Switching Energy Companies Is Easy! (And It Could Save You Money!)

No-one likes to throw money down the drain. Fact. Even if it’s only a small amount, nobody, least of all me, likes to think they’re paying more unnecessarily. As my gran used to say (and now I’m finding I preach to Jess on more than one occasion!), “Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves”.

And what I’ve found recently is that noticeable savings can be made by switching your energy supplier.

Granted, it can be difficult to navigate through the labyrinth of prices for gas and electricity per kilowatt, and the plethora of packages and tariffs offered by each energy company, never mind the choice you have across all the companies combined, but it’s definitely well worth investigating what’s on offer, as switching your energy supplier may well save you a pretty penny. Pennies that could be better spent on things much more exciting than gas and electricity, I might add. In my case, if I’m feeling altruistic, a new toy for Jess; if I’m feeling selfish (or she’s been a little madam), I feed my shoe addiction with any money I save.

Where to Start?

I’m not sure if you’ll believe me when I say this, but it’s not as hard to find a better deal and switch your energy supplier as you may initially think.

In fact, there’s a great website to check out that simplifies it more than any other site I’ve seen – plus it’s an independent site by Ofgem so they’re not trying to sell you their deals! Go Energy Shopping break down how to switch energy supplier in 3 really easy steps, and each step is thoroughly explained, advising you one what information you need to gather before you can work out what you’re currently paying for your energy and what you could be paying with other providers.

One of the best things about the site is that it contains a glossary of terms used by energy companies, which means you actually have a shot at understanding what the heck they’re talking about! I’m not sure about you, dear readers, but I didn’t have a clue about standing charges and dead tariffs, or about the discounts available for opting for online tariffs or for having “dual fuel”. But, thanks to Go Energy Shopping, I do now!

Can You Really Save Money?

YES! How do I know this? Because I DID!

I took the plunge one boring, rainy afternoon when Jess was staying at my mum’s. And so, armed with a calculator in one hand, a glass of wine in the other, my laptop fully charged and my energy bills piled high in front of me, I went “energy shopping”, and discovered that the unit prices of gas and electricity most certainly do range from company to company (check the Ofgem accredited price comparison sites), that discounts are available for online customers, those who pay by direct debit and those who have “dual fuel” (gas and electricity with the same company, FYI), and that each company will offer competitive packages  to gain your custom.

I’m not going to claim it was the most enjoyable Sunday I’ve ever spent in my life, but switching energy provider was well worth the effort. (It certainly paid for the wine at the very least!)