The energy market in the UK can be confusing, and though the idea of shopping around for a better deal may seem daunting, it’s worth doing.
You could save money by switching to a different energy supplier and all it takes is a simple comparison between suppliers. Here we explore some of the suppliers that you could consider switching to.
British Gas
British Gas is a subsidiary of Centrica, the largest energy provider in the UK and second to EDF for gas only.
It provides electricity, gas and dual-fuel to over 10 million households across Britain, that’s about 16% of the total number of households.
British Gas offers a range of tariffs to suit your needs, including fixed price tariffs that can last between one and two years (with no exit fee) or up to five years with a small exit fee; variable rate products where prices change every six months or so; and dual-fuel packages which combine both electricity and gas supplies under one contract.
However, British Gas is also unique among its competitors because it offers one fixed tariff for 12 months at £1,059 per year. That is substantially lower than most other fixed deals on offer but still considerably more expensive than its standard variable rate options.
If you are unsure, consider comparing gas and electricity prices to get the best deal possible.
EDF Energy
EDF Energy is the UK’s largest energy supplier, with a market share of 18%.
The company is owned by EDF Energy and its parent company EDF Group. British Gas, which is also owned by EDF Energy, has a market share of 13%.
EDF Energy operates in the United Kingdom and has 2.7 million customers across 11 companies, including British Gas; Sainsbury’s Energy; Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD); Southern Electric; SWALEC; Yorkshire Electricity Supply Co Ltd (YEL); Midlands Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL).
E.ON
E.ON is a German-based energy company that provides electricity, gas and renewable energy to millions of homes across Britain.
It is one of the largest energy suppliers in the UK and has several brands under its umbrella, including its flagship brand E.ON Energy.
E.ON places an emphasis on protecting future generations from climate change by investing heavily in low-carbon technologies such as wind power generation.
They also support electric vehicles by running free charging points at sites throughout the country.
NPower
Npower is a UK energy supplier. It’s a subsidiary of RWE Npower, which is part of the Npower group.
Npower is one of the largest suppliers in the UK and has been around since 2000, when it was created as part of National Power.
Npower offers its customers fixed price tariffs for gas and electricity for 12 months at a time.
It also provides other products like solar panels on a freehold basis or rental.
Scottish Power
Scottish Power is a Scottish utility company that provides electricity and gas to homes across the UK.
It’s part of Iberdrola, a Spanish multinational which also owns Avangrid and Elektro Ljubljana, so you know it’s serious about what it does.
The company has been around since 1998, though it didn’t start trading under that name until 2015, when it merged with SP Energy Networks (its distribution arm).
Currently, Scottish Power is the sixth-largest energy supplier in the UK, with over 4 million customers across Scotland and England.
SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy)
SSE is a major energy supplier in the UK and has been since 1990. It’s a public limited company with headquarters in Perth, Scotland.
SSE has invested heavily in renewable energy and recently completed the installation of 6 offshore wind turbines at its West of Duddon Sands project off the coast of Cumbria.
The company offers its customers online access to accounts and bills where customers can pay bills via credit card or debit card.
Conclusion
There are many companies all striving toward creating a better tomorrow with the addition of renewable energy and environmentally friendly ways of doing better business.
It is always important to make sure you are getting the best deal possible for your gas and electricity.
Be wise and weigh up your options before making a final decision.
