The Top Energy Suppliers in the United Kingdom
For many years, the energy market in the UK has been dominated by the big six energy suppliers; ScottishPower, BritishGas, SSE, E.ON, EDF Energy and npower. However, the events of the last few years have loosened their hold on the market.
Due to the fluctuations of the wholesale energy market, other companies have been able to rise to the fore. So, if you’re looking to switch suppliers in the hopes of finding a better tariff, they shouldn’t necessarily be your first stop.
How to Choose an Energy Supplier
Figuring out the best energy supplier for your needs can require a little research into each energy supplier. Fortunately, this task is made much simpler by using an energy comparison service. You’ll be able to quickly compare all the top energy suppliers in the country and find what you’re looking for with little to no hassle.
While the comparison site offers you options, the decision is still up to you so it’s important that you know what you’re looking for. It’s important to pick a deal that suits your needs rather than settling for the cheapest one out there.
You need to know what your average energy usage is and what you’re currently paying for it. This will give you a solid picture of what you’re aiming for in terms of tariffs depending on your usage and the number you’re trying to decrease.
You should also have a fairly good idea of what kind of energy supplier you’re looking for. There are a few options on the market; you can use an eco-friendly provider and make your home or business greener. You could go for a high-tech, innovative supplier that makes the most of technological advances. You could also opt for a supplier that offers other perks and services or bundle deals on utilities and facilities.
Octopus Energy
This newcomer has only been in the energy supply business for about 7 years at this point, but they already supply over three million homes. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly energy provider, this is the company for you.
They sell electricity that is 100% renewable. They generate their energy at solar and wind farms or buy it from other generators.
When it comes to their customer’s happiness, they consecutively rate highly for customer satisfaction and customer service. They also provide value for money as well as offer helpful information about energy costs and the energy market.
This energy supplier also has a fund to supply grants to customers who can’t afford to make their electricity and gas payments. They provide service to customers with traditional and smart prepayment meters.
These customers can access emergency credit for their electricity or gas meters when it’s fallen below £2 and repay it next time.
Utilita
If you’re looking for pay-as-you-go, smart prepayment meters, Utilita is the energy supplier for you. This energy supplier claims that they’re the only energy company with the sole purpose of reducing household energy consumption. They’re the only “specialist ay As You Go Smart Energy supplier.
What does this mean? Their Utilita app allows customers to see their energy usage, keep track of balances and bills and check their payment history. Customers can also top up on the app or online. And, instead of having a standing charge, they charge more for the first unit of energy used each day.
Utilita also has a Power Up which awards 40 for electricity and 60 for gas when credit falls below 2. Customers then pay it back with the next top-up. While only 3% of this company’s energy is renewable, its real focus is on helping customers reduce their usage.
Utility Warehouse
If you’re in the market for an energy provider that offers bundle deals on utilities, Utility warehouse is just the supplier for you. They sell energy as well as boiler care, home insurance, broadband and mobile. They conveniently bundle all these utilities into one bill.
Their model can be a little divisive as they encourage you to bundle utilities by offering the best deals for bundle deals. They also do most of their marketing through partners; select members of their customer base who get rewards for recruiting new customers.
There are also rewards for non-partners in the form of a cashback card. The cashback can be taken off your bill or you can take 10% off at a range of shops. They are also working on a fund to support struggling customers. The fund should offer financial assistance, budget planning help and other services.
Final Thoughts
While the big six aren’t quite as big as they used to be, there are still other options on the market that will offer you great energy deals. It’s not always true, but sometimes switching energy suppliers can get you the cheapest energy deal that suits your needs. It’s important to keep an eye out for the latest deals on the market around the time you should be thinking about renewing or cancelling your energy contracts.
