British Gas price increase: Can I change energy suppliers? How do I find the best deal?

Price hike: British Gas will increase millions of bills by 12.5 per cent
Shutterstock / angelo gilardelli
Fiona Simpson1 August 2017

Millions of British Gas customers face a major hike in their energy bills after the supplier announced it will increase tariffs by 12.5 per cent.

The move, due to be introduced on September 15, will leave 3.1 million households forced to fork out more for monthly bills.

Changing suppliers could help save much-needed cash but how easy is it to do and what do you need to know?

How do I find out who my supplier is?

Your energy supplier will be clearly stated on any bills and documents sent by the company.

If you have recently moved landlords suggest waiting for your first bill to come through or contacting previous homeowners or tenants to find out who supplies your address.

Don’t forget to make a note of your gas and electricity meter readings when you decide to switch.

Where can I find the best deal?

Use a comparison site accredited by energy regulator Ofgem to find a rundown of current deals available to you.

Notable sites include uSwitch and Money Supermarket. Click here for a full list.

Once on a comparison site enter your postcode and your household consumption details which are available on your latest bill.

If you don’t have the details to hand you will be asked a series of simple questions about your lifestyle to provide an estimate.

How do I pick a plan?

A number of plans and prices will appear on your screen – use filters including cheapest, those without a cancellation fee and those with fixed amounts to pick the right one for you.

How do I switch?

Contact your chosen supplier online to confirm the switch.

The new supplier will arrange a switchover date with your current supplier meaning customers avoid paying two bills.

You will need to confirm your full address and bank details to make the switch.

What if I change my mind?

Most companies offer a two week “cooling off” period in which customers can change their minds and go back on the switch.

How often can I switch?

Customers can change suppliers every 28 days.

Experts at uSwitch recommend checking comparison sites once or twice a year to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT