It’s common knowledge that the price of gas and electricity can vary depending on which provider you are with. With this in mind, it is always worth comparing the rates of competing energy suppliers to see if you can save money by switching providers. However, many people don’t know about this, so they are stuck paying high rates for their energy. Switching gas and electricity suppliers can save you money, but it’s not as simple as just choosing the cheapest provider. Here’s how switching gas and electricity suppliers can save you money.
Find Out What the Cheapest Gas and Electricity Suppliers Are in Your Area
The first step to save money by switching gas and electricity suppliers is knowing which companies are the cheapest in your area. You will need to find lower prices than your current energy company. This will depend on your usage, but many providers offer to help you figure out the cheapest plan for your needs by calculating your annual gas and electric bill.
Once you know which are the cheapest companies in terms of rates, it’s time to research their customer service records. While you might not think much about the quality of service when looking for a cheaper power supplier, this can be very important in saving money. You don’t want to find yourself stuck with a company with poor customer service and cannot handle problems.
When you have found the cheapest companies, it’s time to sign up for their services if they offer online billing, which can save you money. If not, then call them on the phone or visit their offices in person.
Use a Comparison Site to See Who Offers the Best Deals on Gas and Electricity Prices
You won’t have to do all of this legwork yourself, as there are comparison sites that can handle everything for you. All you need to do is enter your postcode and energy usage details into the site’s calculator, and it will tell you the companies that offer cheap power prices in your area. You can then sign up for one of these companies via their website, and you will be able to save money by switching gas and electricity suppliers. There’s no need to do all this research into who is the cheapest provider; it has already been done for you!
It should go without saying that how much money you will save by switching gas and electricity suppliers depends on how much energy you use. If you are one of the millions who live in a property using over 20,000 kWh per year, then it’s likely that switching your supplier could see significant savings.
Always Switch to the New Company As Soon
Waiting too long to switch gas and electricity suppliers could mean that you lose out on any discounts, so always make sure you do it as soon as possible. However, there’s no need to rush if you are happy with your current energy supplier.
Some people may find themselves stuck in their contract with the old company due to penalties for breaking a fixed-term contract. However, this isn’t an issue if you are switching to another fixed-term deal elsewhere. Be sure to compare all the available options before making a final decision so that you can find how much money you could save by switching gas and electricity suppliers!
With early switching, you can also save money by having your direct debits automatically switched to the new company rather than doing it manually. This will mean you are never without power – even if something goes wrong with your switchover, which is unlikely if you choose a reputable provider.
Consider Getting an Energy Monitor with the New Supplier
You can make even more savings if you get an energy monitor installed with the new company. This will give you a better idea of how much power your household uses, which allows you to work out exactly when it’s worth heating or boiling on the kettle and when it isn’t.
This way, rather than leaving appliances running that aren’t necessary, you will be able to time them properly, become an intelligent consumer, and save money by only using power when it is cheapest. Many energy suppliers also offer smart meters with their deals; these are very useful as they give you access to app-based information on your usage to make sure no one in the household goes over budget without having to keep checking meter readings.
Consider Switching from Incandescent Light Bulbs to LED lights to Save More on Bills
Switching to low-energy lighting is another way on how you can save money by switching electricity suppliers. This could mean swapping out all of your incandescent light bulbs for LED equivalents, which will help reduce your carbon footprint as well as saving you lots of cash over the years.
LED lights are also cheaper to run than traditional bulbs and don’t need replacing as often either. They last up to 25 times longer than standard light bulbs and use around 80% less energy when in use – which is why they are becoming so popular among consumers! It’s easy to switch from incandescent lights to LED lighting; you replace the old bulb with a new one.
Make Sure All Appliances are Turned Off When Not in Use
After switching your gas and electricity suppliers, it is important to ensure that all appliances are turned off when not in use. This ensures that you are not wasting energy on appliances that aren’t being used, which could lead to big savings over the course of a year. As long as everything is turned off at the mains when it’s not in use, this will impact your bill and save you more money, other than switching to a new supplier.
Some of these appliances you need to check out include your washing machine, dishwasher, and tumble dryer. You can save electricity by using cold water for your laundry and always ensuring that the door is closed properly on all appliances when not in use – this will prevent you from accidentally leaving them running!
It is possible to save money by switching energy suppliers, and there are various ways in which you can do this; however, it’s important to compare all of your options first to know how much cash could be saved over time. These include checking for extra rates and discounts that your current supplier might offer or switching to a new company altogether. If you are looking at the cheaper end of the market, then it is likely that there will be less choice in terms of tariffs. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t save you money long-term if you make sure to compare all of the options first.