Switching to a cheaper gas and electricity deal is the only way to make sure you're not paying too much for your household energy.
If you've never switched supplier before, you'll be on a standard variable rate (SVR) tariff, which will come with higher rates than other deals on the market. You'll also be on an SVR if you've previously switched to a fixed rate tariff but have let it expire without switching to another deal.
Energy suppliers make money from your apathy to switching, so it always pays to compare energy prices and switch when your current deal is coming to an end - we're here to help make sure your money stays in your pocket.
Being on an SVR also means you're fully exposed to market fluctuations - if energy prices rise, so will your bills, even if you're not using any more gas and electricity than normal. Back in the summer of 2008, for instance, the market was hit by price rises of 35%, which saw standard variable rates increase by a third overnight. Although it's unlikely we'll see another spike like that, it's best to protect yourself against any price rises by switching to a fixed rate deal.
Saving money is the main reason to run an energy price comparison and switch with us - simply switching with TheEnergyShop.com could cut your average energy bills by as much as £383 a year.
It's also worth switching if you're unhappy with the service offered by your current supplier, or if you're worried that it could go bust. A combination of volatility in the energy market, the impact of the energy price cap and the cost of renewable energy targets has seen more than 10 suppliers go to the wall over the last year or so - if you're worried your supplier could be in trouble, you should consider switching.
TheEnergyShop.com is a trusted name when it comes to comparing and switching energy suppliers. Founder members of the Ofgem Confidence Code back in 2003, our team of experts are dedicated to monitoring the energy market each day to find the best possible deals, whether you want to switch to a fixed rate tariff or find the best green energy deal to help do your bit for the environment.
To compare gas and electricity prices with TheEnergyShop.com, simply enter your postcode in the box at the top of the page. This will take you to our energy price comparison tool, where we just need a few more details to find the best gas and electricity deals in your area.
We compare energy tariffs from suppliers across the entire energy market, so you can be sure there's a money-saving deal that's right for you.
Our extensive library of energy companies and tariffs has been maintained daily since 2003, and our Ofgem approved comparison engine will instantly check your current tariff against those available in the open market to provide you with an accurate indication of how much you could save by switching energy supplier.
Once you've found an energy deal that suits and you're ready to make the switch, we'll take care of the rest - our switching tool will automatically send your application securely to your supplier of choice, who will then let your current supplier know that you want to leave.
The switch should then be completed within 21 days, meaning you'll be enjoying lower energy bills within a matter of weeks.
It really is that simple. You don't need to worry about anything other than entering a few details and sitting back to count your savings.
The energy market changes daily, meaning prices can fluctuate from one day to the next - our energy experts input tariff data all day, every day, so we know how tricky it can be for households to find the best energy deals.
That's why it makes sense to let TheEnergyShop.com do all the hard work and find the best energy deals on your behalf.
By using our Ofgem approved energy price comparison engine, you can be sure you're comparing the best deals available in your area. And for us, the best deal doesn't just mean the cheapest rates - we want to ensure our customers only switch to energy suppliers who will offer great customer service as well as great pricing. We want to take all the hassle out of switching energy supplier, which not only means getting the best prices, but finding deals from trusted suppliers that protect you as a customer and ensure you don't have to sacrifice quality to save money.
When choosing an energy supplier, we suggest that you weigh up the rates on offer alongside the quality of the provider. You can do this by asking the following questions:
When you switch with TheEnergyShop.com, you can be sure you're switching to a quality supplier, whether you choose a Big Six energy supplier or a smaller provider.
The latest statistics from EnergyUK show that around 34% of customers are switching from what are considered as 'larger suppliers' to 'small and mid-tier suppliers', but you need to be cautious about being tempted by a supplier that simply offers low prices.
The energy market is constantly evolving and we have seen a number of new suppliers rush to the top of price comparison results pages based on price, only to find their customer service can be lacking as they struggle to handle the volume of customers that suddenly come their way. In doing so, this can lead to consumer frustration as teething issues set in so as we say consider price but also service.
21 days from the date you apply to switch is the industry standard for switching energy supplier.
The "Energy Switch Guarantee" ensures that switching supplier takes no longer than 21 days, including a 14 day cooling off period, whether you switch to one of the Big Six suppliers – British Gas, SSE, EDF Energy, Npower, Scottish Power and E.ON - or a smaller supplier, such as Octopus Energy, Shell Energy, So Energy and Bulb.
All switching applications come with a mandatory 14-day cool-off period should you wish to cancel your application and revert back to your original supplier.
The switching process itself is very straightforward and is dealt with by your old and new suppliers - the only thing you need to do is provide your old supplier with a final meter reading to close your account.
No, there will be no disruption to your supply when changing energy provider. When you switch, it's just the provider that changes and your gas and electricity is still supplied through the existing pipes and cables, meaning there'll be no loss of supply.
Yes, you should be able to switch energy supplier if you rent your property, but the way you go about it will depend upon who looks after the energy bills.
If you pay the energy bills directly to the property's supplier, then you're free to compare prices and switch at any time. If you've just moved into a rental property, you'll be on your supplier's more expensive standard variable rate, so you should compare energy prices to find a cheaper deal as soon as possible.
If your landlord pays for the energy to the property, you need to speak to them about switching to the best possible energy tariff to ensure your bills are kept to a minimum. If you have just moved into a property and are not sure who supplies your energy then contact us today.
Yes. Prepayment meters don't have the same range of tariffs available to choose from nor do all price comparison websites cater for prepayment customers, but you should still compare rates to find the best possible deal.
Prepayment meters are essentially "pay-as-you-go" energy - you top up your meter to pay for gas and electricity as you use it - but are also one of the most expensive ways to pay for energy. Even so, prepayment meters remain popular for around 6 million customers throughout the UK.
If you want to replace your prepayment meter with a standard credit meter or smart meter, you need to speak to your current supplier, bearing in mind that they may charge a fee for the work. If so, it's worth haggling and threatening to switch to another supplier - you may find that they waive the installation fee for your continued custom.
The Ofgem Confidence Code is a voluntary code of conduct adhered to by a select number of price comparison websites, including TheEnergyShop.com. The code is designed to protect consumers and ensure that each of the signatories to the code carry out in-depth, unbiased and accurate comparisons of the UK energy market at all times in a fair and consistent way.
We are proud to have been signatories of the Code since it's foundation under Energywatch in 2003.
