The gas and electricity market is nowadays very crowded, with companies competing for customers by offering a range of constantly changing tariffs, all claiming to have some particular benefit.
Price comparison websites
This is where price comparison websites play a useful role. Simply by typing in your postcode and some estimate of your annual energy consumption or billing amount, you can see instantly how your present tariff compares with the range of alternatives on offer. The sites also provide basic information about each tariff, and contact details for the supplier in question so that you can arrange to transfer supply if you choose.
Code of practice
The watchdog Consumer Focus operates a voluntary code of practice for these on-line domestic price comparison sites, to ensure that the information is independent, impartial and comprehensive. Sites that follow this code receive accreditation from Consumer Focus, and their logo is displayed on the site.
The following sites are ones that carry the Confidence Code logo:
- Unravelit
- Confused.com
- SimplySwitch
- UKPower.co.uk
- uSwitch.com
- switchthenation.com
- MoneySupermarket.com
- TheEnergyShop.com
- Energylinx
- Fuelswitch.com
- Which? Switch
- energyhelpline.com