Select Your Gas Supplier
British Gas was the monopoly provider of gas supplies in the UK until 1996. When competition was brought into the market, it was believed that gas prices would come down for the ordinary consumer.
ever, many people are likely to stick with their current gas supplier, as they think that switching provider to be an unnecessary hassle.
This is even though the fact that changing your electricity or gas supplier can lower your bills - which is particularly helpful during difficult economic times.
Also, it’s not hard to change your provider. You don’t have to track down all the suppliers that operate in your area and get in touch with them to see if they can lower your costs, you can use a price comparison site.
You could even be able to switch gas supplier with a few clicks of the mouse. Of course, there are other considerations to take into account as well as price when choosing a gas supplier.
You can look at their custome service reputation - some comparison sites allow you to add reviews of suppliers you have used, so you can see how other users have rated each supplier before you switch.
Another thing to pay attention to is the distinct payment plans that are on offer from the suppliers. You may be able to save money immediately by moving to an Internet plan. If you are happy to manage your account and receive all your bills online, this could lower administration fees.
If you are on a low income, you may qualify for a social payment plan. Energy companies have to provide these payment plans, which are designed to help people in the most difficult positions to pay their bills.
For sheer simplicity, you may want a fixed plan. This means the price of each unit of energy is fixed for a certain length of time. Alternatively, choosing a capped plan means that the price of each unit won’t go up over a set period of time. However, if gas prices come down your energy bills could lower.
Suppliers will also provide their own standard pricing plans. Your choice of supplier will unavoidably be influenced by the plans that are available - and the one that suits you best.
That’s why price comparison sites will always ask you about your current payment structure and the one you would prefer. You can compare the different tariffs quickly and easily to see which will save you the most. You can make great cost cutting by switching your gas supplier.
