Good Energy backs government’s ‘power to switch’ campaign

A 100% renewables UK energy supplier has today confirmed that it is backing the government’s campaign to urge energy customers to switch their energy company.

Juliet Davenport, Chief Executive, Good Energy said: “We back this campaign big-time. Nowhere near enough people are switching energy supplier. 

“If you want a better deal, shop around, it’s as simple as that. Look at what small, independent energy suppliers can offer as they tend to specialise in customer service, price and green tariffs.”

Although a ‘minnow’ compared to the Anglo-Scottish ‘Big Six’ – with around 150,000 customers – Good Energy has won the Which? energy company customer satisfaction survey for the last three years out of four.

AIM-listed Good Energy matches over the course of a year all the electricity its customers use with power from renewable sources.

Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive, Energy UK – the London-based trade association which includes the Big Six as members – said today: “I cannot emphasis enough how important it is for customers to shop around and find the best deal for them.

“Households can save hundreds of pounds from their annual bill simply by logging on to a website and choosing a new deal. It really is that easy. So, if you think there might be a better deal out there hunt around and see how much you can save, especially if you haven’t switching before.

“There are now more than two dozen suppliers in the market to choose from, all of whom are competing on both price and service. The industry recently cut the time it takes to switch in half meaning customers can take advantage of new deals even quicker.

“New, cheaper tariffs are being launched every week meaning that customers could save hundreds of pounds on their annual bill.”

Recently-introduced new regulations have reduced the time it takes to change energy supplier from six weeks to just 17 days, streamlining the entire process even more than before.

With this in mind, Love Energy Savings – a price comparison website surveyed its readers and asked: “Are you happy with your energy supplier?” The results showed that:

•  38% of people are content with their current deal
• One in three consumers haven’t even considered the idea of switching
• Men are less loyal than women when it comes to energy companies
• The over-65s are the most loyal

Love Energy Savings has saved its customers more than £59.3 million and helped more than 36,000 people switch to a better deal. A spokesman said: “Now is the perfect time to switch suppliers and make significant savings.

“The ‘big six’ energy companies – British Gas, E. ON, npower, Scottish Power, SSE and EDF Energy – have recently lowered their prices to reflect the falling value of oil.

“Additionally, an abundance of smaller, independent energy providers have emerged, many of whom are offering cheaper tariffs than the bigger competition.”