE LATEST RANKING 100 for customer satisfaction, payers gave Npower and signs of growing pains.
of energy providers has according to Which? British Gas two out of five “Energy companies should
been revealed, showing But the highest score for in value for money. Rival big be working to give their
what their customers really any of the Big Six was only brands managed only three. customers a fair deal, which
think about the people 55 – for E.ON and EDF. But the smaller firms in includes competitive prices
they’re paying for gas and Small firms were best the top eight were rated and good customer service.
electricity. rated. Utility Warehouse five out of five for value – If you’re not getting a fair
Npower has been named came top on 79. Green and all scored a minimum deal you should switch
the worst energy supplier in firm Octopus was third on of 72 for satisfaction. away today to potentially
a poll which ranked all Big 76 – the only one to win Loyalty to the Big Six does save hundreds of pounds
Six energy suppliers in the “recommended supplier” by not pay, Which? found, as and get better service.”
bottom ten. the consumer watchdog. customers save an average Npower said: “It is
It scored just 45 out of Ten worst energy £333 by switching. disappointing to see these
providers (satisfaction score Alex Neill, Which? results as we’re currently
out of 100): Managing Director of Home receiving the second lowest
• Npower: 45 Products and Services, said: number of complaints
• Spark: 47 “Energy customers shouldn’t per 100,000 customers
• Extra Energy: 49 tolerate shoddy service, out of all the Big Six
• Economy Energy: 50 sky-high prices or failure to energy suppliers and our
• Scottish Power: 52 resolve complaints. own internal customer
• British Gas: 52 “Once again our survey satisfaction also shows
• SSE: 54 shows many of the we’re improving.
• Sainsbury’s: 54 biggest energy companies “Clearly, there’s more for
Worst and best energy • E.ON: 55 languishing at the bottom us to do and we’ll continue
providers named • EDF: 55 of the table, with some working on improving our
The poll of 9,000 bill small suppliers showing position in this survey.” ■

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News.indd 2 15/02/2018 14:25