The following advice is provided so you can get a better deal on your gas and electricity, whether your priority is reducing your bills, reducing your carbon footprint or both.
Social tariffs
All energy providers offer social tariffs to help their most vulnerable customers cope with the high costs of gas and electricity. According to Ofgem rules, all social tariffs must equal the supplier’s cheapest deals.
Each scheme has a variety of different offers available, which may include: energy efficiency advice; grants for home insulation; and special offers on additional energy efficiency and safety gadgets.
Contact your provider and see if you can be moved to a cheaper tariff if you’re struggling to keep up with the rising cost of heating your home.
- British Gas - The Essentials tariff, Tel: 0800 072 5230
- E.ON - Stay Warm tariff, Tel: 0800 169 4694
- EDF Energy - Energy Assist tariff, Tel: 0800 269 450
- Npower - Spreading Warmth tariff, Tel: 0808 172 6999
- Scottish Power - Carefree Plus tariff, Tel: 0845 2700 700
- Scottish and Southern - Energy Plus Care tariff, Tel: 0800 622 838
Priority Services Register
The Priority Services Register was set up for vulnerable customers. These customers are eligible for free services from gas and electricity companies if they meet certain criteria.
If the customer is of pensionable age, disabled, chronically sick, blind or visually impaired, then they can apply to join the Priority Service Register. To apply, please contact one of the following Priority Services teams:
- British Gas (Priority Services) Tel: 0845 955 5404
- EDF Energy (Priority Services Team) Tel: 0800 015 0533
- E.ON (Caring Energy) Tel: 0800 051 1480
- Npower (Warm Response Line) Tel: 0808 172 6999
- Scottish and Southern Energy (Careline) Tel: 0800 622 838
- Scottish Power (Care Free) Tel: 0141 272 6042
Price comparison
Consumer Focus, the statutory organisation campaigning for a fair deal for consumers in England, has produced a code of practice called the Confidence Code for companies providing domestic gas and electricity price comparison services over the internet.
Websites that adhere to this code display the Consumer Focus Confidence Code logo on their site.
Find out how much you could save by switching to a new supplier. Price comparison websites that comply with the Confidence Code are on the Consumer Focus website.
Power your home with renewable energy
There are many energy suppliers who now offer 100% renewable energy so you can become effectively carbon neutral for your electricity by switching to one of the ‘greener’ providers.
Renewable energy tariffs need not be more expensive than conventional ones, and in some cases you could save money, especially if you pay by direct debit.
As a last resort your existing utility provider may offer a ‘green’ tariff. This is not always as environmentally-sound as a specialised renewable energy tariff, but it is a step in the right direction.
To find out more about green energy tariffs, visit the Energy Saving Trust's website.
Consumer Focus has a list of green energy supplies on its website. You can also search for providers on Green Electricity Marketplace.
