Who switched energy suppliers in The Big Switch and why?

I did take part in this, to see if I could get a better deal than was available to me personally on the open market. That did not seem to be the case.

I use Which? Switch to find my best deal. I record my annual usage as that gives the best estimate (there is a trade off between standing charge and unit price). I choose a fixed price tariff with no exit penalty, and initially look at separate deals for gas and electricity – not necessarily dual fuel – even from different suppliers. Once in a deal, you can change your tariff to a better one if it arises – as has happened over the last few months – very easily and quickly in my experience.

Not a big chore to make worthwhile savings. Even in joining the Big Switch you would then have, presumably, had to look for better deals as time went by. Hopefully even if they didn’t join it would persuade people to shop around.
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What I would like would be to join a collective scheme that automatically updated individual’s deals to the cheapest one currently available. How about a sequel – BigSwitch2?

I switched mainly because of the appalling service I received from NPower and was originally very satisfied with the switch to Scottish Power (using Which? Switch) and was the best deal for me at the time, until fairly recently when my credit balance went over the £500 mark. Happily it has now been resolved after extensive negotiation and receipt of a letter of apology. I am on a fixed tariff until March 2015, but understand, if necessary, I can switch to another supplier within 42 to 49 days before the current tariff is due to end. I have taken certain measures which have reduced my energy consumption by turning the boiler thermostat down to minimum and lined the back of my radiators with aluminium kitchen foil to direct the heat into the room away from the walls.

Since becoming involved with Which? Big Six Campaign I have made various inquiries among friends and family regarding their energy consumption and costs and am frankly amazed at the complacent and apathetic responses received. Some of my relatives seem content to grumble and grouse when large bills arrive on computer or through their letterbox but seem reluctant to take any action and just seem prepared to accept the status quo.

One of the problems with energy (or advantages whichever way you look at it) is it`s accessibility (providing you can afford to pay your bill) and there is a tendency for consumers to take it for granted by just flicking a switch, until heaven forbid we get a power cut (which coincidentally we have just experienced as soon as I started typing this post!) With other commodities such as petrol and food we have to make a concerted effort to leave the home and fetch, making on the spot important choices and decisions as to what to buy and how much we are prepared to spend. Even shopping online for groceries can be quite eventful, especially when you go to checkout and find you have ordered `doggie doo bags with tie handles` when you don’t even have a dog!

I admit there is only so much consumers can do to challenge the energy giants but ultimately it is a matter for the regulators to restore fairness and stability to a very unbalanced and unjust energy market system.

Congratulation to the author and his team. Which? for grown-ups! Serious analysis of the reasons why people act and why people do not act to reduce energy costs. The report is worth reading, particularly if you debate energy costs!

Two caveats. A minor one is the the report is not dated which may seem trivial but does have a bearing if a post report event appears to have been ignored.

I had hoped that I would read of Que Choisir action in 2013 where it signed up 100,000 members swiftly as it had already negotiated the discount ahead of the offer. AFAIR the Big-S was more chicken and egg and I think the French concept much more marketable and attractive.

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Recall indeed that the initial offering of the winning supplier (13% for minimum savings compared to the rates regulated by the kWh of October, or 13.5% compared to the regulated rate of sale of November) is only a starting point: a supplementary reduction (on the price of the kWh and an additional lump sum reduction) is planned on the basis of the number of registrants on the gazmoinscherensemble.fr site. More there will be registered, more final offer will be attractive financially: UFC – that choose intends to create a real market of consumers power. Their mobilization must therefore enable to earn 1%, 2% or more of additional discount as a supplementary individual discount amount also depends on the number of registered.

This final offer price is fixed for one year in contrast to the rate regulated sales who plays, he, every month. Similarly, anxious to ensure, beyond the gain in purchasing power, a certainty to policyholders, “cheaper gas together” initiated by the UFC-Que Choisir includes a contract course, more protective of consumers that those typically charged, as well as the involvement of the Federation in the treatment of any claims.

So to boost competition in the gas market, and reduce (finally!) the gas bill, the UFC-Que Choisir invite consumers to continue to register until November 25, on the http://www.gazmoinscherensemble.fr site”