Energy bills and tariffs can be very complicated and it is often difficult to understand whether you are getting the best deal. If you haven't switched your energy supplier in the last three years, there’s a good chance you could save money.
National Grid
The National Grid is the company responsible for delivering electricity and gas safely and efficicienty to consumers and commuunities in Great Britain.
The National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), is the electricity system operator for Great Britain moving electricity round Great Britain’s system ensuring the right amount of electricity is where it’s needed, when it’s needed 24/7, 365 days a year.– always keeping supply and demand in perfect balance,
National Gas
National Gas are the company ressponsible for the development, maintainenance, and operation of gas networks and to facilitate competition in the supply of gas in Great Britain (GB).
National Gas consists of three businesses - National Gas Transmission, National Gas Metering and National Gas Services.
National Gas Transmission own and operate the national gas network, delivering energy to where it is needed in every part of the country.
Your Energy Supply
Comprehensive details on all aspects of your energy supply including billing, paying your bill, your meter, common problems, making a complaint, claiming back credit and moving home are available from Citizens Advice.
Energy Price Cap
In 2019 Ofgem, the body that regulates energy suppliers in Great Britain, introduced the Energy Price Cap because there was a concern that people were paying too much for their energy. The price cap limits the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge you for each unit of energy you use if you live in England, Scotland and Wale and is currently reviewed every three months.
Full details of the Energy Price Cap and how it works is available at the following links:
Energy Price Guarantee
On 1st October 2022 the Government introduced a Enegy Price Guarantee (EPG) to combat soring prices of energy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The EPG no longer applies to most households as the Energy Price Cap has fallen below the EPG but it will remain in place as a safety net until the end of March 2024 should energy prices increase above £3,000 per year.
Details of the EPG is avaialble at the following links:
Getting the best Deal
If you haven't switched your energy supplier in the last three years, there’s a good chance you could save money by changing supplier or upgrading to a new tariff. Switching either your gas or electricity so that you get both from the same supplier will qualify you for dual fuel discount and managing your account online and paying by Direct Debit could benefit from even further discounts.
With such a wide range of deals available from Energy companies, it’s easy to become confused about what’s on offer.
A guide to switching energy supplier is available at the OFGEN web-site.
A list of Internet price comparison services accredited with the Consumer Confidence Code comparing the different offerings from domestic gas and electricity suppliers, is available at this link.
Select a comparison site and enter your location, current supplier(s) and usage or spend to find out how much you could save by switching to a new supplier.
Advice on how to switch energy suppliers is also available from:
For an explanation of the various energy tariffs go to the Which? site.
Managing your energy account online
By opting for paperless bills and managing your account on-line you can obtain further discounts on your energy bills. By submitting regular monthly meter readings you avoid costly estimated bills and receipt of monthly electronic bills enable you to keep a check on your energy usage and, where appropriate, take steps to reduce your future consumption.
For a detailed guide to reading your gas and electric meters click on the appropriate link(s) below:
Understanding your bill
Whether you receive paper or electronic energy bills they can appear complicated and difficult to understand, because of the number and complexity of the tariffs. However you should not just file them away but read and understand them to check that you are paying the right amount and that the bill is accurate.
A detailed explanation of your energy bills can be found at the Which? site.
For an overview of your energy bill, including ways to pay, problems with your bill and problems paying your bill, go to the Citizens Advice web-site.
Checking that you are not paying too much for your gas and electricity
To get the best service from your energy company and avoid paying too much when the prices are increased click on the links below:
Smart Meters
Smart meters are the new generation of gas and electricity meters being rolled out across Great Britain. They show you how much energy you are using in pounds and pence, in near real time and bring an end to estimated bills. Roll-out of the Smart meters has already started and the Government wants every home in Britain to have their old gas and electricity meters replaced by Smart meters by 2019/2020.
A Smart meter will come with a separate small screen energy display which you can site anywhere in your property and will give you up to date information on your gas and electricity usage and roughly how much it is costing you in pounds and pence.
A full explanation of smart meters and how to get one is available from smartenergygb.org.
Additional information on Smart meters is avaialble at the following links:
Electricity Monitors that work with the existing style meter are currently available from some suppliers and you can request one on-line by selecting your supplier at this link.
Conserving Energy
When you limit your energy usage you don’t only save money but you lower your impact on the environment. The longer we go without making significant changes to the way energy is generated and used, the greater the threat of global warming and climate change become to our daily lives.
Detailed information on how you can reduce your energy consumption is available at - MAG - CONSERVING ENERGY AND WATER SUPPLIES.
Office of Gas and Electric Markets (ofgem)
The Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (ofgem) regulate the electricity and gas markets in Great Britain by promoting competition, wherever appropriate, and regulating the monopoly companies which run the gas and electricity networks,
Complaining about your energy supplier
A beginner’s guide to complaining to energy suppliers is available from MoneyAware.
If you found this useful please share it