Top Tips When Dealing with Energy Companies
Our 2014 exhibitors, South West Heating Solutions, have put together some key tips to keep in mind when dealing with your energy company.
Tip 1 – Always know your usage
If you don’t know your usage, you can find out by contacting your energy supplier.
Knowing your energy usage is helpful for several reasons. Firstly because when it comes to renewing your contract, you know how much electricity you are likely to use and therefore can calculate probable costs with each company when you compare. This calculation will be 100% accurate if you are on a fixed tariff, however most tariffs are variable and price may fluctuate.
Secondly it is helpful because if you find out your usage is unusually high, you can try and pinpoint the reasons for this. Usually this is because of a new appliance or extra demand on your supply, or that your energy company have estimated your bill.
Tip 2 – Know if your bill is ACTUAL or ESTIMATED
You can check weather your bill is based on an actual reading or an estimated reading because actual readings give the symbols C or A on your bill. E will be there on the bill if you’ve had an estimation
Why would your bill be estimated?
Because the meter operative could not gain access to your meter. To keep on top of your account you can regularly supply meter readings.
Tip 3 – Know if you are in credit with your energy company
Lots of the time, people do not realise that they are in credit with their energy companies. If you are in credit for the summer months this is usually because you are paying in advance for your upcoming winter usage. However, if you find you are in several hundred pounds worth of credit in or after your winter period, your bill has probably been wrongly calculated and you may be overpaying. This all leads back to knowing your usage.
You can request any money you have in credit, back from your energy company. They should, by law, send you a cheque with the corresponding amount. They may try and convince you to keep your account in credit which may sometimes be a good idea, as it will mean when the winter comes there is extra money in the account. Whatever the advice from your energy company you should always get a full explanation as to why the company is advising against a requested refund.
Tip 4 – Switching energy suppliers
According to Which? magazine, two thirds of their members have never switched energy supplier. If you have never switched your gas or electricity supplier, or not switched in the last couple of years, you’ll almost certainly save money on your energy bills by moving to a different deal. Energy companies are now obliged to tell you where you can get a better deal, or if anyone else has a cheaper rate. They may try to pass this off in their advertising as a unique service, but they are all now bound by law to offer this service to their customers. Also, if your energy company raises its prices then you should NOT have to pay a price for switching.
Tip 5 – Compare energy tariffs
There are many websites which offer you a chance to shop around for energy. MoneySupermarket and Compare The Market are two well known comparison sites.
Tip 6 – Disputing your bill
If you ever want to complain about a bill that you believe is not correct, and can’t sort this out with your energy company, then you can contact the independent Energy Ombudsman service
Author – South West Heating Solutions
By giving exceptional personal service and value for money, South West Heating Solutions have grown from a small one-man band operation to one of the UK’s largest installers of German Storage Radiators. A local, family run company, who hold true to their belief that customer service is paramount. Looking after their customers from their first free survey to any aftercare needed.
For more information visit www.southwestheatingsolutions.co.uk
