Don't put off switching!

The Energy Advice Line has urged small businesses that need to move premises to get in touch after a survey showed 20% of firms put off relocating because they cannot face changing service providers.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy users said it was unfortunate that so many business owners were staying in potentially inappropriate premises because dealing with suppliers was so hard.

“Small business owners should get in touch with us because we can sort out their business energy needs, leaving them free to get on with moving and ensuring their firms make a smooth transition to new premises,” Mr Morgan said.

Are you getting the service you deserve?

Business energy users and households should consider customer service as well as price when choosing a supplier, according to the Energy Advice Line.

The call follows a newspaper survey that showed a huge disparity between suppliers when it came to total spending on customer service.

“Instances of very poor customer service and bungling by energy suppliers still abound and this comparison of spending sheds interesting light on possible reasons why,” Mr Morgan said.

“The difference between the highest and lowest spenders on customer service is significant, so it seems sensible to consider factors in addition to price when making a decision on which supplier to go with.”

The Telegraph newspaper defined customer service to including complaints handling as well as simple requests such as a change of address, and any technology that customers can use to communicate with their supplier.

Of those suppliers who responded to the request for information about spending on customer services, Scottish Power rated the highest at £42 per head per year. However, this included a one-off investment to improve out-of-date IT systems and does not reflect ongoing investment in customer services. Ofgem banned the firm from recruiting new customers last month until it had fixed its customer services problems.

First Utility was ranked second highest spender at £26 per customer each year, followed by British Gas (£16), E.On (£14) and npower (at least £6.67). EDF and SSE refused to disclose their customer services spending.

“We help countless customers each year who contact us in desperation and frustration at the terrible standards of customer service offered by their supplier,” Mr Morgan said.

“Resolving a problem with a bill, or even changing something as simple as an address, can prove to be a time-consuming and infuriating exercise. If you are a business this can be an expensive waste of time.

“We would urge all customers not to make price the only factor when choosing supplier, although value-for-money is obviously crucial.

“Our expert advisers, who know the energy industry well, can help you make the right informed choice.”

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk

Profit margins higher than estimated

The Energy Advice Line has welcomed calls by Ofgem for consumers to switch energy suppliers now in order to save up to £250 a year on their gas and electricity bills.

The call followed confirmation by the regulator that energy companies were failing to fully pass on the fall in wholesale gas prices they had enjoyed in the past year.

Quizzed by MPs this week about why suppliers had failed to deliver bigger price cuts to consumers, Ofgem chiefs agreed this was a “cause for concern”.

But they said they were focusing on encouraging consumers to change suppliers to make savings, adding, “generally it is a good time to switch”.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy consumers, said Ofgem’s advice was sound even when retail energy prices were falling.

“Most of the Big Six suppliers have now announced reduced charges for household gas after prices they pay in the wholesale market have fallen,” Mr Morgan said.

“However, this does not mean that consumers can sit back and assume they will enjoy dramatically lower bills. Sadly, this won’t be the case.

“Ofgem itself has raised concerns about why the size of the cuts being passed on are so small, and has pointed out that the best way for households and businesses to make the most of falling gas prices is to shop around, find the best deals and switch accordingly.”

The committee of MPs this week heard that Ofgem forecasts that customers' average dual-fuel bills will now drop by £21 to £1,305 in the year ahead.

At the same time, the profit margin per customer of a typical large supplier will rise to £114, £9 more than Ofgem estimated last November.

Energy companies have argued that the wholesale price of gas only makes up about half of a domestic energy bill and that they therefore cannot pass on the entire fall in the price they pay for energy.

But Mr Morgan expressed disappointment that the regulator and energy companies were still unable to agree on the basics of costs, prices and profits in the energy market after years of discussion.

“Suppliers and the regulator are still bickering about how profit margins are calculated, which is very disappointing and of no help to consumers at all,” Mr Morgan said.

“What ordinary energy bill payers need is a transparent and competitive energy market so that they can make fully informed choices."

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk

Nottingham tackles fuel poverty

Fuel poverty is an issue that affects millions across the country. With rising prices in the energy market, some are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet and often paying bills falls to the bottom of the pile.

Dubbed the modern day's answer to Robin Hood, Nottingham Council are taking the issue into their own hands and doing what they can to tackle the notorious Big Six suppliers.

Current rates for those living in fuel poverty are thought to be one in ten households, rising to as high as one in five for those renting privately.

Robin Hood Energy was registered as a not-for-profit in 2015. Buying electricity from the National Grid and selling it on at reasonable prices means that families in Nottingham need not worry about their bills as much each month.

Case studies from the initiative have shown that families could be saving at least £1,000 a year by moving to the independent supplier. Other councils have also begun creating their own programmes with Leeds providing their residents with a cheaper alternative.

With many reviewing their financial situations in light of the new year it always pays to be aware of your energy spend and where costs could be more efficiently managed. Switching off unused lights and turning the thermostat down a few degrees are good places to start but beginning with a competitive rate in the first place will save both time and effort.

Compare the latest rates at Energy Advice Line and if you find a cheaper price then the sales advisors will facilitate the switch for you taking away any stress or hassle for you.