Why change gas and electricity suppliers?
To save money. When competition was introduced into the energy industry in the early 1990s, lots of companies offering cheaper gas and electricity appeared. Since then there has been some consolidation, but there are still over 20 “brands” including British Gas, London Energy, Scottish Power, npower and North Wales Gas. Ultimately all these brands are owned by just six companies, but competition between suppliers still exists, which means consumers need to shop around if they want to be sure they are getting the best deal. How easy is it to switch? According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), most people in the UK think switching is going to be difficult, but of those who have changed suppliers, 90% found the process easy. Most people start by using a website to compare prices. The idea is simple: you enter your postcode and how much you pay for gas and electricity and the website generates a list of suppliers in your area with the savings that they promise. You can then cl
