Energy expert urges shares what she’d ‘never do’ to save money | Personal Finance | Finance

The BBC reports: “Regulator Ofgem says the war means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £221 more a year, with an annual bill of £1,862.”

Which? also echoes this view, noting that much of the increase is being driven by conflict in the Middle East. This has pushed up global oil and gas prices, as well as government decisions to shift some environmental policy costs from electricity bills onto gas bills.

Which? say people should not assume

However, in her key advice, Sarah Ingrams urges people not to assume that “a big energy provider gives better customer service.” With over 10 years of experience writing about consumer affairs, she leads on energy content at Which?, where she helps customers navigate the market and exposes poor practice.

She writes: “British Gas, EDF Energy, E.on Next, Octopus Energy, Ovo Energy and Scottish Power supply gas and electricity to around 92% of households in Great Britain, according to Ofgem. Some customers have stuck with them for years, and others have never been with a different provider.

“But our research finds big differences between the quality of their customer service, whether customers consider them to be good value for money and the extent to which their practices are in the best interests of customers.”

With this in mind, people should regularly compare options to ensure they are getting the best value for money. However, before committing to any deal, there are a few key things they should always check.

Which? says to always check:

Fixed deals

In addition to avoiding assumptions, the expert advises people to set reminders so they don’t forget when their fixed deal is due to end.

She explains: “If you signed up to a fixed deal, it’s likely to be 12, 18 or 24 months long. When your contract ends, you’ll automatically move onto your provider’s out-of-contract or default tariff if you take no action.

“Default tariffs are set by the energy price cap and change every three months. They rise by 13% today and are expected to remain as high when the cap is next adjusted in October.

“Your supplier should remind you that your fixed tariff is ending 49 days before it does. You can also check your tariff end date in your app, online account or your latest statement.

“Seven weeks’ notice might feel like a long time and it’s easy to put it aside for later and end up paying more than you need to as a result. But you can actually switch, without paying any exit fees, in the last 49 days of your tariff. “