28th October 2009
Choosing Gas Suppliers
Until 1996, British Gas had the monopoly on gas supply in the UK. When competition was allowed in the market, it was thought that prices would come down for the ordinary consumer.
ever, many people don’t switch from their current gas supplier, as they think that switching provider to be an unnecessary hassle.
This is despite the fact that changing your electricity or gas supplier can lower your bills – which is particularly helpful during a recession.
Also, it’s not difficult to change your provider. Rather than tracking down all the suppliers that operate in your area and go about contacting them to see if they can lower your costs, you can visit a price comparison site.
You may even be able to switch gas supplier with a few clicks of the mouse. Of course, there are other considerations to consider as well as price when choosing a gas supplier.
You can look at their custome service reputation – some sites allow you to review suppliers, so you can see how other users have rated each supplier before you move.
Another thing to pay attention to is the various payment plans that are on offer from the suppliers. You may be able to save money immediately by switching to an Internet plan. If you are confident you can manage your account and receive all your bills online, this could cut down on administration fees.
If you are on a low income, you may qualify for a social payment plan. Energy companies must provide these payment plans, which are designed to help people in the most vulnerable positions to pay their bills.
For sheer simplicity, you may want a fixed plan. This means the price of each unit of energy is fixed for a certain period. Alternatively, a capped plan means that the price of each unit won’t rise for a set length of time. However, if gas prices fall during that period your energy bills could come down.
Suppliers also provide their own standard pricing plans. Your choice of supplier will unavoidably be determined by the plans that are available – and the one that suits you best.
This is why price comparison sites will always ask you for your current payment structure and the one you would prefer. You can compare the different plans quickly and easily to see which can save you the most. You can make great savings by switching your gas supplier.
